2026 Korean War Letter Writing Contest

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong in 2026, Valour Canada, in collaboration with Calgary Salutes (City of Calgary), 4 Brigade, and HMCS Tecumseh, is proud to announce a letter writing contest open to students from the Calgary Public and Calgary Catholic school boards. This initiative aims to engage students in reflecting on Canada’s efforts in the Korean War and its impact on people, Canada, and the world.

We are proud to announce our winners and recognize their outstanding work:
CCSD Div. 1: TBD, School tbd
CCSD Div. 2: TBD, School tbd
CBE Div. 1: TBD, School tbd
CBE Div. 2: TBD, School tbd

Contest Details:

Eligibility: Gr. 7 – 12 students currently within the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) or the Calgary Catholic School District (CSSD).
Diary Entry Guidelines: Students will read about Canada’s efforts in the Korean War with a focus on the Battle of Kapyong (https://valourcanada.ca/military-history-library/korean-war/). Students will then write a letter to a fictional Canadian soldier serving in Korea. The letter should be written as if it was from the early 1950’s; at least two references to that period in Canada’s history should be included in the letter (e.g., I heard Louis St. Laurent on TV . . .”).
Word Count Requirements:
- Junior High (Grades 7-9): 300-400 words
- Senior High (Grades 10-12): 450-550 words
Submission Deadline: Saturday, March 28, 2026, by 11:59 PM (MST)
Submission Method: Diary entries must be emailed to Valour Canada (contact@valourcanada.ca) in .doc or .pdf format.
Assessment Rubric: A team of volunteers will assess the diary entries USING THIS RUBRIC and select the top 3 for Junior and Senior, and CBE and CCSD categories. One winner from each category (4) will then be selected by Valour Canada board members and/or staff according to the rubric.

Prizes and Recognition:

The winning student from each category will receive recognition for their achievement alongside veterans and Korean dignitaries at The Military Museums on April 8th. Acknowledgement on social media and an invitation to share their letter at TMM (8Apr) will also be provided. The winning letters will also be published on Valour Canada’s website.
Each winner’s class will be rewarded with a pizza lunch and refreshments on Friday, April 24, 2026—the official 75th anniversary of Kapyong. If April 24th is not feasible, the pizza lunch will be arranged for another day.

To read Valour Canada’s Korean War articles, please CLICK HERE. For information about this contest in pdf format, CLICK HERE.

The contest closes on Sat. March 28, 2026.

This contest is an excellent opportunity for students to explore Canada’s role in the Korean War, develop their writing skills, and gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by those who served. We encourage students to participate and teachers to support their students in engaging with this meaningful historical event.