Fall 2026 Competitions
Two Competitions.
Two Ways to Make An Impact.
Choose how you want to explore city-building this fall — develop and pitch a solution to a real-world challenge, or use digital storytelling to explore an issue that matters to your community.
Pitch Competition
Take on a real-world climate challenge and pitch your solution to an expert jury.
At A Glance
- Learn about climate issues through a case study and develop practical, innovative solutions.
- Receive mentorship from industry professionals through exclusive virtual office hours
- Pitch your ideas to an expert jury.
- Showcase your work through a public exhibition.
Creatives For Change
Educate audiences on climate justice issues through digital storytelling.
At A Glance
- Choose a climate justice issue that matters to you.
- Explore the problem, the people affected, and the possibilities for change.
- Build skills in research, storytelling and short-form video production.
- Discover how different city-building professions can contribute to change.
Fall 2026 Pitch Competition:
Climate Justice Through Flood Mitigation
This fall, teams of high school students from across Ontario will tackle a real-world climate challenge in partnership with Evergreen Brick Works, one of Canada’s leading examples of urban sustainability and adaptive reuse. The site welcomes thousands of visitors every week through the Saturday Farmers Market, public programming, festivals, and serves as a workplace for Evergreen staff, tenants, and business partners.
Evergreen Brickworks is situated within a floodplain and experiences regular flooding from the Don River watershed. Rather than preventing flooding altogether, Evergreen’s long-term vision is to create a site that can safely adapt to, recover from, and continue operating despite frequent and severe climate events.
While learning from professionals in planning, architecture, engineering, development and more, you’ll research, develop, and pitch your solution to an expert jury at the 1UP Fall Conference.
Registration closes November 5, 2026
Grades 9-12
Across Ontario
Free to Participate
Teams Up to 5 Students
Virtual Office Hours
Exclusive For Fall 2026 Pitch Competition Teams:
Get Expert Feedback
Need another set of eyes on your idea?
Virtual Office Hours give competition teams the chance to meet one-on-one with industry professionals, ask questions, receive feedback, and strengthen their final pitch before competition day. Sessions are available to participants from all three regions.
📆 Available Sessions
- Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- Thursday, November 26, 2026
Registration closes Monday, November 9, 2026
Fall 2026 Creatives For Change Competition:
Climate Justice Through Digital Storytelling
This fall, high school students from across Ontario can use short-form videos to explore a climate justice issue affecting their school, neighbourhood, community, or city.
Create a three-part video series that takes your audience through
1. The Problem
2. The People Affected
3. The Possibilities for Change
Along the way, you’ll build skills in research, storytelling and digital media while exploring how different city-building professions can contribute to creating change.
Finalists will have their work premiered at the 1UP Conference at Evergreen Brick Works, where youth will vote for the winning submission.
Registration closes XXX
Grades 9-12
Across Ontario
Free to Participate
Participate Individually Or In Teams Up to 5 Students
Virtual Trainings
Build Your Skills. Tell a Stronger Story.
Open to anyone interested in building their digital storytelling, research and communication skills.
Join three free virtual trainings led by experienced facilitators. The sessions are designed to support Creatives for Change participants, but you do not need to be registered for the competition to attend. Join one session or attend all three.
Training 1: Reels 101
Learn the fundamentals of Reels and short-form video, including how to create strong hooks, engage an audience and turn your ideas into compelling digital content.
Training 2: Demographics, Research & Community Participation
Learn how to understand who is affected by an issue and explore how research, data, demographics and community participation can help you tell a more informed story.
Training 3: Storytelling & Narrative
Learn how to connect your ideas through storytelling and narrative to communicate a clear, engaging message to your audience.
📆 Available Sessions
Dates to be added once confirmed
Registration closes XXX