This page is updated frequently. Please visit often!

November 10th – Spotlight Oral category full. Waitlist only.

Please note:

Friendship Day at large will not be held in 2027. Students from out of Lower Mainland competing in Spotlight and ASL poetry 8-12 will have an opportunity to participate in the Education Day on Tuesday April 13th. We hope to reinstate the tradition of Friendship Day in the future.

More information about Education Day coming soon!

Showcase 2027 Topic: My Story, My Way!

Monday, April 12th, 2027 9:30 am to 3:00 pm at Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Avenue, Burnaby, BC

The Showcase is open to all Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students in British Columbia. Each category may have specific participation requirements and criteria.

Teachers and DHH students from the Lower Mainland are cordially invited to join us at the MJ Fox Theatre on April 12th, 2027 to watch and encourage contestants. You do not need to register to observe, just email us how many of your students you are bringing. Parents and siblings of the contestants are also welcome.

Category  Grades  Competition Type
Spotlight Grades 8 – 12 Live, in Burnaby 
ASL Poetry Grades K – 7  Digital video submission
Grades 8 – 12 Live, in Burnaby 
DHH Art Grades K – 12  Digital image and artist statement

General rules: Your ideas and creative work must be your own. Teachers may guide, practice with you, transcribe your words and help submit your entry. Credit any quotations or borrowed material. Do not submit AI-generated artwork, speeches or poems as your own work.

Spotlight and ASL Poetry 8-12 (live)

  • DHH students in Grade 8 – 12. F designation is required.
  • First place winners of previous POPDHH spotlight or ASL Poetry 8-12 competitions are not eligible to compete again live in the same category.
  • Number of contestants: 4-15 (Spotlight ASL) ; 4-15 (Spotlight Oral); 4-15 (ASL Poetry 8-12).

DHH Art K-12 and ASL poetry K – 7 (digital submission)

  • Number of contestants: Minimum 4. No maximum.
  • Previous first place winners cannot compete in the same age category again,

Registration package and deadlines

  • Registration – Deadline February 26th, 2027. Each TDHH can register up to two students for categories competing live (Spotlight and ASL poetry 8-12). Additional entries will be placed on a waitlist so that all districts have an opportunity to register. In early January we will advise whether the waitlisted registrations will be accepted, based on total number of entries.
  • Parental consent form –  Deadline February 26th, 2027. Please forward the link to parents for completion. Once the parents complete the form, POPDHH and the TDHH/Main contact will be automatically notified.
  • Funding request for out of town districts –  February 26th, 2027.
  • Entry video of ASL poetry (K-3 and 4-7) – February 26th, 2027.
  • Digital entry of DHH Art – A high resolution scan in JPG or PNG format – February 26th, 2027.
  • Transcript of the Spotlight presentation – April 1st, 2027
  • Registration, consent and funding request are all google forms.
  • All submissions for DHH Art and ASL Poetry to be pre-judged must be submitted by the deadline
  • Winners in all three events will be announced at the end of Showcase.
  • Prizes: see under each category
  • DHHProud Showcase 2027 – Student Version – download for full details – please read carefully as some of the criteria have been added or changed.

Click on each category below to find out more:

DHHproud Spotlight

Preparing and Presenting: 

Students are welcome to use their preferred communication modality as ASL interpreters will be present for the event.

The presentation must be based on this year’s theme. State your name and the theme at the beginning of your presentation, then develop your message with examples, details or a story. 

Practice so your ideas are easy to follow. Memorizing can help you connect naturally with the audience. Notes are welcome. Higher scores reflect effective communication and audience engagement, rather than memorization alone.

The presentation must be between 3 and 4 minutes. 

Practice preparing for interpreted presentations: pause between ideas, questions or jokes; check that the interpreter is ready before starting. Please submit a transcript of your presentation to office@popdhh.ca by the deadline – April 1st, 2027. You can continue to polish and finesse your presentation until the competition 

Judging and Prizes

Scoring will be based on:

  • Message and theme: A clear connection to the theme, supported by examples or details. State the theme at the beginning of your presentation. 
  • Development: Ideas connect and build toward a clear message. Storytelling, humour, repetition or emotional connection may help build your message and connect with the audience.
  • Delivery: Pacing, expression and emphasis help the audience follow and understand your message.
  • Judging will take place in real time during the event and winners will be announced at the end of the Showcase. 
  • All contestants (oral and ASL) will be judged as one combined group for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

Prizes: 

  • 1st place: $200 Apple Store Card
  • 2nd place: $150 Apple Store Card 
  • 3rd place: $100 Apple Store Card
ASL Poetry

Preparing and Presenting: 

Create an original ASL poem connected to the theme: My Story, my way! Explore an image, feeling, idea or story that communicates what is important to you. State your poem’s title and handshapes used at the beginning of your poem using this guide:

How to participate?

  • Grade K-3 and 4-7 contestants will record and email their recordings to office@popdhh.ca by the deadline: February 26, 2027
  • Grade 8-12 contestants will compete in person.
  • ASL Poetry will not be interpreted.

Video Submission Instructions: 

  • Record in landscape orientation with the student’s face, hands and full signing space visible. Submit an MP4 or MOV video at its original speed. Clear signing matters more than camera quality, a phone recording is fine.
  • Helpful tips: Use a steady camera, good lighting and an uncluttered background. Choose clothing that makes the hands easy to see. 
  • Share the video link through your district’s OneDrive or Google drive by February 26, 2027, allowing office@popdhh.ca to view and download it. 
  • Include the student’s name, grade, school district, poem title and teacher contact in your submission. Contact POPDHH if you need another submission method or help with a file.

Judging and Prizes

Scoring will be based on:

  • Meaning and theme: Signs and images communicate and develop your idea.
  • Poetic choices: Handshape, repetition, rhythm, movement, space or transformations support meaning. One thoughtfully used technique can earn the highest score.
  • Visual expression and delivery: Facial expression, body movement and pacing make meaning and feeling clear. Students use eye contact with the audience / camera to deliver the message. 

Top 3 winners for each age group will be announced on Showcase day.

Grade 8 – 12 competition will be judged live on Showcase day. 

Prizes: Chapters Gift cards

  • ASL Poetry K-3: 1st place $30; 2nd place $25; 3rd place $20
  • ASL Poetry 4-7: 1st place $35; 2nd place $30; 3rd place $25
  • ASL Poetry 8-12: 1st place $100; 2nd place $75; 3rd place $50
DHH Art

The DHH Art Competition is open to all K-12 DHH students in the province in three age groupings: K-3, 4-7 and 8-12.

  • Create an original two-dimensional artwork connected to the theme. Hand-created and digitally created artwork are welcome. Choose the materials and size that best express your idea.
  • Submit a clear JPEG or PNG image and a typed short artist statement to office@popdhh.ca by February 26, 2027. Include the student’s name, grade, school and teacher contact. 
  • Every artist must include a statement explaining what the artwork represents and how it connects to the theme. Students may write it themselves or share their ideas in their preferred communication method for a teacher to transcribe. 
  • Suggested interpretations of the theme for art inspiration: Deaf culture, pride, identity, your community, strengths, capabilities, successes or ASL.
  • All artwork must be created independently by the student without the use of AI generated images, clipart, photocopies, magazine cutouts, blackline colouring pages, tracings, etc.

Submission of artwork

  • Artwork must be photographed with high resolution. Send in JPEG or PNG format (NOT as a PDF) along with the artist statement  to office@popdhh.ca. 
  • Artists may sign their work if desired.
  • Teachers may help students with preparing the artist statement by transcribing if needed.

Judging and prizes

Scoring will be based on: 

  • Message and theme: What the artwork communicates, supported by the artist statement.
  • Artistic choices: How choices such as colour, line, shape, texture, space or contrast support that message.
  • Unique interpretations of the theme and originality in the artwork can help a submission rank higher.
  • Judges will pre-judge all artwork prior to the Showcase event to determine winners

Top 3 winners for each age group will be announced on Showcase day.

Prizes: Chapters Gift cards

  • DHH Art K-3: 1st place $30; 2nd place $25; 3rd place $20
  • DHH Art 4-7: 1st place $35; 2nd place $30; 3rd place $25
  • DHH Art 8-12: 1st place $100; 2nd place $75; 3rd place $50