Paris students carry remembrance forward through art and writing

Students who placed in the Paris Legion’s annual Poster and Literary Contest pose with their awards following the Branch 29 ceremony January 11. The contest invites local youth to reflect on remembrance through art and writing, with winning entries advancing to district-level judging.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

For about 25 years, students from across Paris and the surrounding area have been honouring veterans and reflecting on the meaning of remembrance through the Paris Legion’s annual Poster and Literary Contest.

The contest, hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 29, is a friendly competition among local elementary and secondary schools and has become a fixture of the community’s Remembrance Day season.

“The contests occur in November at the same time as the Remembrance Day service and the poppy drive,” said Ginny Moor, who has overseen youth education at the Legion for 21 of those years. The initiative gives students an opportunity to express themselves through colour and black-and-white posters, as well as poetry and essays, all centred on the themes of veterans, war and remembrance.

As the number of Second World War veterans continues to decline, Moor said the contest places growing emphasis on remembering the freedoms secured by those who served, while also recognizing the role of those currently involved in peacekeeping efforts around the world. Some students, she noted, choose to reflect on the experiences of grandparents or great-grandparents who were affected by war.

In an average year, between 200 and 250 entries are submitted by students from Paris Central, North Ward, Holy Family, Cobblestone and Sacred Heart elementary schools, as well as Paris District High School. The poster contest is open to students at all grade levels, while the literary categories are open to junior, intermediate and senior students.

Judging takes place in late November and is carried out by local Legion members. Entries are evaluated for originality, relevance to the theme, and, in the case of written work, spelling and grammar.

Each January, Branch 29 hosts an awards ceremony where the top three finishers in each category receive framed certificates and monetary prizes, funded through the Legion’s Poppy Fund. First-place entries advance to district-level judging. The ceremony is typically well attended by family and friends, with refreshments provided, and often features repeat participants as students progress through the grades.

2025 Poster and Literary Contest Winners

Primary Colour

1st: Jackson Jessop (Grade 3, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Baylynn Pizzey (Grade 3, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Ruby Deakin (Grade 3, Cobblestone)

HM: Nosa Ehioghiren (Grade 3, Sacred Heart)

Junior Colour

1st: Emilia Nicolae (Grade 6, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Demilade Adebiyi (Grade 6, Holy Family)

3rd: Carter Walsweer (Grade 5, Sacred Heart)

Intermediate Colour

1st: Roxane Osedianosen (Grade 7, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Sophie Carter (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Aubrey Akimov (Grade 8, Holy Family)

Primary Black and White

1st: Adelina Delaronde (Grade 3, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Asha Levy (Grade 3, Cobblestone)

3rd: Beckett Willson (Grade 3, Cobblestone)

HM: Lucas Medeiros (Grade 3, Sacred Heart)

Junior Black and White

1st: Andrew Fenn (Grade 4, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Matthew Fenn (Grade 6, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Brooklynn Butt (Grade 5, North Ward)

HM: Paisley Akimov (Grade 6, Holy Family)

Intermediate Black and White

1st: Isla Farrish (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Milenija Cucuz (Grade 8, Cobblestone)

3rd: Sreesarani Mullapudi (Grade 8, Cobblestone)

HM: Chloe Walsweer (Grade 7, Sacred Heart)

Junior Poem

1st: Stephanie Omordia (Grade 6, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Allison Whelan (Grade 6, Holy Family)

3rd: Olivia Denaeyer (Grade 6, Sacred Heart)

HM: Lily Zammit (Grade 6, Holy Family)

Intermediate Poem

1st: Tiziene Romano (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Isabella Osunfisan (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Avery Van Stowski (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

HM: Sierra Weaver (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

Senior Poem

1st: Chloe Sharp (Grade 10, PDHS)

2nd: Axel Cormier (Grade 10, PDHS)

Junior Essay

1st: Myla Janisse (Grade 4, Holy Family)

2nd: Tarami Olugbenjo (Grade 5, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Lily Zammit (Grade 6, Holy Family)

HM: Nicole Ugonwachukwa (Grade 4, Holy Family)

Intermediate Essay

1st: Ebere Obiugwu (Grade 7, Sacred Heart)

2nd: Ethan Iyoha (Grade 7, Sacred Heart)

3rd: Mackenzie Landry (Grade 8, Sacred Heart)

HM: Lucas Noseworthy (Grade 8, Holy Family)

Senior Essay

1st: Claire Silver (Grade 10, PDHS)

2nd: Rachel Tugman (Grade 10, PDHS)

3rd: Ashir Bajwa (Grade 10, PDHS)