CANSCAIP upcoming events

Writing for Children Competition 2026 | Entry deadline MAY 31 (Monday, March 16, 2026)

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Writing for Children Competition 2026

Deadline MAY 31, 2026

CANSCAIP’s annual Writing for Children Competition is now open for entries! It's Canada’s largest competition for children’s writers, and we welcome submissions from unpublished and self-published writers. The deadline for entries is May 31.

A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the winning Middle Grade and Young Adult entries, and two winning Picture Book entries. Two finalists in each category will also be selected. CANSCAIP sends the finalist and winner entries to Annick Press, Kids Can Press and Scholastic Canada for their consideration.

Every Writing for Children Competition entry gets a written evaluation by a traditionally published CANSCAIP Member volunteer reader. Entries advancing to the second round get another evaluation, and entries on the shortlist get evaluations by each jury member. The Competition readers will not be provided with the writers' names.

Entrants must be over the age of 18, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, with no traditionally published books in any genre or for any age. Self-published writers are also eligible to enter the Competition. Previously submitted entries can be re-submitted for the 2026 Competition.

CANSCAIP Friends pay $40 for one entry, $70 for two entries, $90 for three entries. Non-members pay $50 for one entry, $85 for two entries, $105 for three entries. To get the Friend rate, please join CANSCAIP before you register.

MORE INFORMATION

Monthly Membership Meeting | Wed Apr 8 @ 7pm ET | PANEL Sports Books (Wednesday, April 08, 2026)

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Members and Friends are welcome to attend CANSCAIP's monthly membership meetings, held via Zoom on the second Wednesday of the month.

MEETING DATE: Wednesday April 8

ZOOM LINK: After you register for the meeting, you'll get a confirmation email with the Zoom link. (NOTE: An hour before the meeting starts, CANSCAIP re-sends the Zoom link to everyone registered.)

MEETING FORMAT:

The monthly meetings begin with greetings from the President, then announcements by Members and Friends, followed by the meeting speakers.
At the end of the meeting, you are encouraged to linger and mingle in smaller groups in breakout rooms.

No-Homework Online Critique Groups MG & YA (Saturday, April 11, 2026)

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

No-Homework Online Critique Groups:
Middle Grade/Young Adult Edition

Saturday April 11
12-2:30pm ET

CANSCAIP is delighted to announce its second No-Homework Critique Event. If you have a Middle Grade or Young Adult WIP (Work In Progress), and you’d like peer feedback, we invite you to join us.

This a free event for CANSCAIP Friends and Members. For this initial MG/YA event, registration is limited to 35. We want to see how the program works before we offer another larger edition.

“No-Homework” means there is no need to send your pages in advance. Just come to the event ready to read and share your story.

The event format will include arranging participants into small breakout rooms. One of the goals is to establish connections that could lead to ongoing critique groups after the initial event is over.

Whatever stage of writing you’re at, we’re hoping our friendly and supportive CANSCAIP community will help you take your manuscript to the next level. Looking at other people’s work with your ‘editor’s eye’ is also great way to fine tune your self-editing skills.

CANSCAIP is a volunteer-run organization, and our Vice President Jane Baird Warren is heading up No-Homework Critique Groups. Many people want to be part of a critique group, and we frequently get asked about that. Jane launched this new program in November 2025 for Picture Books.

We’re excited to offer the MG/YA edition.

Another No-Homework Critique Groups event for Picture Books will be offered again in fall 2026. Stay tuned!

Great Canadian Picture Book Party (Online) (Monday, April 27, 2026)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Celebrate brand new Canadian picture books at the first Great Canadian Picture Book Party of 2026—via Zoom on Monday, April 27 from 7pm to 8:30pm ET.

Presented by Picture Books, Eh!—a co-promotional group of Canadian picture book authors and illustrators, the Great Canadian Picture Book Party features Canadian creators with books published between January to May this year, who will each read their books.

Between each reading, there will be a 2 minute break for those who wish to write reviews while Canadian music plays in the background. The reviews can later be pasted into sites such as Goodreads, Indigo, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. It is not expected that you write reviews, but it is encouraged and greatly appreciated if you do!

Like last time we have a surprise guest—a Canadian musician will join us to play one of their songs live!

This event is a great way to discover picture books being published right now, presented by the creators themselves. It’s also a really fun community event.

Register to attend as a viewer (people are free to pop in and out as their schedule allows), and the Zoom link will be in the confirmation email.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you,

Picture Books, Eh!