Earlier this year, Ontario Tech University, in partnership with the Ontario Justice Education Network, hosted its 2nd annual essay contest. This contest invited students in grades 11 and 12 to submit an essay on a topic concerning Canadian Law, social change, or International Law.
After receiving submissions from students across Ontario, finalists were invited to attend an awards ceremony at Ontario Tech’s Oshawa campus earlier this month.
At the ceremony, Norwell District Secondary School student Elsie B., was presented with one of the runner-up up awards and a $500 entrance scholarship.
Elsie entered the essay contest after receiving an offer of acceptance from Ontario Tech University. Elsie’s essay explored the topic prompt, “What role does legal reform play in creating positive social change?” As a result of this prompt, Elsie combined a love of Law and History. According to Elsie, “I wrote about the historical usage of law to create positive social change. My three points were about Mesopotamia and how the creation of law was a positive social change and how though we think of the code of Hammurabi as a harsh law code, there was protection for citizens within the code. My second point was on the abolishment of segregation in Canada and how it takes society as a whole to create social change, not just the government. My final point was about same-sex marriage and how there are still things within our society that need to be improved upon.”
As part of the awards ceremony, award recipients heard lectures from professors Dr. Sasha Bagley, Dr. Kunika Samuels-Wortley and Dr. Jen Rinaldi.
After high school, Elsie plans to attend Ontario Tech University to study Criminology and Criminal Justice with a specialization in Victimology and Victim Studies. Elsie’s ultimate goal is to pursue a career in Victim Services or Human Rights.
Congratulations, Elsie, on achieving this award!