Hard work, dedication, and a dazzling imagination have officially paid off for one talented local student.
Cammee Burns, a Grade 5 student at Niton Central School, has been named one of the top three writers for her grade level in the entire province of Alberta.
Officials with Grande Yellowhead Public School Division says her captivating short story, “The Ball,” earned her a coveted spot in the spotlight for the prestigious 2026 YABS Young Writers’ Award (formerly known as the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers Award).
Division officials say this provincial win wasn’t just luck—it was the result of pure determination.
To maximize her writing time before the spring break deadline, they say Cammee worked double-time to finish her regular classwork ahead of schedule, dedicating every spare second to
planning, writing, and editing her manuscript.
Officials note, the Youth Literature Association of Alberta (YABS) jury reads hundreds of entries from Grades 4–9 across the province, selecting just three winners per grade.
For her achievement, division officials say Cammee received:
A curated collection of books
An official award certificate
An exclusive invitation to the Winners Circle virtual writing workshop with a professionally published author which is scheduled for the end of May.
The Winning Plot: “The Ball”
Cammee’s captivating short story, “The Ball,” blends countryside realism with high-stakes fantasy:
The Spark: A farm girl named Maple finishes her morning chores and steps through a mysterious door hidden in her barn’s attic.
The Twist: Following a strange light down hidden stairs, she finds a magical train station and befriends a man in a red tuxedo.
The Conflict: He takes her to an annual fall ball, where Maple wins a grand prize—a special key allowing her to revisit this mystery world. However, the key and her map back home are suddenly stolen, leaving Maple to rely on her wits to fix everything.
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