The 2026 edition of the Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest concluded on February 28, receiving a total of 337 submissions in English and French across three categories: short story, poetry, and comics. Judges Catherine Austen, Pierre‑Luc Bélanger, Amelinda Bérubé, Eric Péladeau, and Khaleefa Hamdan faced the rewarding challenge of selecting winning works from a remarkably talented pool of young writers, basing their decisions on quality, creativity, and expression.
“Outstanding submissions this year, with plenty of thrilling fantasy, zany humour, moving drama, a few chills, and some sparks of love,” shared Catherine Austen, reflecting on her journey as a judge. “I’m amazed at the creativity and insight of these awesome authors, and I feel sad for everyone who doesn’t get to read all the entries”.
For 31 years, Ottawa Public Library has proudly organized this contest, highlighting the talent and creativity of enthusiastic young people. To mark this milestone, the Library introduced an important change by renaming the anthology of winning entries from Pot-Pourri to Carte-blanche. More than simply a new title, Carte-blanche reflects an invitation for youth to write freely on topics that spark their curiosity, imagination, and creativity.
“With literacy as one of our library’s core values, this contest is a terrific opportunity for youth in our community,” said Sarah Macintyre, OPL Division Manager, Client Services. “It reflects our commitment to inspiring a love of reading, writing, and learning. Every year, it is a pleasure to read the work of young local talents and discover their creativity, emotions, and unique perspectives.”
This contest has been made possible through the support and contribution of the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association.
Congratulations to the 2026 Awesome Authors!
9-12 Category
Poetry (English)
1st place: Emma Mai (11 years old), St. Cecilia Catholic School, Wake Me Up
2nd place: Leanna Paske (9 years old), École élémentaire catholique George-Étienne-Cartier, Let Love Be Your Lantern
3rd place: Alina Wang (11 years old), Stittsville Public School, Spring Blossoms
Poésie (français)
1st place: Maève Dutrisac, École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Les saisons
2nd place: Adèle Taillefer (12 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, La femme invisible
3rd place: Neesha Laur (9 years old), École élémentaire publique Michaëlle-Jean, Mon rêve
Short Story (English)
1st place: Addison Waselnuk, Homeschool, Zora and the King’s Rule
2nd place: Serena Willow Kenall (12 years old), Letters
3rd place: Max H. Barnett (11 years old), Churchill Alternative School, Celsius
Nouvelle (français)
1st place: Chloé Shedden (11 years old), École élémentaire catholique Jonathan-Pitre, Madame Pistache à la recherche du diamant
2nd place: Maéve Dutrisac, École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, La bouteille
3rd place: Éloïse Poirier (12 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Retour à la montagne
Comic (English)
1st place: Nadia Idnani (10 years old), Homeschool, Life with Brothers
2nd place: Andrei Osotkin (10 years old) and J.J. Scagnetti (10), École élémentaire publique Grande-Ourse and Sir Winston Churchill Public School, The food-verse!
3rd place: Violet Ahlgren (11 years old), Roch Carriere Public School, The Missing Statue
Bande dessinée (français)
1st place: Megumi Villeneuve (9 years old), École élémentaire catholique Montfort, Être normale, est-ce possible?
2nd place: Annabelle Revie (12 years old), École secondaire De la Salle, Une fée en ville
3rd place: Andrei Osotkin (10 years old), École élémentaire publique Grande-Ourse, Les grilles-pains sont chaud
13-18 Categories:
Poetry (English)
1st place: Jena Diab (13 years old), Frank Ryan Catholic Intermediate School, "I Sat Watching Them”
2nd place: Sara Mahdavi (14 years old), Canterbury High School, From a distance, everything behaves.
3rd place: Maria M (14 years old), 9 Lives
Poésie (français)
1st place: Mayssara Boudjeltia (18 years old), École secondaire publique Pierre-de-Blois, Mais que diable faisais-je ici?
2nd place: Edith René (17 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Face à l'abîme
3rd place: Mustafa Abu-Dieh (17 years old), Entre plume et algorithme
Short Story (English)
1st place: Sara Mahdavi (14 years old), Canterbury High School, Halfway
2nd place: Violet Stocker (13 years old), École secondaire catholique L'Escale, One Last Chance
3rd place: Chethna Adikari (15 years old), Merivale High School, Decadence to Deception
Nouvelle (français)
1st place: Edith René (17 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Lettre d’amour à la littérature
2nd place: Eli Ernst-Fontaine (18 years old), Dissidence
3rd place: Felix Madon (16 years old), École élémentaire catholique George-Étienne-Cartier, La Guerre de la Pensée
Comic (English)
1st place: Sienna James (17 years old), Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School, All in a Day’s Work
2nd place: Aubrey Caron (15 years old), Canterbury High School, Eugene the Mudskipper
3rd place: Raphaël Rival (14 years old), Colonel By Secondary School, So Who Brought the Frisbee?
Bande dessinée (français)
1st place: Anabelle Hall (13 years old), École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges, Le vampire divergent
2nd place: Sofia Cipcigan (16 years old), École secondaire publique Omer-Deslauriers, Manie minou
3rd place: Edith René (17 years old) and Isla Elieff (18 years old), École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité, Tout ça pour un projet de science...