Young Canadians are invited to show their creativity and nationalistic pride by submitting entries to the 2014 Canada Day Challenge.

Canadians aged eight to 18 years old are invited to submit a poster, an original digital photograph or a literary creation, be it short story, poem or essay, under the theme: Canada: Strong and Free. Submissions are due by Feb. 15, 2014.

“On the road to Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, the Canada Day Challenge is an excellent opportunity for young people to explore Canada’s history, culture and identity and to celebrate everything that makes the united, strong and free country it is today,” said Shelly Glover, minister of Canadian heritage and official languages, in a press release.

Winners will be announced in spring 2014 and the grand prize for this year’s three national winners — one from each category — is a trip to Ottawa to visit Canada’s national institutions and to celebrate Canada Day 2014 on Parliament Hill. Runners-up will also receive prizes.

For more information on the contest, including entry rules and regulations, visit the Canada Day Challenge website at www.challenge.pch.gc.ca.