Wearing a poppy, attending a Remembrance Day ceremony, and learning about the contributions of veterans is an annual part of the school year for students.
For many area students, so too is marking November 11th with a poem, an essay or a poster as part of the Royal Canadian Legion's Remembrance Campaign.
Wednesday, the Royal Canadian Legion Moose Jaw Branch No. 59 honoured the winners who had the best Remembrance school displays, plus the poster and literary awards.
"It's been an event since we were younger and we've always grown up with it," said Anessa Stevens who first entered when she was in kindergarten. "So I though I might as well do it while I still can since it's been a tradition that we've always done."
Stevens, a Grade 10 student from Avonlea, won first prize for her poem in the senior age category and also was second in the colour poster contest.
Stevens won for an essay she wrote in Grade 6. The entries are generally class assignments, but she said that students at her school enjoy the chance to enter and earn monetary prizes for the best entries.
"The teachers make us do it, but the kids are all excited knowing we get to write a poem or an essay or draw something," Stevens said. "I'm really excited that my work actually went further than I thought it could."
There were seven area schools represented at the awards and there were more than 300 entries this year.
"It was a good turnout this year," said Deb Firth, the honours and awards chair for the Royal Canadian Legion Moose Jaw Branch No. 59. "I just wanted to thank the school systems and the teachers who continue to support this program."
Legion Posters, Poems and Essay Contest winners are as follows.
Posters
Primary Coloured
1. Stella Bosch, Sunningdale; 2. Maxime Curtis, Ecole St. Margaret; 3. Liam Dowling, St. Michael.
Primary Black & White
1. Katie Schmidt, Sunningdale; 2. Brecon Swalm, Sunningdale; 3. Jarred Heidt, Avonlea.
Junior Coloured
1. Tanikah Bern, Avonlea; 2. Keianna Christison, Avonlea; 3. Zachren Rhinas, Avonlea.
Junior Black & White
1. Rhyen Ubell, Avonlea; 2. Kate Hansen, Lindale; 3. Mateah Purdy, Lindale.
Intermediate Coloured
1. Aya Alkhaldi, Sunningdale; 2. Rylee Miskiman, Sunningdale; 3. Brianna Armstrong, Sunningdale.
Intermediate Black & White
1. Brennan Daradich, Sunningdale; 2. Macy Litzenberger, Sacred Heart; 3. Julia Rozwal Quimio, Sunningdale.
Senior Coloured
1. SoNova Duncan, Avonlea; 2. Anessa Stevens, Avonlea; 3. Kennedy MacNeil, Avonlea.
Senior Black & White
1. Drake Luebke, Avonlea; 2. Brandon Hubbard, Avonlea.
Poems
Junior
1. Brooke Pryor, Lindale; 2. Adison Morhart, St. Michael; 3. Riley Cushway, St. Michael.
Intermediate
1. Brayden Heistad, Avonlea; 2. Payton Nestman, Avonlea.
Senior
1. Anessa Stevens, Avonlea.
Essays
Junior
1. Lilly Fournel, Avonlea; 2. Kix Nelson, Avonlea; 3. Ryan Duncan, Avonlea.
Intermediate
1. Bryson Aikens, Sunningdale; 2. Hunter Paranuik, Avonlea.
Remembrance School Displays
1. St. Margaret; 2. Sunningdale; 3. Sacred Heart; Participation: William Grayson
