By MARTIN ZEILIG

“When I first walked into school, the hall was filled with bright colours.
“Bright shining stars/ I was amazed by the others.
“But, my colour was different./ It was simple and plain.
“In a sea of colours, I felt like a drop of rain.
“I was different from my classmates, I felt like I did not belong.
“At home we were all the same, I felt like being different was wrong.”
Thus begins the opening lines in I Don’t Fit In by Raeesa Hoque, a grade 11 student at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé.
Ms. Hoque’s self-illustrated children’s book was named the B’nai B’rith Manitoba regional winner in the 2024 Diverse Minds Creative Writing Competition at an award ceremony held at the Asper Jewish Campus Campus on June 9. A total of 65 people were in attendance for the two hour event, which was hosted by the popular radio personality, Ace Burpee, with keynote speaker novelist Michael Hutchinson, a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation.
Ms. Hoque was one of five finalists.
The four other finalists were Elizabeth Piche, a grade 11 student at Shaftesbury High School, author of The Band with Seventeen Saxophones; Lyla Rodin, author of Sticks and Stones; Eliana Booy, author of Windbreak Woods; Adara Siwak, author of The Hidden Disability.

“The competition invites high school students to reflect on these values by writing and illustrationg a story for elementary school students (Kindergarten to Grade 5),” says information on the BB website.
“Through peer-to-peer learning, students lead the way in creating communities where everyone is valued. The goal of Diverse Minds is to empower our youth to become role models for each other and understand that their impact reaches beyond their classrooms.”
Judges for the competition were Karen Menkis, Chair of the Dasch Foundation Board of Directors; Mena Gainpaulsingh, CEO, Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights: Brenlee Carrington Trepel, KC, Manitoba Human Rights Commission; Paul Samyn, Editor, Winnipeg Free Press; Chris Melnick, Founder, Share the Magic Book Program; Carol Matas, author.
“I feel amazed at winning this award,” Ms. Hoque said in an interview, following the ceremony.
“I didn’t expect to win. I tried hard. This is something I find a problem in myself, and it’s the main character in the book. It’s the problem of always comparing yourself to others.”
“My husband and I started the program in Manitoba,” said Cheryl Barish.
She and her husband, Earl Barish, are well known for their philanthropic support to human rights organizations and similar causes.
“We were the first to do a trial program here,” Earl Barish said.
“It’s now going coast to coast.”
Mr. and Mrs. Barish also now sponsor the national Diverse Minds competition.
“We started working on it in 2018,” Cheryl Barish said.
“The first awards were in 2019. We’re the only province that has a regional competition. Our winner will go off to Toronto in September to compete against the four other regional winners.
“We’re happy with what we saw here. The level and quality of their (students) work continues to increase with every single year. In our society and with what we’re dealing with today, we must educate young people to have open minds. What was said here today must be said in political circles in all sorts of different places.”
She said Ms. Hoque’s book is basic simplicity.
“I might be grey, but I fit in some way if I’m one of the other colours,” Ms. Barish explained.
“If we could use that as a motto for our life, we wouldn’t have the difficulties we have today.”
Adriana Glikman, program coordinator for B’nail B’rith in Manitoba, is the coordinator of the provincial and national competition.
“I think this afternoon was enlightening to have these young people speaking on their concepts of diversity and inclusion and creating stories and messages for younger children– to pass the torch and show how they can create a better world and make a difference,” Ms. Glikman said.
She added that the national winner will get their book published in hardcover and distributed to elementary schools and libraries and $5000 cash. The second prize winner will receive $2500, while the third prize recives $1000.
There were some 40 entries in the Manitoba regional competition this year, she said.
“I think it’s important to have this practical program bringing the message of diversity and inclusion to high school students, to help them be leaders in human rights and to hear their voices,” Ms.Glikman said.
“They can show how they can create a better world and make a difference.”
The final words go to Ms. Hoque: “I went through all kinds of books and wanted to try a different style of art. I tried to make it look a little bit more childish because diversity can also be found in the illustrations and book itself.
“I wanted to do it in a rhyming style because I find that rhymes connect more with us. When it rhymes it adds a sort of warmth to the reader and me, personally. It was a challenge to me. I also speak French. I wanted to write in English and write it short. I want the reader to give it the meaning of diversity because that’s personal to them.”
She also had something to say about the national competition in Toronto: “No matter if I win or not, I’m going to have fun reading the stories (of the other regional winners) and learning about their perspectives as well.”
As she writes on the final pages of I Don’t Fit In:
Being different is fun and that’s awesome.
Take a look around your school.
What different colours do you see?
We don’t need to fit in.
That’s what makes diversity.
Grays feel like they don’t fit in at school.
There are already groups of colours and grey does not feel cool.
But, colours can mix. Can they not?
Gray can learn something.
Let’s give it a shot.