The WATER Essay Contest 2025 is an invitation to writers at all stages to submit 650 well-chosen words on a topic related to feminist work for social change that springs from spiritual commitments. Previous winning essays can be found below.

Rosemary Ganley is a Peterborough, Ontario feminist activist and writer whose weekly columns in The Peterborough Examiner reach a wide audience and make waves. She was recently inducted into the Order of Canada, a high honor. WATER commits to following her lead by encouraging writing for a broad audience with a light but well-informed touch.

Politics and the arts, sports, and religion/spirituality, local and global happenings are all fair game. So, too, are ecological themes and humor. Your imagination and activist priorities are the only limits. Write boldly and clearly à la Rosemary. For wonderful examples, see Rosemary’s blog: https://yellowdragonflypress.weebly.com/columns

Rosemary Canley advises

• Make it accessible to a general reader, the people who read “secular” but not necessarily religious sources, like daily newspapers and blogs.
• Research carefully and make a clear argument.
• Convey a sense of calm and hope.
• Skip the “God talk” and let justice, fairness, decency, and democracy carry the day.
• Spiritual values and images will be evident in creative ways.
• Wit welcome.

Guidelines:

• Before you submit your essay make sure to register with all your information above using the contact form. You can find it here.
• Please put your information into the Word document contact form, and be sure the form is included in your email submission as well.
• Please indicate where you will submit your essay for publication after the contest. This will help you to focus on your intended audience.
• People aged 16 and older can participate.
• People from all around the world are welcome to submit.
• Your essay must be submitted by the April 1, 2025 to waterstaff@hers.com with the subject: Rosemary Ganley Essay Contest 2025.
• Submit your essay, preferably a Word document, double spaced, written in Arial or Times Roman in font size 11.
• Your essay should NOT include your name in the text.
• Essays of more than 650 words will not be considered.
• Your essay must concern a topic related to feminist work for social change that springs from spiritual commitments.
• The end of your contact form should contain the following statement and your signature:

I declare that I completed this essay independently and used only the materials that are listed.                    Signature

• The usage of AI is not permitted and will lead to disqualification.

Further Information:

– Your submitted essay will be evaluated by a WATER Committee.

– Up to three writers will receive $650 each for their successful essays.

– Winners will be announced by late April 2025 and essays will be published on WATER’s website.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mary E. Hunt at mhunt@hers.com.

Submit your essay by April 1, 2025, to waterstaff@hers.com.

Good luck and thank you for your work.