For Immediate Release - Monday June 16, 2025

The Guelph Public Library, in partnership with Vocamus Writers Community, is thrilled to announce the results and achievements of this year’s Teen ETCH Creative Writing Contest. 

This annual creative arts contest for teens in grades 7 through 12 provides opportunities for Guelph’s youth to express their thoughts and connect to their community through the power of storytelling. This year’s theme was ‘Reflections.’

“Congratulations to everyone who submitted an entry to this year’s teen creative writing contest,” shares Meg Forestell-Page, Manager of Public Services. “It is always inspiring to read the submissions each year. This is a wonderful opportunity for Guelph Teen writers to share their amazing creative talents in a welcoming space.”

The library appreciates the continued support of the Vocamus Writers Community and Kiwanis Club of Guelph. All teen finalists were mentored by a local author who helped them strengthen their writing skills.

A special thanks to this year’s dedicated mentors for generously volunteering your time and expertise: June Blair, Laura Cok, Jack Florek, Catherine Frid, Jean Gibbens, Joanne Guidoccio, Larry Harder, Jaya James, Marilyn Kleiber, Judith Nasby, Dara Nolan, James Nowak, Michael Ridley, Dave Rogers, Deb Stark, Peter Szabo, Marian Thorpe, Tom Vaine, Anne Walk, Judy Wearing, and Jeremy Luke Hill.

We would like to recognize Jeremy Luke Hill and Laura Cok of the Vocamus Writers Community for their outstanding leadership and coordination of the contest; your dedication helped make this program a success.

The library would also like to thank KIWANIS for their support and generous monetary donation which went towards the prizes for the Teen ETCH authors and the event launch party.

Enjoy reading ETCH 2025 Anthology by purchasing your own copy at the Main Library – second floor - for $10 each or 2 for $15 and keep on celebrating Guelph’s talented and creative youth!

Here are this year’s selected entries and winners:

Cover Art:

First Place: Jaime Mino

Poetry Category:

First Place: “Nebulae” by Noah Orine

Second Place: “Lookback’s Shadow” by Silvie Muller

Third Place: “Reflections in Silver Glass” by Nandini Parihar

Runners Up:

“Lifetime” by Elianna Wylie

“11:12” by Jasmine Kaur-Sahini

Short Story Category - Grades 7 to 8:

First Place: “Night of Mystery” by Isabel Swan

Second Place: “A Guide to Not Dying in the World of Mirrors” by August McQuigge

Third Place: “My Friend in the War” by Ishanvi Nair

Short Story Category - Grades 9 to 10:

First Place: “Ripples of Recognition” by Nandini Parihar

Second Place: “A Letter without an Address” by Dylan Hostein

Third Place: “The Girl I Used to Be” by Piper Caporicci

Runner Up:

“Me” by Olivia Wang

Short Story Category - Grades 11 to 12:

First Place: “Cecil Mead” by Lily Bitton

Second Place: “Frayed Edges” by Kaelin Caporicci

Third Place: “The Man in the Mirror” by Ril Gibson

Runners Up:

”Elliot” by Forest Mae

“The Mirror” by Hana Maherali-Caruso

“A Brief Visit” by Paisley Thomason

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