McEntyre Competition:
An Unexpected Kindness /1

Local students show off their literary stuff in the 2018 McEntyre Writing Competition

Introduction by Wayne Larsen
Illustrated by Jennifer Cook

In what has become an annual tradition in Westmount schools, the McEntyre Writing Competition always attracts a wide variety of thoughtful and creative entries, and the 2018 edition was no exception.

Endowed by the late Peter McEntyre, mayor of Westmount from 1969 to 1971, the competition encourages young writers to express themselves on a designated topic, each designed to get the creative juices flowing. It is coordinated each year by the Westmount Public Library.

In 2018, “An Unexpected Kindness” was the topic assigned to students in grades 1 through 11.

Westmount Magazine presents the full texts of the first-place entries in each grade category, as supplied by the Westmount Public Library. As well, this year these will be accompanied by Westmounter Jennifer Cook’s charming illustrations.

Here we present Grades 1 and 2.

FIRST GRADE | FIRST PRIZE | LOWER CANADA COLLEGE

Noah Quigley

An Unexpected Act of Kindness

Westmount arena is full of kindness.
First, a city worker unexpectedly moved his car to give my mom a parking spot. Maybe he heard my baby brother going bananas!
Second, a hockey legend named Bob Gainey unexpectedly helped me with my helmet.
Third, a teenager who was in a hurry opened the door for me and my big hockey bag.
Last, Arena workers always let us play in the arena while our siblings are playing hockey.
Westmount!

SECOND GRADE | FIRST PRIZE | AKIVA SCHOOL

Noam Perez

The Man on the Street

It was a dark and stormy night. I was walking home and I saw a poor man with torn clothes sitting on the street. The next morning I gave him some hot coffee. His smile was like a golden dawn. Then he walked away into the sunrise. My heart was warm like fire.

Illustrations: Jennifer Cook

Read also: Show your value with good communication