Awards and Scholarships
Call for application 2026-27
The Landon Pearson Centre at Carleton University is offering several student opportunities in 2026–27 to support research and scholarship in children’s rights. Below is the brief description of these wonderful opportunities.
Dr. Joy Calkin Student Awards: The Dr. Joy Calkin Student Awards provide three $5,000 awards to support research projects focused on children’s rights and young children’s everyday lives, with particular interest in early childhood (generally children under six). This proposal should demonstrate an understanding of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and explain how a children’s rights-based approach informs the research. Eligible topics include child health and healthcare, education, AI and digital environments, disability, play and artistic expression, climate emergencies, early childhood education, identity, and belonging.
Francine and Gerison Lansdown Student Essay Prizes: In addition to this award, The Landon Pearson Centre also offering the Francine and Gerison Lansdown Undergraduate and Graduate Student Essay Prizes offer two $500 prizes on any topic related to children’s rights. Winners will be recognized at the Child Rights Academic Network Conference at Carleton University in April 2027, and winning essays will be considered for publication in the Canadian Journal of Children’s Rights. The essay prizes aim to support students engaged in children’s rights research and advocacy and encourage critical thinking, with particular interest in topics such as children’s rights and mental health, girls’ rights, health, and climate change. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students at a Canadian university or have graduated from such a program within the previous year.
Dr. Joy Calkin $5,000 Student Award Recipients
2025-26: Fatemeh Mahdizadeh Karizaki (Dalhousie); Megan Liu (Mount St. Vincent) and Shayla Raine (University of British Columbia)
2024-25: Ana Karen Espinosa Becerra (University of Ottawa); Lama Assaad (Carleton University)
2023-24: Shanna Peltier (OISE, University of Toronto); Tanzy Janvier (University of Saskatchewan); J. Erynne Sjoblom (University of Alberta); Keirsten Taylor (MacEwan University)
2022-23: Laurel Donison (Brock University); Marie-Pierre Jolicouer (University of Laval)
2021-22: Carmen West (Carleton University); Ashlee Williams (Toronto Metropolitan University); Steven Gibson (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Francine and Gerison Lansdown Student Essay Award Recipients:
2025-26: Rita Arnold (Toronto Metropolitan University); Caoilfionn Gardiner (MacEwan University, Edmonton)
2024-25: Kajal deb Nath (University of Calgary); Gianna Cucumo (Toronto Metropolitan University)
2023-24: Kristen Letkeman (University of Manitoba); Noshin Chowdhury (Toronto Metropolitan University)
2022-23: Tori Vail (MacEwan University)
2021-22: Sierra Sumner (Trent University)