THE CONTEST WINNERS SESSION BY SESSION 
Winners Session by Session (archives)

CONTEST 2002 - 2003

Winner of the Grand Prix:
Ms. Jolyane Gagnon, a second-year student at the Collège Laflèche in Trois-Rivières, for her essay "Les Philippines et la Corée du Sud : la voie de la démocratie" (question no 1). Her prize includes air transportation to Asia supplied by Japan Airlines, an APFC cash award for traveling expenses and technical assistance provided by Club Aventure. Her supervisor at the Cégep, Mr. Alain Soulard, receives a week-end for two at the Holiday Inn Select Centre-Ville in Montréal's Chinatown as well as a table d'hôte supper for two in the restaurant Chez Chine.

Special Awards:
The authors of ten other texts qualified for a special award and will receive prizes, such as the groupe documens language correction software or a table d'hôte meal in the Japanese restaurant Soto in Montréal. They are listed here by the order of the question answered.

1. Compare the transition from an authoritarian régime to democracy (or constitutional monarchy) during the 20th century and describe the principal factors involved in each of these transitions for TWO of the following countries: Bangladesh, South Korea, Philippines and Thailand.
   
   Marc-André Gendron, Collège de Valleyfield
   La Thaïlande et les Philippines : des valeurs asiatiques, un rêve occidental
   Florence Larocque, Cégep régional de Lanaudière à L'Assomption
   Voguer vers la rive : la démocratisation en Corée du Sud et aux Philippines
   
   
2. The place of women in society is in evolution nearly everywhere in the world. Compare the current role of women in the economic life of TWO of the following countries: Bangladesh, China, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Mention the contributing factors in order to explain the differences and the similarities between the TWO countries.
   
   Pierre-Olivier Buist, Collège Laflèche
   Indonésiennes et Japonaises en marche
   Maud-Andrée Lemieux, Collège Montmorency
   Chinoises et Japonaises : même passé opprimant, même bataille
   Nancy Rivard-Boulos, Collège Gérald-Godin
   Le Japon et le Pakistan à l'aube de la nouvelle société : Le monde des femmes
   
   
3. Along the great rivers of South Asia (today India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) and of China, man built, over the centuries, great agrarian civilizations. However, during the last two millennia of the history of these civilizations, Turkic and Mongolian speaking nomadic peoples descended from the Eurasian steppe to try to conquer these rich societies. Describe and compare the impact of ONE of the invasions of these horsemen on EACH of these TWO great agrarian civilizations: India (before the British Empire) and China. None of the submitted texts qualified for a special award.
   
   
4. Television is one medium increasingly present everywhere in Asia. Compare TV broadcasting from the perspective of the diversity of expression, by identifying (1) the limits on what is permitted to be broadcast, (2) the presence of foreign content (imported or broadcast from outside by satellite) as well as (3) foreign participation in the management of television, and this for ONE of the four following PAIRS of countries: (a) China and India, (b) Japan and Singapore, (c) Philippines and Malaysia, or (d) Indonesia and South Korea.
   
   Diane Bastien, Collège André-Grasset
   La Chine et l'Inde : restrictions cathodiques ou diversité d'expression ?
   Élise Crête, Collège André-Grasset
   La diversité d'expression dans la diffusion télévisuelle en Inde et en Chine
   
   
5. During the last 50 years, the majority of Asian countries have experienced significant economic growth as well as increased integration into world trade. In an associated development, they have seen the emergence of a mass tourism involving foreigners or even their own citizens. Compare the impact of the tourism industry on the environment in TWO of the following countries: China, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam. Where applicable, mention the policies adopted by one or the other of the two countries to counter the negative environmental effects.
   
   Jeanne-Marie Giard, Collège André-Grasset
   La Malaysia et l'Inde : un tourisme agressant...
   
   
6. Several Asian countries have important rural populations experiencing great difficulty in meeting their own needs in economies increasingly dominated by the marketplace. Compare governmental strategies which aim to help their populations overcome these difficulties in TWO of the following countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam.
   
   Frédéric Picotte, Collège Laflèche
   Le Viêt-nam et la Thaïlande : un développement durable pour une prospérité assurée !
   
   
7. Compare, in economic and political terms, the impact of ONE of the proposed agricultural products (cotton, rubber, silk or opium) on the history of TWO of the following Asian countries: China, India, Malaysia or Vietnam.
   
   Andrée-Anne Aubry, Collège Laflèche
   Le commerce de l'opium en Asie de l'Est
   
   
8. Explain the nature of current trade relations between Québec and TWO of the following countries: China, South Korea, India and Japan. Compare not only the volume of trade but also the principal industrial sectors involved. Mention any pertinent factor which might explain observed differences in the trade between Québec and each country. None of the submitted texts qualified for a special award.
   

• 
  

  PREVIOUS CONTESTS Return to top
  

  NEW ANNUAL	CONTEST	2001-2002
  Winter	2001
  Winter	2000	Autumn
  Winter	1999	Autumn
  Winter	1998	Autumn
  Winter	1997	Autumn

  NEW CONTEST 2001 - 2002

  Winner of the Grand Prix:
  Ms. Florence Larocque of the Cégep régional de Lanaudière at L'Assomption for her text « L'Inde et l'Indonésie vers le même sommet : l'indépendance » (question no 5). Her prize includes air transportation to Asia supplied by Japan Airlines as well as a guided tour on one of the circuits organized by Club Aventure. Her supervisor at the Cégep, Mr. Sébastien Piché, receives a week-end for two at the Holiday Inn Select Centre-Ville in Montréal's Chinatown as well as a table d'hôte supper for two in the restaurant Chez Chine.

  Special Awards:
  The authors of eleven other texts qualified for a special award and will receive prizes, such as the Groupe documens (formerly Machina Sapiens) language correction software, gift certificates from the boutique Chine Art in Québec City or a table d'hôte meal in the Japanese restaurant Soto in Montréal. They are listed here by the order of the question answered.

  1. Identify the traditional ceremonies that mark the stages of life, from birth to death, for men and women, for TWO of these countries: Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines or Vietnam. Describe the rituals and the cultural values expressed during these ceremonies; compare the similarities and the differences.
     
     Mariko Chartier-Otis, Cégep André-Laurendeau
     Fêtes et cérémonies au Japon et au Viêt-nam : au carrefour de la modernité
     Yin Grace Pan, Marianapolis College
     Love and death
     Mélanie Boucher-Lavallée, Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
     Du soleil levant au dragon fantastique : le Japon et le Viêt-nam, deux mondes fabuleux
     
     
  2. Describe the importance and the impact of waterways and access to the sea on the demographic, economic, technological and cultural development of the people from TWO of the following countries: China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. In comparing the two countries, pay particular attention to food production and to transportation and communication networks.
     
     Alexandre Genest, Collège Ahuntsic
     L'affluence des peuples indien et japonais près des cours d'eau : la confluence des intérêts
     
     
  3. From its origins in the Arabian peninsula in the 7th century, Islam has spread over many continents, including Asia. Describe the establishment of Islam and its spread throughout one of these TWO PAIRS of countries: (a) Malaysia and Pakistan, or (b) Bangladesh and Indonesia. Compare the characteristics and the role today of this religion in people's daily life, in each of the two selected countries.
     
     Gabrielle Bernard, Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
     L'islam, une religion de guerre et de paix
     Annie Taillon, Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
     L'islam universel : ses différentes applications
     
     
  4. How to explain that with the Meiji Reform, Japan chose a modernization open to the outside, whereas the Chinese Emperors chose the opposite, leading China and Japan, in the 20th century, to two very different levels of development? Describe the Meiji Reform and the positions of China and Japan vis-à-vis this reform. Explain why these two countries experienced a different level of development.
     
     Jean-Philippe De Montigny, Collège André-Grasset
     Le Japon et la Chine : des parcours qui se séparent au tournant du siècle
     
     
  5. For approximately 500 years, South Asian and Southeast Asian societies have been troubled and even at times transformed by the arrival, by sea, of European merchants and conquerors. Then, in the 20th century, the rate of transformations increased, the colonial system collapsed and the Asian colonies regained their independence. Describe and compare the transformations, which occurred in the 20th century, that led to the independence of TWO of the following countries: India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore or Vietnam.
     
     Véronique Loranger, Collège Laflèche
     À la recherche de son indépendance : l'Inde respectée, le Viêt-nam déchiré
     
     
  6. The 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis shook the economies of several countries, once top performers in the world economy. Describe and compare the economic situation and government policies before, during and after the crisis for TWO of the following countries: Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea or Thailand. None of the submitted texts qualified for a special award.
     
     
  7. The impressive economic development experienced by many Asian countries since World War II brought about several changes, many environmental problems and more recently an awareness of the importance of the environment. Describe the nature of the most pressing environmental problems and compare the efforts made by the governments and non-governmental organizations to remedy the problems in TWO of the following countries: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines or Vietnam.
     
     Annie Nadeau-Fredette, Collège André-Grasset
     Viêt-nam et Philippines : quand le développement de l'économie entraîne le déclin de l'environnement
     Marie-Ève Tanguay, Collège Mérici
     La pollution en Chine et au Japon, une réalité inévitable
     
     
  8. Over the last few years, Chinese cinema (including films from Hong Kong and Taiwan) has experience a notable success in North America. While India, the world's largest producer of films, does not seem to have attained the same level of notoriety. Describe the characteristics, the similarities and the differences of these two cinemas (Chinese and Indian) and explain why the reaction of North American moviegoers is so different.
     
     Catherine Dea, Cégep Lionel-Groulx
     Cinéma chinois et indien : le verdict de l'Amérique
     
     

  WINTER 2001

  The Quebec Office of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Communication of UQAM and Concordia Universities would like to congratulate Mr. Alexandre Pagé (Le Viêt-nam : un pays à la constante recherche de son indépendance) from Collège Français, First Prize, Ms. Aïko-Laurence Ito (Japan - The Misunderstood Revolution of Minds) from John Abbott College, Second Prize and Mr. Jean-Philippe De Montigny (Le Japon : une société forte, une économie à croissance rapide) from Collège André-Grasset, Third Prize, for their excellent essays. We are also pleased to award them $300, $200, $100 respectively for the quality of their work.

  Special Awards

  The Quebec Office of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Communication of UQAM and Concordia Universities also wish to acknowledge the fine work of other contestants by giving them a special award.  These contestants are:

  French-speaking colleges :

  Collège André-Grasset:
  Professeur Tom Malo

  • Giard, Frédric. Le Taekwondo
  • Bélanger-Champagne, Camille. Les Philippines : économie en développement, environnement sur le déclin
  • Tang, Marie-Christine. L'environnement des Philippines : trésor négligé
  • Thériault-Proulx, Mathieu. La culture du Viêt-Nam

  Cégep de Saint-Jérôme :
  Professeur Louise-Édith Tétreault

  • Perreault, Marie-Anne. La ligne de vie des Indes
  • Gravel, Marie-Christine.L'implantation des diverses religions en Indonésie
  • Le Blanc, Mélissa. Les Philippines : une terre brûlante

  Cégep régional de Lanaudière (L'Assomption) :
  Professeur Yvon Jolicoeur

  • Lepage, Gabrielle. De la dictature à la démocratie
  • Jean, Sébastien. L'art de la guerre japonais
  • St-Pierre, Stéphane. Guerre du Viêt-nam : une polémique idéologiquee

  Collège François-Xavier-Garneau :
  Professeur Pascale Bédard

  • Goulet, Luc. Le relief d'une puissance orientale
  • Desbiens, Mylène. La Malaisie : une diversité culturelle et des traditions hautes en couleur

  Collège Bois-de-Boulogne :
  Professeur Armand Sebbag

  • Hervé, Gaël. L'économie du Vietnam : un pas vers la mondialisation

  Collège Français :
  Professeur Françoise Desphelippon

  • Lemieux, Julie. Vivre aux couleurs de l'Inde

  English-speaking colleges:

  John Abbott College :
  Professor Kong Fah Lee

  • Bernard, Glenn. Chinese Culture, the Art of Feng Shui
  • Huang, Liang-Chieh. Tang Dynasty, Revolution of the Xuanwu Gate
  • Mulvihill, Brendan. Japanese Culture, How it has changed with the Passage Time
  • Hong, James. Korean Culture, Tae Kwon Do
  • Trinidad, Marie. Philippines - Mabuhay!!!
  • Chappell, Jenifer. Vietnam, a Culture of a Thousand Words

  Marianopolis College :
  Professor Karen Ray

  • Yang, Jianing. Turning Points in the History of Communist China
  • Mehr, Michael. Indian Geography: An Asian Giant

  AUTUMN 2000

  First Prize

  • Sylvestre, Andréanne. Le joyau de l'Indonésie: la culture balinaise,
    (Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, Professeur Gaétan Houle)

  Second Prize

  • Aron, Patrick. From Evolution to Revolution: A History of Malaysia,
    (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Third Prize

  • LeMay, Candide. Le Japon, une nation très peuplée sur une terre de feu,
    (Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, Professeur Gaétan Houle)

  Special Awards

  Collège de Rosemont :
  Professeur Josée Jacques

  • Nguyen, Viviane. Le sumô : sport national du Japon

  Collège de Rosemont :
  Professeur Stéphane Huchet

  • Rodriguez, Karen. L'Inde, de l'himalaya au désert

  Cégep de Sorel-Tracy :
  Professeur Gaétan Houle

  • Bergeron-Vachon, Amélie. La démocratie n'a pas fait le bonheur de tous
  • Bourassa, Lainie. La Chine et l'agitation d'un peuple
  • Forget, Simon. L'environnement en Chine: l'importance de l'eau
  • Godin, Sébastien. Le neuvième fragment
  • Lamothe, Marie-Claude. Le coffret à bijoux de l'Inde: ses richesses culturelles
  • Laroche, Joël. La Corée du Sud: une culture aux attraits captivants...
  • Laperle, Steve. La Corée du Sud: au-delà des influences étrangères
  • Marchand, Hugo. L'Inde coloniale, une épopée mouvementée
  • Péloquin, Patrick. La période Heian (794-1185) berceau de la culture japonaise
  • Pépin, Marylène. La Chine: une grande richesse naturelle
  • Plante, Isabelle. Le Viêt-nam tout en fête!
  • Poulin, Mélanie. Pays aux origines multiculturelles
  • Rondeau, Marie-Josée. Au-delà des combats de coqs

  John Abbott College
  Professor Kong Fah Lee

  • Boukri, Sherine. Indian Culture: The Secrets of Hindu Mythology
  • Cianflone, Carla. Japanese Culture: Festivals and Celebrations
  • Dagher, Elie. Japan Economics: "Made in Japan"
  • Green, Michael. The Great Festivals of China
  • Suk Yin Khoo, Tania. Malaysian Culture: Cultural Mosaic
  • Kim, Ji-Eun. Myungjul in South Korea
  • Kim, Muriel. The Korean War
  • MacDougall, Colleen. History of the Philippines
  • Roberts, Nadine. "The Golden Lotus": A History of Footbinding in China
  • Vézina Manzo, Audrey. Confucius' Teaching and Philosophy: Confucianism

  up

  WINTER 2000

  First Prize

  • Brisebois, Catherine. La situation économique du Japon, (Collège André-Grasset, Professeur Tom Malo)

  Second Prize

  • Huza, Jonathan. History of Indonesia (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Third Prize

  • Dubuc, Isabelle. La Malaysia : une diversité et une richesse écologique inégalées (Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, Professeure Louise-Édith Tétreault)

  Special Awards

  Collège André-Grasset
  Professeur Tom Malo

  • Goulamhoussen, Danish. L'Inde : une puissance économique en évolution rapide

  Collège de Limoilou
  Professeur Carlos Manzi

  • Lemieux, Catherine. Le Japon: les geishas

  John Abbott College
  Professor Kong Fah Lee

  • Canaan, Carole. The History of Karate and How it Became Part of the Japanese Culture
  • Chislett-Strickland, Shawn. Vietnamese History: The Vietnam War
  • Desautels, Eric. Malaysian Geography
  • El-Ghafari, Luay. China's Geography
  • Galdones, Junior. Religion, with a Filipino Twist
  • Hong, Frederick. The History of Malaysia
  • Loutfi, Maxime. Ninjutsu
  • Perry, Tim. The South Korean Economy
  • Safiullah, Rehan M., The Mughal Empire
  • Sharma, Kirti. Arranged Marriages in India
  • Venuta, Paola. Japanese Culture
  • Winocour, Sebastian. Filipino Environment
  • Wong Hung-Yiu Vincent. Economy of China

  up

  AUTUMN 1999

  First Prize

  • Gauthier, Karine. L’économie de la Corée du Sud (Collège André-Grasset, Professeur Tom Malo)

  Second Prize

  • Ruel, Martin. La culture de l' Indonésie (Cégep de Sorel-Tracy, Professeur Gaétan Houle)

  Third Prize

  • Prince, Martin. The Chinese Economy (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Special Awards

  Cégep de Saint-Laurent
  Professeure Louise Lapierre

  • Lavallée, Philippe. L’histoire du Viêt-nam de l'antiquité au XV ième siècle

  Cégep de Sorel-Tracy
  Professeur Gaétan Houle

  • Berger, Véronique. La culture traditionnelle balinaise
  • Chabot, Marilyn. L'histoire de la Malaysia
  • Drouin, Marie-Andrée. Riz, thé et culture japonaise
  • Gagné, Lisa. La géographie de l'Inde
  • Pontbriand, Mathieu. Les Philippines du 15ième siècle à aujourd'hui

  Collège André-Grasset
  Professeur Tom Malo

  • Beauregard, Geneviève. L’économie indonésienne
  • Blucheau, Judith. L'économie du Japon
  • Chouinard, Caroline. Viêt-nam : un écosystème riche... mais menacé
  • Gauthier-Cyr, Isabelle. L'environnement des Philippines
  • Leblanc, Marie-Ève. L'économie des Philippines
  • Luquette, Marie. Révolution verte et agriculture en Inde
  • Paquin, Raphaël. Transformations économiques en Malaysia
  • Poupart, Christine. Le problème des inondations en Chine
  • Soto-Rosales, Paula. Pôles de développement de l'économie indienne
  • Trudeau, Jacinthe. L'économie indienne de l'indépendance à nos jours

  Collège Édouard-Montpetit
  Professeur Mario Poulin

  • Noël, Mélanie. La géographie de la Malaysia
  • Racicot, Karine. La géographie de l'Inde

  John Abbott College
  Professor Kong Fah Lee

  • Bichai, Marie-Anne. The art of the Geisha
  • Gafoor, Natalie. Malaysian Culture
  • Garg, Naveen. Trends in Indian Culture
  • Ing, Stephanie. Principal Mythological Creatures: from the dragon to the white tiger
  • Jabuka, Caroline. Indonesian Geography: a regional perspective
  • Morris, Raymond. History of India
  • Opzoomer, Philippe. Indonesian Geography
  • Thibeault, Guillaume. Japanese Geography

  up

  WINTER 1999

  First Prize

  • Arcobelli, Lisa. India- A World of Culture, (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Second Prize

  • Ramessar, Melissa. The Tokugawa Society (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Third Prize

   

  • Takahashi, Mariane. Japanese Culture (John Abbott College, Professor Kong Fah Lee)

  Special Awards

  Collège Édouard-Montpetit
  Professeur Mario Poulin

  • O’Donnell, Julie. La culture de la Corée du Sud
  • Parent, Sarah-Jane. La culture de la Malaysia
  • Parent-Couturier, Mélanie. La crise environnementale de l’Indonésie

  John Abbott College
  Professor Kong Fah Lee

  • Bernath, Lindsay. Subduing the Yangtze
  • Gibb, Chris. Agent Orange
  • Jobin, Joelle. Recent Economic Development in China
  • Lee, Eric. Korean Culture
  • Pelletier, Jennifer. History of Ancient India
  • Seyan, Jaiseema Kaur. Indian Environment
  • Vozzella, Ted. The PRC Under Mao Zedong
  • Yates, Anders. Chinese Environment

  up

  AUTUMN 1998