Writing has helped me find my voice. For years, I was uncomfortable sharing my perspective on important issues, held hostage by the pressures of conformity. But it wasn’t until I wrote my first book, Why Young Men, that I had enough confidence to break free from the liberal narratives that dominate so many institutions in our country.
I’m trying to do my part to encourage more young Canadians to find their voices, too. For about a year now, I’ve been working with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute on a project called Speak for Ourselves, to identify new voices that bring fresh perspectives to Canadian media. Our goal is to remind young people that they’re not alone if their views don’t fall within dominant mainstream media narratives. To date, we’ve worked with dozens of students and writers to support a new generation of heterodox thinkers.
We’re hosting open office hours next week for any students interested in having their writing published. On May 3 from 4-7pm ET, I’ll be offering feedback and advice, and answering any questions about writing.
If you’re a student, or you know a student, who’d like to schedule a virtual meeting, please contact Takdeer Brar at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. He can be reached at takdeer.brar@macdonaldlaurier.ca