Competition · Writing, reading & languages · Royal Canadian Legion

Royal Canadian Legion Youth Remembrance Contest (Essay and Poem)

An essay and poem contest on the theme of Remembrance for Grades 4–12. Students enter at their local Legion branch, which sets the deadline.

Last checked October 5, 2026 against the official page

What do I need to do?

Ask your local Legion branch or the school for this year's deadline

Who acts
Student
Preparation
No preparation
Eligible grades
Grades 4–12
Format
Written entry on paper, submitted to a local Legion branch.
Cost
No fee is listed.
Official site
www.legion.ca

Key dates

  • ExpectedBranch deadlineSet by each local branch. Contact your branch for the 2026 deadline

Get a reminder before every deadline for your child →

Confirmed official date · Expected based on last year · Not announced yet

What it is

Students write an essay, a poem or both about Remembrance. Entries can be in English, French or both.

Junior (Grades 4–6) essays are up to 350 words, Intermediate (Grades 7–9) up to 500 words and Senior (Grades 10–12) up to 800 words. Poems are up to 32 lines.

Winners move from branch to provincial to national level. Senior national first-place winners get $1,000 and a trip to the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa.

AI-generated entries aren't accepted.

A good fit if: Students who like writing and history.

How to register

  1. Submit the entry with the official entry form to your nearest Legion branch. Students under 18 need a parent's permission.
  2. The deadline is set by each branch. Contact your local branch to confirm it.
  3. Homeschooled students can enter too.

How to prepare

  • Talk with your child about a family story or a local memorial.
  • Read the official contest guide for the rules.

For grade-by-grade options see Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12.

Common questions

When is the deadline?

Each Legion branch sets its own deadline. Contact your nearest branch.

Can homeschooled children enter?

Yes. The contest guide says homeschooled students can take part.

What comes next

Competition · Writing, reading & languages

CBC First Page Student Writing Challenge

A national CBC Books challenge for Grades 7–12: write the first page of a novel set 150 years in the future. Usually open for entries in February.

Grades 7–12No entry fee was listed in 2026Some preparation

Sources

Last checked October 5, 2026. Dates can change, so always confirm with the organizer.