Search Website
QUICK LINKS:
Empowering the Next Generation: Western University Launches National Student Essay Contest on Youth Civic Engagement
October 20, 2025
By Diana Corredor
How can Canada better support young people in shaping the country’s democratic future? That is the central question behind the 2025-2026 Student Essay Contest on Youth Civic Engagement, hosted by C-Dem and the Centre for the Study of Political Behaviour at the University of Western Ontario, with support from the Max Bell Foundation.
This national contest invites undergraduate and graduate students from universities across Canada to contribute original research on one of democracy’s most pressing challenges: encouraging and sustaining meaningful civic participation among youth.
A Call for Fresh Perspectives
The contest seeks research papers that explore innovative approaches, persistent barriers, and effective strategies to strengthen youth involvement in civic and political life. Submissions may draw on a wide range of disciplines—from political science and sociology to education, media studies, and public policy—reflecting the many forces that shape civic engagement today.
Submission deadline: January 16, 2026
Winners announced: February 23, 2026
Award presentation & public lecture: March 26, 2026, at Western University
Two winners—one undergraduate and one graduate—will each receive:
- A $500 cash prize
- Travel and accommodation support to attend the award ceremony and present their work at Western
- The opportunity to have their essays featured in publications by C-Dem and the Centre for the Study of Political Behaviour
Building on Groundbreaking Research
This initiative grows out of recent work by Laura Stephenson, Professor and Chair of Political Science at Western, and Christopher Alcantara, Professor and Western Faculty Scholar (2024–2026), along with PhD student authors Justine Béchard, Juliette Leblanc, Craig Mutter, and Tess Whillans. Together, they co-authored a major report for the Max Bell Foundation on youth civic engagement in Canada, providing a comprehensive analysis of what encourages—and what prevents—young Canadians from participating in civic life. The full report is available here.
Their report, which combined a sweeping literature review, multi-year data analysis, and interviews with key stakeholders, provides one of the most comprehensive portraits to date of what encourages—and hinders—young Canadians from active civic participation.
Stephenson and Alcantara shared their findings earlier this year at knowledge mobilization events in Calgary and Toronto, where they engaged policymakers, academics, and practitioners in conversations about the future of youth engagement. At these events, the Max Bell Foundation announced a new call for proposals, offering up to $250,000 in funding to support projects aligned with the report’s recommendations.
A Moment for Student Voices
The essay contest represents a natural next step: inviting students themselves to contribute to this national conversation. As tomorrow’s leaders, young scholars have a unique perspective on the realities of civic participation—whether through research, lived experience, or innovative ideas for change.
How to Apply
Eligible participants must be current undergraduate or graduate students at a Canadian post-secondary institution. Papers should be between 2,500 and 5,000 words, double-spaced, and include proper citations. Submissions must be original, unpublished work authored solely by the student.
To apply, students should submit a single PDF of their paper and cover page (including name, institutional affiliation, program and level of study, contact details, and paper title) to admin@c-dem.ca with the subject line: 2025-2026 Essay Contest Submission – [Your Name].
For more information and contest guidelines, students can consult the official info sheets:
The deadline is January 16, 2026.
For Canada’s democracy to thrive, youth voices must be heard—not only at the ballot box but also in research, policy, and public dialogue. This contest offers students a powerful opportunity to contribute their scholarship to a national conversation about the future of civic engagement.