Each contest entry is given a mark out of 50 for braille accuracy and a mark out of 50 for creativity. The combined score (out of 100) determines the first, second and third place winners for each group and category.
Braille Accuracy
Braille accuracy marking is done by CNIB Beyond Print Braille Room volunteer transcribers. Each entry is marked according to the braille proficiency level indicated on the entry form (students are marked according to what they indicate they have learned).
Creativity
Each year a Canadian author (Children or Young Adult books) is invited to volunteer for this role. In 2024, our Braille Creative Writing Contest judge was Nancy Vo!
2024 Contest Judge: Nancy Vo
Nancy Vo was born where the sun rose in the prairies and set behind the Rockies. As a child, she enjoyed stories featuring brave characters, but later realized a truth about herself: she was far less adventuresome and liked her creature comforts. By day, she works as a facility planner. At ungodly hours of the night, she gets to draw characters who have true grit.
This may sound like she works all the time, but the truth is that she is also a good procrastinator. She can make a decent brioche, and an even better lemon tart. She loves the magic that happens when flour, butter, sugar, and eggs get together in a heated space.
She is the author and illustrator of the Crow Stories trilogy, which includes The Outlaw (described by the New York Times as “Bewitching”), The Ranger (received a Kirkus starred review and praised as “visually arresting and enigmatic”), and The Runaway (forthcoming). She illustrated As Glenn as Can Be by Sarah Ellis. Boobies, her latest book, was rejected on many occasions and amazingly still shortlisted for awards (Governor General’s, Marilyn Baille, and Forest of Reading SBEX) and featured in two 2022 SLJ end of year lists (Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker).
Nancy Vo lives in Vancouver, BC the unceded Traditional Territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations.
Volunteer as a judge!
We are looking for a volunteer judge for the 2025 contest! Publishers, library staff and children's authors are welcome to apply.
As a volunteer judge, you'll be reviewing 50+ text entries (including poetry, stories and essays) and giving them a score for creativity. The guest judge typically has July and August to review approx. 50 entries and provide feedback. Note: each entry will have already been assigned a score for Braille Proficiency prior to you reviewing/scoring the creativity.
Learn more about what's involved and how to become a volunteer judge for the CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest. Review the volunteer judge application.