Essay Competition

The 2026 Patrick Webb Essay Competition

Patrick Webb was a secondary school teacher in West Vancouver’s public school system, and an active member of the North Shore Pro Life Society, who established this essay competition in order to make visible, especially among secondary students, the issues raised by abortion and euthanasia. There are two categories:

There are two categories, Junior, for students in Grades 8 – 10, and Senior, for students in grades 11 & 12, with a total of $1,800.00 in prize money to be awarded.

JUNIOR CATEGORY TOPICS (Grades 8-10 – Choose One)
Two prizes: 1st Place – $400.00        2nd Place – $200.00

CHOOSE ONE TOPIC BELOW AND COMPOSE AN ESSAY OF NO MORE THAN 800 WORDS:

1) Research the history of Planned Parenthood and its founder Margaret Sanger’s ideology behind it. Examine Planned Parenthood’s connection to eugenics in the early 20th century.

2) Outline the suicide prevention resources available to high school students in 2026. From a pro life world view, how would you respond to someone who argues that suicide is a legitimate way to deal with personal suffering.

SENIOR CATEGORY TOPICS (Grades 11-12 – Choose One)
Two prizes: 1st Place – $800.00        2nd Place – $400.00

CHOOSE ONE TOPIC BELOW AND COMPOSE AN ESSAY OF NO MORE THAN 1000 WORDS:

1) Using an example of someone who has been punished for pro life advocacy, outline what they did and what they faced as a consequence. Then argue whether you believe their actions to be effective or ineffective, and if arguing the latter, provide an alternate course of action that would have been more successful.

2) Dr. Ellen Wiebe, an abortionist and adamant proponent of MAID, states that she loves her work of abortion and Medical Assistance In Dying. Doctors have traditionally taken the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm. Using Dr. Wiebe as a primary example, examine how modern medical practices force doctors to violate this oath, and explore strategies that a contemporary doctor may employ to stay true to it.

• DEADLINE: Entries must be postmarked or emailed by Thursday, April 30th, 2026.

The essays will be marked by experienced educators.  The entry/information form can be downloaded below and submitted with completed essays (preferably) via email or in print via post to the addresses below:

Email to:  northshoreprolife@gmail.com
- Subject Line:  Patrick Webb Pro Life Essay Competition 2026

Mail by post to:
North Shore Pro-Life Society
Attention: Patrick Webb Pro Life Essay Competition 2026
P.O. Box 37026
North Vancouver BC  V7M 4M4

Click to Read the previous winning essays from:

• Junior 1st 2024 - Margaret H (Gr.8)

• Junior 2nd 2024 Krystyn K (Gr.10)

• Junior Runner Up 2024 - Ava C (Gr.10)

• Junior Honourable Mention 2024 - Donatien A (Gr.9)

• Senior 1st 2024 - Sophie E (Gr.12)

• Senior 2nd 2024 - Jane R (Gr.11)

• Senior Runner Up 2024 - Isabella A (Gr.11)

• Senior Honourable Mention 2024 - Thaddeus L (Gr.11)