Hosted by the university’s Legal Studies program, in partnership with the Ontario Justice Education Network, the contest invited submissions from students enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 law courses—Understanding Canadian Law and Canadian and International Law.

The contest received dozens of submissions from across the province, showcasing a passion for exploring the intersection of law and social change. After careful review, selected finalists were invited to attend an award ceremony at Ontario Tech’s downtown Oshawa campus on March 4.

The Honourable Julie Thorburn, Ontario Court of Appeal Judge and Ontario Tech Honorary doctorate recipient presented the top three finalists with cash prizes and Ontario Tech entrance scholarships.

• First place: Timothy Krantz (Lorne Park Secondary School), Promoting Canadian Democracy with Law Reforms. Awarded $500 and a $2,000 scholarship.
• Second place: Hannah Gordon (Great Lakes Christian High School), Beyond Colonial Law: UNDRIP, Section 35, and Legal Reform in Canada. Awarded $300 and a $1,500 scholarship.
• Third place: Mattea Newallo (the Virtual Learning Centre), A Law that Heals: The Role of Reform in Creating Positive Social Change in the Canadian Healthcare System. Awarded $200 and a $1,000 scholarship.

Runners-up (who received $500 entrance scholarships) included:

• Elsie Bentley (Norwell District Secondary School).
• Mathew Katz (Frontenac Secondary School).
• Rodrigo Navarro (Holy Cross Catholic Academy).
• Madison Turcotte (École Catholique Secondaire Pierre-Savard).
• Sachkaur Chahal (Mentor College).

The attendees participated in an intensive, interactive workshop on socio-legal research, which explores law’s impact on society, society’s impact on law and the complex relationship between the two. Along with a large group of students visiting from Saint Pope John Paul Catholic Secondary School, participants were treated to a series of presentations from Professors Sasha Baglay, Kanika Samuels-Wortley and Jen Rinaldi, who shared insights from their research. A panel featuring Dan Walters, Practicum Co-ordinator; Matt Luchese, Academic Advisor; Sam Brown, Ontario Tech alumna; and Branice Leung and Annissa Baksh, fourth-year, Ontario Tech students.

“It was a very stimulating day—the ideal way to celebrate the achievements of these students. The High School Essay Contest is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with pressing legal questions that confront all of us as Canadians,” says Dr. Thomas McMorrow, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. “The essays demonstrated thoughtful perspectives on complex issues of law and justice, and it’s exciting to see these students thinking critically about how legal systems shape society. That kind of curiosity and engagement is exactly what we aim to nurture in our Legal Studies program.”

The annual contest encourages high school students to explore legal ideas, strengthen their critical-thinking skills, and connect with post-secondary Legal Studies programs and the broader legal community.

“We have many students who find in our program an outstanding foundation for further legal study and a career in the law. We have several others who discover how indispensable legal knowledge and critical self-reflection are— both to success as professionals (no matter the field), and to active engagement as citizens. As Timothy’s winning essay suggests, the kind of laws we have in a democracy is a question for all of us. Through their research, writing and discussions, these essay contest participants are actively participating in this vital conversation.”

Learn more about Legal Studies and program offerings at Ontario Tech.