A Grade 11 student from Brockville Collegiate Institute has earned first place in a regional writing contest for her story exploring grief and hope. Sarah Thomas won the St. Lawrence Writers Festival youth fiction contest for students in Grades 10 to 12, the Upper Canada District School Board announced.
Thomas’ winning story, named “Under Silver Waters,” is about a teenager dealing with the death of her mother. The main character finds figures under a frozen lake that may represent lost loved ones. The story’s themes look at the lasting bonds people share with those who have died.
The first-place prize includes having the story published in The Recorder and Times newspaper and two weekend passes to the upcoming St. Lawrence Writers Festival. The festival runs from September 10 to 13, 2026, at the Arts Hub Brockville on Park Street.
Contestants had to write original stories between 1,000 and 1,500 words. They were not allowed to use artificial intelligence and had to start with one of five provided prompts. Thomas used the opening line “I could see them staring at me.” Winners were announced on June 15, 2026.
Thomas balances school with a job at Bridlewood Retirement Home, along with her reading and writing. Her achievement shows the creative skills growing at local schools. Fellow BCI student Amira Weaver, 16, took third place in the same contest. Weaver began writing during March break in 2025. Second place went to 15-year-old Kathy Qi, a Grade 11 student who has loved creative writing since Grade 6 and finds inspiration in the Harry Potter series.
