Please click here for a pdf version of the press release.

Toronto, 22 April 2009 – This year, French for the Future’s National Essay Contest drew a record number of entries from high school students across Canada.  

Challenged to write a 1 000-word essay in French on the theme Ta cause… Ta chance! [Your Cause… Your Opportunity!], students demonstrated that youth today are anything but apathetic. 

"The response has been fantastic with essay topics ranging from juvenile obesity to fair trade, with the unifying theme of youth engagement," said Helen Coltrinari, President of French for the Future. "This contest provided a unique way for students to demonstrate their commitment to a cause as well as to bilingualism.”  

Winners in two categories—French First Language (FFL) and French Second Language (FSL)—won a total of $140,000 in scholarships, to be awarded during a special ceremony on April 28, 2009, at 9:00 am at 4101 Desmarais Hall, 55 Laurier E., at the University of Ottawa.  

The awards ceremony coincides with the launch of French for the Future’s Local Forums, one-day events that take place in cities across Canada where high school students gather for a chockfull day of activities entirely in French.

Grand Prize Winners (each win a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa and a $1,000 cheque)

French First Language category   
Marie-Josee Charette (Casselman, ON)     
L’obésité juvénile, mythe ou réalité?    
[Juvenile Obesity—Myth or Reality?]    

French Second Language category   
Kaeli Bauman (Castlegar, BC)  
S’engager, voyager, s’éduquer
[Get Involved, Travel, Educate]


Second Place (each win a $5,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa and a $750 cheque)

FFL category    
Diane Bouguem (Mississauga, ON)     
En route pour le commerce équitable!    
[On the Path to Fair Trade]    

FSL category
Victoria Cate May Burton (Ottawa, ON)
Les jeunes et le changement climatique
[Youth and Climate Change]


Third Place (each win a $5,000 scholarship to the University of Ottawa and a $250 cheque)

FFL category   
Carinne Collins (Gatineau, QC)     
L’aide canadienne aux pays en développement    
[Canadian Aid in the Developing World]    

FSL category
Alex Thumm (Saskatoon, SK)
Un monde équitable commence par le commerce équitable
[A Fair World Begins with Fair Trade]

And 40 finalists each won a $2,000 scholarship.