The awards ceremony for the "My Pen Against Racism and Racial Profiling" contest was held this Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Repentigny Recreation Centre, bringing together more than one hundred participants, including students, parents, teachers, and leading figures in the fight against racism. This initiative, co-organized by the LAKAY organization and the Profiling Observatory of the University of Montreal, provided a platform for young people to express their thoughts and creative solutions to the problems of racism and racial profiling.
The competition saw enthusiastic participation from students from various schools in the Lanaudière region, who submitted texts reflecting a deep and personal understanding of the issues of racism. Jacie-Mya Alfred, a student at Collège de l'Assomption, won first prize in the secondary school category with her work entitled "My Colour Is Not a Crime," a poignant text that highlights the prejudices and injustices suffered by Black and Indigenous communities.
The Minister responsible for combating racism, Mr. Christopher Skeete, expressed his admiration for the initiative, highlighting the hope he found in the active participation of young people in this project. He congratulated the organizers for creating a platform that allows young people to contribute meaningfully to the debate on racism and racial profiling.
Pierre Richard Thomas, Director of LAKAY, also emphasized the importance of the competition, highlighting the crucial role of schools, parents, and teachers in encouraging young people to engage in discussions on such important social issues. He noted that the submitted texts demonstrate enormous potential for positive change in society.
The director of the Profiling Observatory shared the challenges the jury faced in selecting the winners, due to the exceptional quality of the submitted texts. This abundance of high-quality contributions led to the addition of a second prize, highlighting the participants' commitment and creativity. She expressed her hope for a more just society, inspired by the fresh and constructive perspectives of these young authors.
The event not only rewarded young talent for their literary contributions, but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of youth in building a more inclusive and equitable society. By giving students a platform to express their ideas, the "My Pen Against Racism and Racial Profiling" competition plays a crucial role in raising awareness and educating about the issues of racism and racial profiling, while encouraging constructive dialogue for the future.
Here is the list of winners:
| Price | First name | Name | Cycle | Level | School | Title of the text |
| First cycle – 1st prize | Nayla-Nour | Maouche | 1st | Sec 1 | Saint-Sacrement College | A colorful world. |
| 1st cycle – 2nd prize | Florence | Burnt | 1st | Sec 3 | Esther-Blondin College | One misunderstood woman among so many others |
| 2nd cycle – 1st prize | Jacie-Mya | Alfred | 2nd | Sec 3 | Collège de L'Assomption | My skin color is not a crime |
| 2nd cycle – 2nd prize | Saffra | Sall | 2nd | Sec 4 | Saint-Sacrement College | A rain of suffering |
| First cycle favorite | Amira | Shaimi | 1st | Sec 1 | Saint-Sacrement College | Without our different colors, the rainbow would not exist. |
| A favorite in the second cycle | Ramsey Shamara | Lacouture | 2nd | Sec 3 | Saint-Sacrement College | Seeing life in color |
| A favorite in the second cycle | Esther | Valansline Romain | 2nd | Sec 5 | Collège de L'Assomption | The plight of visible minorities in foreign lands |
| Best English text | Komal | Ahmed | 2nd | Sec 3 | Saint-Sacrement College | Clouds |