Your Migration Story Deserves to Be Heard

Call For Expressions of Interest

The Gallery Of Human Migration Literary Award

Be part of a powerful new literary collection celebrating journeys of identity, belonging, and transformation.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: APRIL 30, 2025 AT 11:59PM

We invite you to share your unique story as part of our first-ever Gallery of Human Migration Literary Award. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or simply someone with a lived experience of migration, we welcome your voice. This is not about being a professional. This is about honouring the human experience in all its depth, complexity, and beauty.

"By sharing my story, I encourage others to do the same and to embrace their own unique backgrounds and experiences."

Why Participate?

Get published. Get recognized.
Share your voice.

Your story may be selected for inclusion in our upcoming anthology.
Selected contributors will receive a limited-edition sculpture created especially for this project.
Your voice will become part of a national conversation about identity, movement, and community.

Who Should Submit?

We welcome submissions from:

Canadian citizens and permanent residents (including those living abroad).
Anyone who has reached the age of majority in their province/territory.
Anyone with a unique personal or ancestral migration story to share.

What Are We Looking For?

You don’t need to submit a finished piece right now.
This is a simple expression of interest. Just share your idea in a few sentences using the form below.
If selected, we will contact you with details on submitting your full story or creative work.

Themes of Migration

Migration is more than movement. It’s a journey through identity, memory, and belonging.

Inspired by the reflections of co-founder Rocco Maragna, we’ve named four themes to help guide your story: Beckoning, Beginning, Becoming, and Belonging.

Beckoning

Every journey begins with a feeling, a pull toward something unknown. Beckoning is that inner spark, a longing not for the past, but for what lies ahead. It’s the whisper that says, “There is more for you out there.”

Beginning

Beginning is about learning to live in a new world. It’s the moment when everything is unfamiliar; language, customs, even silence. But it’s also the moment of wonder, where every step is part of building your new life.

Becoming

With time, the new world starts to feel like your own. Yet the past doesn’t vanish, it gently returns, shaped by memory and emotion. In this phase, you grow into someone new, someone who holds both worlds inside.

Belonging

Belonging is when the new place feels like home. It’s not about forgetting the past, but finding peace with it. Here, your journey becomes part of who you are, not just where you’re from, but where you’ve arrived.

Real Stories, Real People

At the heart of the Gallery of Human Migration are real voices, people who have lived the journey of migration and are ready to share what it meant to them.

One of those voices is Gallery of Human Migration co-founder Nancy Perin, who said:

"My heart contains the constant weaving of the two countries. They coexist daily. When one is real, the other is an intangible presence. This intangible presence is coloured by the sensations and emotions of the people and places I cherish."

Nancy Perin

This project was born from stories like hers. And now, it’s time to include yours. No matter what your journey looks like, be it joyful, challenging, reflective, or still unfolding, your experience has a place here.

You don’t need to be a professional writer. You just need to start.

What Happens After you Submit?

It only takes two minutes to complete the form.
There is no cost to submit.
You’re simply letting us know you’re interested.
If your idea is selected, we will invite you to submit your full story or creative work.
All submissions adhering to The Gallery’s Content Submission Policy will also be celebrated on The Gallery website.

Stories will be judged on:

Creativity and originality.
Alignment with the “4 Bs” themes.
Emotional resonance and cultural insight.

This opportunity has been shared by:

Ready to Share Your Story?

Complete the Expression of Interest form below.

Still not sure if your story fits? Send us your idea anyway — we welcome every voice.