TOWNSHIPS YOUNG VOICES AWARDS 2025 – Eastern Townships Students Shock and Shine

by Marie Moliner

Stanstead, QC – April 6, 2025. The Townships Sun’s much-anticipated 2025 Townships Young Voices Awards wrapped up Sunday, April 6, at the Dufferin Heights Golf Club in Stanstead, Quebec. Bringing together some 150 finalists, friends, and family members, the event was a passionate celebration of young talent from across the Eastern Townships.

Finalists from Granby to Drummondville came together to be recognized for their artistic, literary, and creative achievements—and to share their unique perspectives on life in the region. With 90 submissions from 20 schools, as well as individuals out of school and homeschoolers alike, the awards showcased the diverse voices of participants ages 11 to 29. Prizes totaling $3000 were handed out to 16 finalists and two schools.

All works were judged anonymously. Jury members said they were impressed even more when they later learned that two-thirds of the finalists were 16 and under—a remarkable testament to the talent emerging at the younger levels.

While many submissions expressed themes of hope and resilience, others courageously delved into despair, fear, and challenging issues like bullying. Reflecting the moody tone of many submissions, the awards ceremony took place against the stunning backdrop of the Appalachian corridor, where guests watched the sun, rain, and occasional snow flurry take turns across the sky.

Ross Murray, juror and returning Master of Ceremony, was joined by Ana Martinez, former Townships Sun Board member and B.C.S. grad, who has completed her first year at the University of Toronto. “The Eastern Townships are such a very special place and it is so good to be back to celebrate the creativity of young Townshippers,” said Martinez, originally from Brazil.

 

Are the Kids Okay? The TYVoices Jury Weighs In

This year’s TYVoices Creative Awards raised an intriguing question: Are the kids okay? “The entries in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, and photography revealed a striking emotional depth and a keen awareness of the world around them,” Murray observed. Yet, reassuringly, they also reflected a strong sense of hope rooted in friendships, a love of nature, and the enduring bonds of family.

Notable Finalists and Winning Works

Among the many inspiring submissions, certain works stood out for their emotional weight and unique perspectives.

In the Art category, 12-year-old Rafaele Gosselin from Granby tied for third place with her powerful piece addressing bullying. Gosselin shared in her artist’s statement, “Being bullied sometimes leads to suicides, and the Eastern Townships is no different than other schools.” Her work was a raw and poignant reflection on a troubling issue many people, young and old, face today.

In first-place for poetry, Beatrice Lambie, in Grade 6 at Sherbrooke Elementary, took a lighter approach in her poem Climbing Mountains. “My poem, set on a mountainside in the Eastern Townships, talks about my experience camping, and how I believe the nature here is beautiful,” she wrote. “But I prefer to enjoy it from the comfort of a cozy cabin!” Poetry juror Heather Davis explained why this poem won first place: “I enjoyed the sense of perspective in Climbing Mountains—the poet views herself and her surroundings with a contemplative and honest lens. The precise and beautiful details capture both her individual experience and the essence of a Townships winter.”

In nonfiction, first prize went to “Home?!” by Milly Dziallas, age 16 and an exchange student from Germany living in Magog. “This is a heartfelt, personal memoir that I found really engaging,” said Rachel Garber, the category’s jury member. “Its theme has both local and universal significance. It is well written, and ends with a little gut-punch!”

Reflecting on this year’s submissions, fiction juror Ross Murray, observed “There are a lot of sinister strangers and threats of violence in these entries, which leaned heavily toward fantasy.” Three-time winner Johnny Beauvais of Cowansville took first place for the story “The Letter,” which Murray praised for its compelling narrative and emotional depth. Murray also emphasized the timeless advice to “write what you know and love,” as he awarded an Honourable Mention to Dustin from Drummondville Elementary, whose clever mystery explored the fictional origin story of McDonald’s.

Several students from Champlain College were recognized in the photography category, judged by John Mackley, photographer and photo archivist for the Townships Sun. First place went to Sofia El Habachi, whose winning image—captured spontaneously while she was waiting for the bus—was described by Mackley as “perfect.” Second Place was awarded to Bryan Laprise (Champlain College, Sherbrooke), a three-time TYVoices participant and 2023 Non-Fiction winner. His atmospheric photograph of the clock at the Lennoxville Library was noted for its striking composition and evocative mood.

 

The Importance of Creativity for Youth

“Creative expression plays a crucial role in the well-being of young people, offering an outlet for self-discovery, emotional processing, and mental health support,” said Tanya Rhodes, Educational Program Assistant at Phelps Helps in Stanstead, which helped promote TYVoices.

Montreal Hooked on School (Réseau réussite Montréal) reports that students who take part in arts activities have a better chance at succeeding—they get better grades, are less likely to drop out, and develop into more engaged citizens. This year’s contest further emphasized the impact of creative encouragement, as many students credited their teachers for inspiring them to explore their talents and participate in the competition.

For the truly dedicated, art isn’t just a passion—it’s a lifeline, and even a career. Take Xania Keane, an award-winning spoken word artist whose talents span poetry, visual art, electronic music, and tap dance. Xania led communications for the TYVoices Awards and brought an explosion of colour and imagination to the Dufferin Heights space, including a collaborative mural made of puzzle pieces. Each finalist took home a piece, which—when assembled—revealed a shared message for all to reflect on: “When it comes to your greatness, creativity is the key—because with it, there’s no limit to what you can be.” Each finalist also received a tote bag featuring Sunny the toad, a mascot she designed especially for TYVoices.

 

 

Winners and Honourable Mentions

The awards ceremony was a moment to honour the dedication and creativity of all finalists. Below are the winners and honourable mentions, whose works will be published in the July/August issue of the Townships Sun, available on Canada Day!

 

• Art:

  • First Place: Isabella Cliche (14, Sherbrooke, Homeschool)

  • Second Place: Juliet Macaulay-Fishman (13, Canton-de-Hatley, BCS)

  • Tied Third: Lila Mauduit (11, Stanstead, Jardin-des-Frontières)

  • Tied Third: Rafaele Gosselin (12, Granby, Parkview Elementary)

  • Honourable Mentions:

    • Sabrina Castonguay (17, Sherbrooke, Alexander Galt)

    • Alicia Diaz-Pappas (27, Waterloo)

• Photography:

  • First Place: Sofia El Habachi (18, Sherbrooke, College Champlain)

  • Second Place: Bryan Laprise (18, Sherbrooke, Champlain College)

  • Third Place: Cecilia Neville (15, Sherbrooke, Homeschool)

  • Honourable Mention: Agena-Loire Kwizera (18, Sherbrooke, Champlain College Lennoxville)

• Nonfiction:

  • First Place: “Home?!” by Milly Dziallas (16, Magog, Alexander Galt)

  • Second Place: “How History Shared with Creativity Makes Engaging Communities” by Laurie Ruel Duranleau (19, Granby, CEGEP de Granby)

  • Third Place: “Healthcare Apartheid: Unmasking the Inequities Facing Indigenous Communities in Quebec” by Gabrielle Bouchard (20, CEGEP de Granby)

• Poetry:

  • First Place: “Climbing Mountains” by Beatrice Lambie (11, Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke Elementary)

  • Second Place: “As a Women” by Ada Aiken Beattie (14, Canton-de-Hatley, Alexander Galt)

  • Third Place: “The Youngest Sibling” by Eleanor Dubeau (14, Sherbrooke, Alexander Galt)

  • Honourable Mentions:

    • “Summer Storm” by Avigaelle M. Court (13, Homeschool, Compton)

    • “Untitled” by Stella Dubois (12, Richmond High School)

• Fiction:

  • First Place: “The Letter” by Johnny Beauvais (17, Cowansville, Homeschool)

  • Second Place: “The Snowlands” by Micah Anderson Ward (12, Drummondville, Drummondville Elementary School)

  • Third Place: “Windspeaker” by Sofia Thibault (11, Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke Elementary School)

  • Honourable Mentions:

    • “The Story of McDonald’s” by Dustin (10, Drummondville Elementary School)

    • “Carnival of Despair” by Alais Heau (15, Sherbrooke, Bishop’s College School)

 

 

A Shared Victory for Schools

In addition to the individual prizes, there was special recognition for participating schools: Bishop’s College School in Sherbrooke and Parkview Elementary in Granby shared a $250 prize for the highest level of student participation.

A Community Effort

The Townships Young Voices initiative of the Townships Sun is made possible through the generous support of local sponsors and funders. “This event is volunteer-run, and it is all about building a community of young Townshippers who can find purpose in being creative,” said Marie Moliner, Arts Editor of the Townships Sun. “The parents and teachers here today, who have encouraged these young writers, photographers and artists, make this event worth every ounce of effort, and make me think that maybe, just maybe, we can pull it off again next year!”

Moliner was enthusiastically honoured as the “Godmother and Champion” of the Townships Young Voices Project, now in its third year. “It takes a village, or in this case many villages, to make a community event like this happen. I am so proud of the many Townships Sun volunteers whose care and attention to detail brought this third edition of Townships Young Voices to life—and in such vibrant, joyful colours,” said Moliner.

 

Sponsors and Funders

“We started TYVoices three years ago because we wanted more young contributors and young readers,” said Rachel Garber, the magazine’s editor and president. “Townships Young Voices has really helped with this, and thanks to youth participation, our little community non-profit magazine has a future! We are especially grateful to our sponsors for the ongoing support of our growing list of sponsors and funders.”

Shout out to the sponsors:

• Townships Sun, TYVoices special issue

• Sherbrooke Rotary Club

• Community Digital Arts Hub (CDAH) of the English Language Arts Network

• Townshippers Research & Cultural Foundation

• Tillotson Fund

• Mme Geneviève Hébert, MNA (St-François)

• Municipality of Compton

• Municipality of Cowansville

• Marie-Claude Bibeau, MP (Compton-Stanstead)

• Dufferin Heights Golf Club

• Canton of Hatley

• Municipality of Stanstead East

• Donations from individuals

 

About Townships Young Voices

The Townships Young Voices Awards is an annual celebration of the creative work of youth across the Eastern Townships. The awards aim to inspire and nurture young artists, writers, and creators by providing them with a platform to share their voices and gain recognition for their work.

ABOUT THE JURORS:

Each entry was reviewed by five expert jurors, all members of the Townships Sun editorial team.

• Heather Davis (Poetry) – Townships Sun poetry editor, poet, and creative writing instructor at Bishop’s University and Université de Sherbrooke.

• Rachel Garber (Nonfiction) – Editor-in-chief of the Townships Sun since 2021, and its current president.

• John Mackley (Photography) – Photographer and the Townships Sun’s photo archivist.

• Marie Moliner (Art) – Arts editor for the Townships Sun, lifelong arts advocate, and artist currently practicing ceramics at the Rozynski Arts Centre.

• Ross Murray (Fiction) – Guest editor for the May issue of the Townships Sun. Novelist, playwright, humorist with work featured on CBC Radio and McSweeney’s, and communications director at Stanstead College.

 

 

 

For more information about Townships Young Voices, please contact:
Xania Keane, TYVoices Communications Agent: [email protected]