Imagine a Canada
Congratulations to the 2025 Imagine a Canada Honourees!
Imagine a Canada asks students across the country to envision a reconciled Canada and make something that reflects their vision. To enter, students may create artwork, write an essay, or plan a community project to promote reconciliation. These are this years honourees:
Project Honourees
| Name | Region | School | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alisa Rtishcheva | MB | U Multicultural Inc. | Create and release 3-episode podcast, “Radio des Petits Hiboux – Youth Voices for Reconciliation”. |
| Grace Keehn, Hailey Bear, and Lyric Bear | AB | École Okotoks Junior High School | Develop a new culturally grounded multipurpose sharing space. |
| Puneet Kaur and Kingston Baptiste | AB | James Fowler High School | A day to honour the late Senator Murray Sinclair. |
Zoe Lheritier, Nicole Chisholm, and Anna Vallières Martinson | BC | École Secondaire Jules-Verne | Bring traditional sport called double-ball to gym curriculum. |
| Jocelyn Whalen’s group | MB | Otetiskewin Kiskinwamahto-wekamik School | Develop traditional food garden and delivery of food kits to community. |
| Annabelle Lecouf and Mia Massé | QC | École secondaire Paul-Hubert de rimouski | Build a culturally grounded sharing circle space/teepee. |
| Angeleah Bulger | SK | Chief Little Pine School | Establishment of sewing club. |
| Kaylee Roney and Basil George Moody | BC | Houston Secondary School | Bring in a knowledge keeper to teach traditional BC-style carving. |
Aviva Wiser, Ethan Panaligan, and Elena Garcia | BC | St. Thomas More Collegiate (STMC) | Costal Salish cultural week of learning. |
| Luca Roberts and Shawn Chuddford | BC | Cultus Lake Swílhcha Community School | Cultural day with a whole range of activities. |
| Sadie Truong and Sarah Krause | BC | Prince of Wales Secondary School | Expand their traditional plant garden. |
| Lenn Crowshoe, Kylee North Peigan, and Sapphira Storm Warrior | AB | Matthew Halton High School | Mural for the school honouring Blackfoot culture. |
| Aurora McConini and Maya Dunn | ON | Langton Public School | Mural for the school representing the 13 moons. |
| Julia Folk | ON | Father Bressani Catholic High School | Mmiwg micro-gallery for the school. |
Hudson Docker | ON | Tait Street Public School | Expand existing garden to make for 3 sisters garden. |
| Lily Dubois and Addison Mason | ON | A. Lorne Cassidy Elementary School | Hockey equipment drive that will delivery equipment to communities. |
Essay Honourees
| Name | Region | School | Type | Tittle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robbin Swain-Wallace and Peter Charlie (tsundigamak) | BC | Eke Me-Xi Learning Centre | Video essay | My World |
| Dylan Smarch (Shkatnigi) and Grace McLeod (Watsi) | YK | Khàtìnas.àxh Community School | Drawing | Imagine a Canada where you can be yourself? |
| Doyinsola Oluboye | MB | R. D. Parker Collegiate | Song | Reconcile Canada |
| Ammy Parmer | MB | Tyndall Park Community School | Essay | A Reconciled Canada |
| Taravat Farsian | ON | Crestview Public Scool | Drawing | More Plants, More Medicine |
| Naia Kuljis | ON | École élémentaire Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau | Drawing | ville de la réconciliation |
| Wren Mercanti | AB | Hillcrest Christian School | Script for a play | What is Reconciliation? |
| Kaydence Chalifax | SK | Viscount Central School | Essay | The MMIW Movement and the lack of Media Coverage |
| Alexander Andrei | SK | Miller Comprehensive High School | Song | Sacred Signs |
| Maryse Simon’s class | AB | École Héritage | Drawing | La tortue de la vérité | The turtle of truth |
| Kian Lavenir | ON | École élémentaire Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau | Drawing | Pont de réconciliation |
| Emma Vickers | NFL | Brother Rice Junior High | Drawing and essay | The Wolf’s Child |
| Anne Yu and Linnea Wolf | BC | Glenlyon Norfolk School | Painting | Art for Action |
| Isabelle Adamns | ON | Our Lady of Lourdes | Photography | Canada’s Upside Down History |
| Fayt Kenney, Marek Ozembloski, and Jonas Giese | ON | Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute | Art and essay | It’s Always Too Little Too Late |
Youth who participate in the art and essay stream can submit an art piece, essay, or other representation to express their vision of a reconciled Canada and what they hope others will learn from their submission. Up to twelve projects will be selected from the art and essay stream to be included in an art booklet showcasing their work and message.
Youth who participate in the project stream are asked to go one step further and submit a plan on how their project will address Reconciliation in their community or school. Projects for consideration include: inviting Survivors, Elders, or Knowledge Keepers to speak at a series of learning events; building a permanent art installation representing Reconciliation at the school; or supporting volunteer work in communities related to Reconciliation. Six projects from the project stream will receive $750, six will receive $1000, and three will receive $1500. Additionally, these projects will also be recognized in an art booklet.
Youth from select projects in both streams will be invited to participate in virtual leadership training exercises. Youth will learn directly from Elders, Survivors, and Knowledge Keepers as well as special guests about how to engage and lead difficult conversations, how to be a Reconciliation leader, how to manage projects, and how and where to secure funds for future projects.
At the end of the school year, a national celebration will be held to honour up to twelve projects from the art and essay stream and up to fifteen projects from the project stream. Youth from the project stream will be expected to give a short presentation of their project and its progress. Furthermore, the youth will engage with select classrooms from across the country to talk about Reconciliation and share their project. They will also be expected to provide a check-in midway and provide a final report as to their project and how the funds were spent.
For more information, please contact Imagine A Canada at:
Phone: 204-474-6069 or Toll Free: 1-855-415-4534 (North America)
Email: imagineacanada@umanitoba.ca
#MYIMAGINEACANADA
Past Program Gallery
Browse our photo and art book gallery from past programming events, including student submissions and honourees.
Financial Support:
Support for Imagine a Canada program comes from IG Wealth Management and Power Corporation of Canada.
NCTR’s spirit name – bezhig miigwan, meaning “one feather”.
Bezhig miigwan calls upon us to see each Survivor coming to the NCTR as a single eagle feather and to show those Survivors the same respect and attention an eagle feather deserves. It also teaches we are all in this together — we are all one, connected, and it is vital to work together to achieve reconciliation.