Teens inspired by Jack Layton win national essay contest

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Mary Faheim is too young to vote, doesn't follow politics and isn't from a family of avid NDP supporters. But the Mississauga teen was so moved by Jack Layton's farewell words to Canadians that she penned an essay about the late NDP leader that won her a national contest.

"I was never interested in the NDP party," said Ms. Faheim, 17. "It was in August when he published the farewell letter to Canadians, that's when I fell absolutely in love with him."

Even after Mr. Layton's death last year, his message continues to strike a powerful chord among youth. Mr. Layton was the most popular topic among the 2,000 or so entries in the A&E Lives That Make a Difference Essay Contest. Organizers said this is the first time that a figure has dominated the entries so strongly.

"We received a lot of essays on Jack Layton this year," said Alex DeBona, one of the contest judges. "We have heard from some students that his reference to young people in his letter to Canadians really resonated with them."

That seemed to be the case for Ms. Faheim, who said she felt the letter was addressing her directly.

"I felt like he had a personal connection with us," she said. "I love his attempt to involve the youth in everything."

Mr. Layton was also frequently in the news at the time when students were planning their essays, said Mr. DeBona, due to his party's historic win and his death.

"[Students]felt impacted by what they were hearing and seeing," said Mr. DeBona. "After all, the contest is called Lives That Make Difference. Many students felt that Jack did make a difference."

Ms. Faheim received her prize during a short ceremony at her high school, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, on Thursday morning. She said the $3,000 will go to funding her post-secondary studies in science and medicine.

While Ms. Faheim took home the grand prize, the first prize winner – 17-year-old Emily Candell at Pacific Christian School in Victoria, B.C. – also wrote about Mr. Layton.

Ms. Candell took home $2,000 for her essay, which compared Mr. Layton's political career to the Jack and the Beanstalk fable.

"He took such a risk and it turned out to be such a great thing," said Ms. Candell.

Ms. Candell's family moved to B.C. four years ago from Houston, Texas. The 11th grader first learned about the NDP at school. Her interest in Mr. Layton was sparked during last year's federal election.

"I was interested in the things his party had done and how much of a difference he was making," said Ms. Candell.

Neither Ms. Faheim nor Ms. Candell know whether they'll vote for the NDP after they turn 18. For Ms. Candell, it might be several years before she obtains her citizenship and is able to exercise her democratic right.

But regardless of political affiliations or voting eligibility, both young women said their lives have been touched by Mr. Layton's message.

"He was able to reach out to me personally," said Ms. Faheim. ""His legacy will definitely live on."

The annual A&E contest, which has been going on for 15 years, seeks to promote literacy and education. It accepts entries in two categories: grades five to eight and grades nine to twelve.

The winners' teachers will each receive $1,000 to be used in the classroom.