2025 Winners
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Grand Prize Winners
The votes are in! After listening to amazing music remixes from students across Canada, the judges have selected the Grand Prize Winners of the 2025 Canada Your Voice is Power competition. Congratulations to students Adara Sanders and Manha Atiq.
Adara Sanders
Grade 7, ¿uuqinak’uuh Grandview Elementary School
Vancouver, BC
“I chose the name Change for my song because it is filled with messages of change, and it just felt right for me. Change is dedicated to any people who are out there experiencing any discrimination or hardships to know that there are people out there who also want change. This message is very important to me because I've seen, experienced, and learned about discrimination and I'm done with it. I want people to do something about it instead of being bystanders. I hope that when anyone listens to Change that they will listen and be motivated to not stand by and watch anymore but will actually do something about it.”
Manha Atiq
Grade 10, Glenforest Secondary School (Mississauga)
"At first, creating this song started as solely just a school assignment for me, but grew into something way bigger and meaningful.
I combined Indigenous and Black voices to share stories of pain, resilience, and hope. I was inspired to do this because I felt these voices don’t get heard enough, and I wanted to show how connected our stories really are.
I chose artists whose voices carry truth and strength, I layered their words over hip-hop beats and Indigenous rhythms, displaying unity across cultures that have often been separated or silenced. The message in my song is clear: equity isn’t just about fairness, it’s really about listening deeply, honoring histories, and standing up together. It’s about acknowledging the pain in the past, and coming together to make a better future. I would like the listeners to feel moved, feeling the urgency of change, to realize that our voices really are powerful tools for justice, and to join the movement toward solidarity and respect. This isn’t just music, it’s a call to action, a promise that our stories won’t be silenced anymore."
Teacher Winner
Through this award for excellent instruction, we award a teacher with $1,000 for creative integration of the Your Voice is Power program in their classroom teaching.
Parkor Thomas
St Mary’s School
Medicine Hat, AB
Our winning teacher, is being honoured with a $1,000 prize for going above and beyond to engage their students.
"For the past few years, I have integrated Your Voice is Power into my middle school program because it offers a meaningful and innovative way to engage students with coding, music, and reconciliation.
Living and teaching in Alberta, I see reconciliation with Indigenous peoples as a vital part of education. This program gives students the chance to explore computer science in a creative way while also engaging in important conversations about Indigenous history, culture, and contributions. For many students, this is their first experience with both coding and Indigenous perspectives — a powerful combination that builds new skills, knowledge, and a deeper understanding of Canada’s history and future. I believe youth are our future leaders, and this course helps shape the values and worldviews that will guide them as they contribute to society.
In my classroom, we used teacher-led instruction, predeveloped slides, and student workbooks alongside collaborative coding sessions where students experimented with music creation and shared ideas. To make the learning more authentic, we invited local FNMI representatives to share stories, cook Bannock with students, and introduce traditional music. These experiences inspired students’ projects and encouraged them to approach music creation with respect and cultural awareness. The impact on students has been significant. Many developed a new appreciation for the diversity of Indigenous music and culture while building confidence and independence through the EarSketch platform. The ability to work at their own pace supported a wide range of learners, and students consistently expressed pride in sharing their completed songs. Each year, I am amazed by their growth in creativity, technical skill, and cultural understanding.
For other educators considering this program, I encourage them to embrace its cross-curricular nature, it is more than a coding class. Your Voice is Power is an opportunity to connect students with reconciliation, creativity, music, and technology all at once. Providing hands-on experiences, inviting community voices, and celebrating student work are key to making the experience both memorable and impactful."
Top Student Finalists
These ten students were selected by judges for special recognition amongst hundreds of entries for their creative work and reflections.
Runners up
Congratulations to these forty Runners up for their creative submissions!
Aathesh, Sir Ernest Macmillan Senior Public School (Scarborough)
Adil Mukhi, Glenforest Secondary School (Mississauga)
Alyxianna Lem, St. Elizabeth School (Cambridge)
Amari Edwards, Jean Lumb Public School (Toronto)
Arghya, Glenforest Secondary School (Mississauga)
Arion, John Oliver Secondary School (Vancouver)
Ava, John Oliver Secondary School (Vancouver)
Avery, Adult Education Ignace High School (Ignace)
Aya, Ecole Dr. Charles Best Junior Secondary School (Coquitlam)
Benjamin, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Brindha, Glenforest Secondary School (Mississauga)
Ciara, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Clara, Winchester Junior & Senior Public School (Toronto)
Clementine, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Coen, John Oliver Secondary School (Vancouver)
Dale, St. Mary's School (Medicine Hat)
Dayton Smith, ¿uuqinak’uuh Grandview Elementary School (Vancouver)
Delano, Clairlea Public School (Scarborough)
Grace, Ecole Dr. Charles Best Junior Secondary School (Coquitlam)
Hunter, Archbishop M. C. O'Neill High School (Regina)
James, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Julia Tony, Ecole Ronald-Marion (Pickering)
Kade, Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School (Calgary)
Kathleen Bao, Glenforest Secondary School (Mississauga)
Kayleigh, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Kendall, Jean Lumb Public School (Toronto)
Kenneth, Archbishop M. C. O'Neill High School (Regina)
Mahdya, Nose Creek School (Calgary)
Marley, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Matteo, Ecole Viscount Alexander (Winnipeg)
Matthew, Glenview Senior Public School (Toronto)
Max, Clairlea Public School (Scarborough)
Max, Ecole Dr. Charles Best Junior Secondary School (Coquitlam)
Mia, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Noah, Archbishop M. C. O'Neill High School (Regina)
Nusayba, Ecole Dr. Charles Best Junior Secondary School (Coquitlam)
Olivia, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Peyton, St. Anthony's School (Kincardine)
Robert, Jean Lumb Public School (Toronto)
Violet, Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School (Calgary)