2025 Righting History Literary Contest
We invite writers and poets across what is currently Canada to explore the intersections of environment, equity, and resistance through original creative work in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. We believe storytelling is a tool of resistance, healing, and transformation. This initiative is part of an anti-colonial education platform, called Righting History, created by climate justice nonprofit, Shake Up The Establishment.
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Our literary contest’s theme this year is: (Im)migration Stories at the Nexus of Climate Justice in Canada
Within the context of Bill C-2 and Bill C-5, we’re creating space for migrants’ roles, rights, and contributions in so-called Canada, and are seeking literary contributions that centre migrants’ perspectives on climate and social justice, and trace connections between places, memories, borders, and ecologies.
Prizes
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1st place: $750
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2nd place: $500
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3rd place: $250
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7 Honourable Mentions: $150 each
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Total winners: 10 — all published in a digital (and potentially limited print-run physical) collection
Submission Guidelines
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One original, unpublished piece in English per person (and please do not submit it elsewhere until we finalize our collection by or before Dec 31, 2025)
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Short story/non-fiction piece length: between 1000 - 5000 words
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Poetry limit: 1 page (500 words) and/or ≤50 lines
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Open to anyone in Canada
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We especially encourage (im)migrants, Indigenous, racialized, queer, trans & LGBTQIA+ folks, youth (18-35), women & gender-diverse people with lived experiences to participate given our theme and focus
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Priority consideration given to Toronto and Greater Toronto Area-based applicants due to our funding ​
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Judging & Selection
As a literary contest, we are looking for unique, compelling, and expressive voices and stylistic writing styles as your story/poem unfolds. Successful submissions will be chosen for their ability to deeply engage with the theme and related environmental/social justice issues, be insightful and original, thought-provoking and emotionally intelligent, and convey a unique perspective with a compelling, authentic voice. While we do want the writing to be polished, we understand that English is not everyone's strongest language. We do not require your piece to be in "perfect" English, and are happy to support with proofreading before finalization, should your piece require it.
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Winners notified by November 30th, 2025; collection finalized by December 31st, 2025 and released in January 2026.
Rights & Publication
Authors keep copyright and may reshare in other formats/publications after the 1-year exclusivity window from the first publication by Righting History (RH) Project by Shake Up The Establishment (SUTE) - but must include the following credit somewhere in the re-print: “Originally published in the 2025 Righting History Literary Contest, hosted by the Canadian climate justice nonprofit, Shake Up The Establishment”. Winners grant SUTE the right to publish their work online on both the rightinghistory.ca and shakeuptheestab.org websites as well as in a physical print format, and share/promote on our platforms indefinitely.
If SUTE secures funds to design and print a limited number of physical copies of this collection, authors permit us to sell the limited-number of print formats of this collection, with 100% of proceeds being donated to the RH project, which continues to critically need funds to maintain its programming. Authors will receive 1 free print-copy. SUTE also commits to using sustainable printing practices, and will print only a small batch (under 300 copies), that are printed using environmentally-friendly materials and shipped (where applicable) using recycled mailers.
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AI Policy
Entries must be original, unpublished work. Using generative AI to draft or “co-write” is not permitted for this contest; light assistive tools for grammar/spellcheck only are okay. At our team's discretion, we may run submissions suspected of AI use through AI-detection services, and this may impact judging and selection at the discretion of the judging committee.
Accessibility & Support
To ask questions or share support needs, please email: rh@shakeuptheestab.org.
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