The 2026 Diverse Minds Competition in Manitoba
B’nai Brith Canada is proud to present an exciting educational initiative that celebrates diversity and empowers young creators. The Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition invites high school students across Manitoba to reflect on the values of diversity and inclusion by writing and illustrating an original story that teaches elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 5) about inclusion, respect, and the power of embracing differences.
This is learning driven by students themselves: a peer-to-peer experience where young people shape the kind of communities they want to live in. Diverse Minds encourages students to become role models, storytellers, and changemakers, showing them that their voices matter and their impact can reach far beyond the classroom.
The 2026 Competition
The 2026 Diverse Minds competition is open exclusively to high school students in the province of Manitoba.
What is a competition without prizes?
First-place winner*
The first-place winner will receive $2,500 in cash and will have his/her book published in hard-cover, promoted and distributed. Copies of the winning book will be distributed to libraries throughout Manitoba.
Four runners-up*
$1,000 each
Teachers of all finalists
$250 each
Winners will be announced in the fall of 2026.
*If two students submit the winning entry together, they will share the prize.
Submission Deadline
June 10, 2026
2026 Guidelines
Who is Eligible
The Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition is open to all high school students in the province of Manitoba.
How to Participate
Students may work individually or in pairs to write and illustrate an original children’s book for elementary school-age readers (Kindergarten-Grade 5) on the themes of diversity and inclusion.
Each submission must be a positive, community‑focused story that highlights how these values can strengthen the world around us. Books must be between 16 and 24 pages.
Important Details
Once submitted, all entries become the property of B’nai Brith Canada. B’nai Brith Canada retains full rights to the content, publication, and distribution of all books, and will professionally publish the winning entries.
Students participating in the competition provide full consent for B’nai Brith Canada to use their images, photos and/or videos for promotional purposes.
Finalists, along with two parents or guardians, will be invited to attend the awards ceremony in Fall 2026.
Judging Panel
Following an initial round of judging, by a distinguished panel, with expertise in journalism, human rights, diversity, and creative arts, the selected finalists will advance to a final evaluation. This final review will determine the winners of the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition.
Advertising Resources
For parents and teachers who wish to spread the word of this competition, please see below for printable posters which can be posted in your classroom or community centres.
Media Enquiries
For media enquires about the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition, please email [email protected].
Contact Us
For all other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Elizabeth, Our 2025 Competition Winner!
Elizabeth Piché won the 2025 Diverse Minds competition as a Grade 12 student at Shaftesbury High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her story, The Missing Puzzle Piece Society, is a heartfelt reminder for readers of all ages that true beauty and belonging are discovered when we embrace our differences.
Diverse Minds 2025 in the Media
For media enquires about the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition, please email [email protected].
Winnipeg student Elizabeth Piché recently won a national creative writing competition for her kids book "The Missing Puzzle Piece Society," which talks about diversity and inclusion. pic.twitter.com/eRPe4ZQns3
— Global Winnipeg (@globalwinnipeg) September 10, 2025
Meet Our 2025 Finalists
Hear from last year’s finalists as they share the stories behind their books, the inspiration that brought them to life, and what diversity means to them.
The Diverse Minds Collection
To purchase copies of books from previous Diverse Minds finalists and winners, please click here to visit our distributor.
About the Diverse Minds Program
Diverse Minds is an innovative program designed to promote empathy, inclusion, and respect in young Canadians by bringing powerful children’s books into elementary classrooms across the country. These stories—written and illustrated by high school students—create a unique peer-to-peer learning experience, where young voices inspire and educate the next generation. Each book is also paired with a practical teaching guide to support values-based learning and spark meaningful conversations.
Interested in booking a reading at your school?
Email [email protected] for more information.
Teaching Guides
We've created a series of classroom-ready teaching guides to give educators the resources and activities they need to incorporate Diverse Minds books. These materials are designed to assist educators to use the series as part of their curriculum and in fun and meaningful ways. Select titles also have accompanying audio versions (which are linked below).
Meet Our Diverse Minds Sponsors
For many years, Earl and Cheryl Barish have each played active and impactful roles within B’nai Brith Canada. Driven by a shared passion for community and a strong belief in giving back, they’ve contributed across a wide range of causes and initiatives.
At the core of their efforts are the values of human rights, youth development, and intercultural understanding. Earl and Cheryl believe that empowering young people to think critically, embrace change, and champion inclusion is essential to healing the challenges of both today and tomorrow. They have unwavering faith in the potential of young minds to shape a better future. The Diverse Minds project is a powerful example of this vision in action—encouraging students to express their hopes, ideas, and dreams through creativity and storytelling.
Earl and Cheryl are deeply proud of this initiative and were honoured to underwrite the Manitoba launch of Diverse Minds: the very first of its kind in the country for B’nai Brith Canada. That it began in Manitoba, home to the renowned Canadian Museum of Human Rights, made the moment all the more meaningful. After many successful years as a national program, the Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition has now returned to its roots and once again runs exclusively in Manitoba.
While the competition is no longer national, Diverse Minds books continue to be read, shared, and circulated in schools in every corner of the country, reaching students nationwide. Earl and Cheryl hope this beautiful initiative will go on to inspire creativity, compassion, and a commitment to building a kinder, more inclusive Canada for many generations to come.