Junior Category (age 17 and under)

First Prize ($1,000)	Orion Wiersma, age 17 Barrie, ON “The Ethics of DNA Banks: How Widespread Access to DNA Poses a Threat to Anonymity“
Second Prize	No Winner
Third Prize	No Winner
Award of Distinction ($100)	Alador Bereketab, age 17 Ottawa, ON “The Role of Suffering in Life”

Senior Category (age 18-25)

First Prize ($1,000)	Rida Zaidi, age 25 Kanata, ON “In Cold Blood: How Pakistan’s Notorious Blasphemy Laws Repress Citizens’ Right to Freedom of Expression”Read the Winning Essay
Second Prize TIE ($750)	Neha Katote, age 21 Halifax, NS “Exploring how the Commercialization of Breast Cancer is a Result of Commodifying Feminism and Femininity“
	Vibhuti Arya, age 22 Winnipeg, MB “An Evidence-based Philosophical Approach to the Bioethics of Medical Assistance in Dying”
Third Prize	No Winner
Award of Distinction ($100)	Gerard Corr, age 20 Abbotsford, BC “The Conservative Party of Canada Needs to Reform“

“The Necessity of a Universal Basic Income in Upholding Human Freedom” by Joshua Soifer

Joshua Soifer was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and grew up Jewish in a predominantly Christian community, where he is attending a Lutheran high school in order to participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Joshua will pursue legal studies as well as the study of the humanities, including philosophy and political theory, in order to achieve his life goal: “ to place myself in a position where I have the ability to help shape society, as I believe that the most crucial changes come through the ability of those with authority to recognize the needs of the majority.” Joshua was on the highest-finishing Saskatchewan team at the 2019 High School Debate National Championships in Halifax. He also participated on his high school soccer, basketball, frisbee, and track teams during the most recent academic year and was the highest scorer on Team Saskatchewan at the under-15 National Basketball Championships.