Search for young talent in national GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest

Grade 5 and 6 students have until April 16 to vie for publishing prize

Canadian students in grades five and six have the chance to see their short stories published, thanks to the launch of this year’s GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest, a national, annual, bilingual contest made possible by Founding Sponsor General Motors Acceptance Corporation of Canada, Limited (GMAC) and managed by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation.

To enter the contest – beginning February 19 and running until April 16, 2007 – students submit an original story, in English or French, of no more than 200 words, based on the contest theme of family, along with an illustrated ‘book cover’ that they have made. A judging panel will assess the entries and the winning stories will be announced the week of May 14.

Early Bird Prize: a visit from Canadian author Kenneth Oppel

All children entering the contest by the Early Bird Deadline (March 14, 2007) will be included in a random draw for a chance to win the Early Bird Prize: a visit by Canadian children’s author Kenneth Oppel to their school, library or family literacy program. Mr. Oppel’s beloved books include Skybreaker, Airborn (recipient of the 2004 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Text), and the Silverwing, Sunwing and Firewing saga.

Fostering literacy

This contest is launched to further GMAC’s commitment to fostering literacy. “The GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest is designed to engage children in writing, while providing a fun and exciting activity that turns winning writers into published authors,” says Thomas E. Dickerson, President of GMAC of Canada.

“This is a great program for schools, libraries and family literacy organizations,” adds Margaret Eaton, President of ABC CANADA. “It delivers a great deal: a visit from an award-winning Canadian author, the chance for organizations to receive book donations, and the enthusiasm of kids across the country writing their stories.”

Educational ‘tool kits’ available for schools, libraries, family literacy programs

Materials to engage children in exercises and activities (either individually or in groups) that prepare them for their writing, are available at www.gmacgreatcanadianwritingcontest.ca. Official contest entry forms, and all rules and regulations, are also available at this site.

Teachers, librarians and family literacy program coordinators can also request contest packages to be sent to them. E-mail us at: info@abc-canada.org.

The Prizes

Thirteen (13) first-place provincial and territorial prize-winning stories will be published in a book all these winning authors will receive.

Five (5) regional prize-winning stories (from the North/West, including Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and British Columbia; West/Central, including Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; and East, including Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward island) will be published, and each regional winner will have their school, library or family literacy program receive a donation of $1,000 worth of books, courtesy of HarperCollinsCanada, which is also helping to support the Kenneth Oppel visit.

Up to 26 second- and third-place provincial and territorial winners will receive a GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest prize pack. All contest participants will receive a Certificate of Participation acknowledging each of them as a Great Canadian Writer.

The contest ends Monday, April 16, 2007 and winners will be notified during the week of May 14, 2007.

For contest entry forms and information about the contest, please go to: www.gmacgreatcanadianwritingcontest.ca