Essay Contest
Meet the 2024 Winners
We are excited to announce the winners of the 2024 essay contest. With more than 370 entries, the level of thought, effort, and insight demonstrated was truly inspiring.
This year's Essay Contest focused on two of Canada’s most controversial questions about individual rights and freedoms.
Contestants submitted thoughtful and creative entries in response to the following prompts:
Option One: Government Regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries from healthcare to finance, manufacturing to entertainment, art to academia. Some Canadians are concerned about the impacts AI could have on their rights and freedoms, including their security, privacy, equality, expression, and legal rights.
Question #1: Focus on one case in which AI threatens or could potentially threaten the rights or freedoms of Canadians. What role, if any, should the Canadian government play in protecting Canadians against AI in this case? Why should the government be permitted to intervene in the application of AI in this case (if at all)?
Option Two: Government Regulation of Hate Speech
Freedom of expression is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Many Canadians think, however, that hate speech should be illegal in Canada. Canadian governments are proposing legislation that would see hate speech punished more severely. For instance, in early 2024, Minister of Justice Arif Virani introduced Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act) in the House of Commons to create additional penalties for hate speech in Canada – up to life imprisonment.
Question #2: What is hate speech? Is it possible to arrive at a workable definition of “hate speech”? Does the government have a legitimate interest in censoring hate speech? Why or why not? Cite a case in which a Canadian government has censored hate speech. Was the censorship legitimate in that case?
First Place: Nahomy Milembamane
Essay title: AI Surveillance and Privacy in Canada: The Need for Government Intervention
Our winning essay this year provides a thorough examination of the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly focusing on its impact on Canadians’ privacy. Relying on good research and uses of theory, it discusses why privacy is valuable and provides a comprehensive analysis of the implications of privacy violations. It shows what governments’ role should be in regulating AI, and addresses Canada’s current policies and how they are deficient. But where this essay truly excels is in providing detailed and practical policy proposals the government should use in addressing the concerns outlined in the essay.
Biography
Nahomy Milembamane is a Commerce student at Nipissing University and a dynamic entrepreneur. She is the founder and owner of Shouts Naturals Hair Care, a business specializing in organic hair products. As a dedicated community leader, Nahomy plays an active role in her local church by mentoring others and supporting outreach programs. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading—her favourite book being How to Win Friends and Influence People—and building meaningful connections. Nahomy’s goal is to grow her small business further to create a lasting, positive impact in her community.
Second Place: Daro Mrakpor
Essay title: The Right to Offend: Bill C-63 Goes a Little Too Far
This exceptionally well-crafted essay examines the challenges around defining “hate speech” and determining the proper balance between freedom of expression and truly harmful expression. The essay is well-researched and incorporates foundational primary sources, notably referencing John Stuart Mill’s harm principle to identify potential legitimate limitations on free speech. This essay really shines in its comprehensive analysis of Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, examining not just its flaws and dangers, but also its implications on Canadians’ freedom of expression. It is also supported by relevant case law that shows how Canadian courts have grappled with this issue.
Biography
Onadavwaro (Daro) Mrakpor is a University of Calgary Student pursuing a Law and Society degree, with minors in Management and Society, and Leadership Studies. She enjoys studying and researching areas that focus on power dynamics, expression, and identity. Post-graduation, Daro plans to gain field experience before starting her journey towards academia. You can catch her dancing, writing poetry, learning random facts, or watching dramas in her free time.
Third Place: Ikhlas Omar
Essay title: The Effects of Government Regulation of Hate Speech on Freedom of Expression
This essay demonstrates originality and strong critical thinking skills in its discussion of the challenges of defining “hate speech” and the appropriate extent of governmental regulation. Relying on extensive research, it provides a detailed analysis of the adverse effects Bill C-63 would have on Canadian democracy. Throughout the essay, the author makes use of rhetorical questions that prompt the reader to reflect critically on the issue. The highlight of this essay, however, is its skillful use of theory and examples. For instance, it cites Austin’s theory of communication to demonstrate the inherent subjectivity of “hate speech” and provides practical examples that illustrate this.
Biography
Ikhlas Omar is a first-year student at the University of Ottawa, where she is studying Conflict Resolution and Human Rights. Aspiring to become an international lawyer, she seeks to address global challenges, engage with diverse cultures, and advocate for human rights on a global scale. Outside of her academic pursuits, Ikhlas enjoys reading novels, binge-watching shojo animes, and baking desserts with her mother.
"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
― George Orwell
The 2024 Brandon Langhjelm Essay Contest celebrates academic excellence and fuels the ambitions of the next generation of scholars and leaders in Canada.
We want to hear your thoughts on Canada’s most controversial and difficult questions about individual rights and freedoms.
This Year's Options
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries from healthcare to finance, manufacturing to entertainment, art to academia. Some Canadians are concerned about the impacts AI could have on their rights and freedoms, including their security, privacy, equality, expression, and legal rights.
Question #1: Focus on one case in which AI threatens or could potentially threaten the rights or freedoms of Canadians. What role, if any, should the Canadian government play in protecting Canadians against AI in this case? Why should the government be permitted to intervene in the application of AI in this case (if at all)?
Freedom of expression is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Many Canadians think, however, that hate speech should be illegal in Canada. Canadian governments are proposing legislation that would see hate speech punished more severely. For instance, in early 2024, Minister of Justice Arif Virani introduced Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act) in the House of Commons to create additional penalties for hate speech in Canada – up to life imprisonment.
Question #2: What is hate speech? Is it possible to arrive at a workable definition of “hate speech”? Does the government have a legitimate interest in censoring hate speech? Why or why not? Cite a case in which a Canadian government has censored hate speech. Was the censorship legitimate in that case?
Prizes
$2,000
First Place
$1,000
Second Place
$500
Third Place
Let your scholarship inspire change
Eligibility: Canadians aged 15-25 by contest deadline
Length: 1,200 to 1,500 words
Deadline: November 3, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Winners announced: December 16, 2024
Essay Guidelines
Before submission, please review:
“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”
William Faulkner
About Brandon Langhjelm
Despite being born with a significant disability, a connective tissue disorder called Loeys-Dietz syndrome, Brandon Langhjelm graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History degree and later went on to obtain his law degree from the University of British Columbia.
Brandon joined the Justice Centre team in 2018 and won his most significant court case in 2020, where he challenged the decision of the City of New Westminster to cancel an ethnic church’s youth conference because the City did not like one of its speakers. Brandon made court appearances on behalf of the Justice Centre until September 2021, when he was hospitalized and diagnosed with stage four cancer. He passed away on October 25, 2021. Brandon is missed by his colleagues for his keen legal insight and objective perspective, his love of the NHL, and his compassion for vulnerable people. Brandon faced life’s greatest challenge with courage, conviction, and trust in God. The Brandon Langhjelm Essay Contest was established in 2021 in his honour.
Sponsor the contest
Please reach out to our development team to discuss sponsorship packages. We want to partner with you to support a generation of scholars who are passionate about freedom.