The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms offered two scholarship programs for 2024: the Brandom Langhjelm Essay Contest, and the Photography and Digital Art Contest. Three recipients for each award have been selected, and they'll each receive a $2,000 scholarship! Now, we're thrilled to announce the winners!

The 2024 Brandon Langhjelm Essay Contest

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:

• 1: Government Regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• 2: Government Regulation of Hate Speech

First place: Nahomy M

Essay title: AI Surveillance and Privacy in Canada: The Need for Government Intervention

Nahomy 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, and building meaningful connections. Nahomy's goal is to grow her small business further to create a lasting, positive impact in her community.

Read Nahomy's essay here! (PDF)

Second place: Daro M

Essay title: The Right to Offend: Bill C-63 Goes a Little Too Far

Onadavwaro (Daro) 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.

Read Daro's essay here! (PDF)

Third place: Ikhlas O

Essay title: The Effects of Government Regulation of Hate Speech on Freedom of Expression

Ikhlas 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.

Read Ikhlas's essay here! (PDF)

Honourable mentions

We recognize and congratulate the following five writers for their outstanding essays, which stood out as top contenders:

• Madeleine R
• Isobel W
• Donald P
• Mili L
• Hasti A

Thank you for your hard work and truly impressive essays! We celebrate your contributions and encourage you to apply again next year. We believe in the power of young voices like yours to shape a brighter future in Canada, and contests like this help refine your voice.

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.

The Photography and Digital Art Contest

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Photography/Digital Art contest. With more than 650 creative entries, this was truly a competitive contest.

This year's theme was 'Freedom in Democracy,' and contestants submitted thoughtful and creative entries in response to the following prompt:

• Capture the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in action.

First place: Yolanda S

Artwork title: Protesting for Freedom

Yolanda is a senior in high school in Ontario who is working to become an aspiring artist and architect. Her future goals consist of studying architecture, engineering, or illustration at university, where she will continue to pursue her passion. Inspired by online digital artists, she works to inspire others through her art. In her spare time, she draws digital pieces, studies, reads manga, listens to soft rock and J-pop, and plays rhythm games.

Second place: Demi A

Artwork title: Freedom of Expression

Demi is a 16 year-old artist from Alberta, who discovered her voice through creating. Since she was six, she's used art to convey her emotions and thoughts on how she views the world. As a Black female artist, she looks forward to a future where all diverse voices are valued and respected. She hopes to play a role, no matter how small, in encouraging others to act and express themselves in their own ways, while celebrating what makes Canada diverse.

Third place: Alexia B

Artwork title: Freedom Convoy

As the world abruptly shut down due to COVID-19 regulations, Alexia, a 15-year-old who exercised her right to freedom of medical choice, was banned from doing all her sports (both in school and out of school), working, and doing anything leisurely in public. The freedom convoy & protests in Ottawa gave her hope during a time of total despair as she was grieving the life of a normal teenager.

Honourable mentions

We recognize and congratulate the following five artists for their outstanding artworks, which stood out as top contenders:

• Allyson F
• Laura N
• Kamsika K
• Emily R
• Taher H

See their work on the JCCF Photography/Digital Art contest webpage.

Thank you for sharing your talent and creativity with us! We celebrate your contributions and encourage you to apply again next year. It is artists like you who shape the course of history, and we hope you continue to use your art to spark conversation and inspire change.

About the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms

Founded in 2010, we defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education. Our vision is a free society where governments uphold human dignity by respecting fundamental rights and freedoms, and where Canadians can realize their potential and fulfil their aspirations. Our mission is to defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through litigation and education.

Thank you to all applicants to the essay and photo/digital arts contests! We enjoyed reviewing your work and look forward to your future success!