Rules

1. General
The 33rd Annual Photo Competition (“the Competition”) is governed by these Rules and Regulations. By entering the Competition, you agree to be bound by these Rules and Regulations.

2. Sponsor
The sponsor (“Competition Sponsor” is Canadian Geographic Enterprises (50 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1M 2K1).

3. Start/End Dates
The Competition starts at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on September 10, 2018 and ends at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 16, 2019.

4. Eligibility
The Competition is open to residents of Canada. The following persons are not eligible to enter the Competition or win a Prize: employees, officers, directors or representatives of the Competition Sponsor, judges, and the parents, siblings and children of, and persons domiciled with, such individuals, or any of the Competition Sponsor’s parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and agencies.

Entrants are not eligible to win more than one Prize.

5. Photographic Entries
All photographs entered in the Competition must be of Canadian content (i.e. taken in Canada and relating to Canada). Photographic entries must be original material and must not have been a winner in any other national Competition.

All entries are intended for the general public. Entrants are fully responsible for the photographs they submit. The Competition Sponsor will not accept photographic entries that are offensive and reserves the right to disqualify, in their sole discretion, any photographic entries that contain, for example, racist, hateful, sexist, homophobic or pornographic content.

Photographic entries must not have been published or accepted for publication by a national magazine or newspaper. Photographic entries that have been previously published online on, for example, personal websites, blogs or social media, are not considered published for the purpose of this Competition. Judges will require the publication history of all photos being considered in the final stages of judging and reserve the right to disqualify photos based on their publication history.

All photographic entries must be submitted electronically as .jpg files through the website of the Competition, annual18.canadiangeographic.ca. Digital files should be at least 1,000 pixels wide for a horizontal image or 1,000 pixels tall for a vertical image at 72 dpi. Content alteration of digital files is not acceptable. Cropping of photographs and tonal or colour corrections are permitted.

Entrants must be able provide a high-resolution version of each photographic entry (uncompressed TIFF or maximum quality JPEG, Grayscale or Colour (RGB), minimum 4,000 pixels on the longest side). The Competition Sponsor may require a high-resolution file for any photograph selected as a winning entry. Entrants who fail to provide a high-resolution file within the time period set by the Competition Sponsor (not to exceed one week following notification) will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be selected by the judges. In such a case, no substitute or alternate prizes will be awarded.

All entries become the property of the Competition Sponsor and will not be returned.

6. Photograph Categories
Photographs may be entered into the five categories described below:

(a) Flora and fauna
From bears to bees, foxes to fish, whales to wildflowers, Canada’s biodiversity is incredible. We’re looking for your best shots of Canadian plant and animal life.

(b) Urban Canada
What makes your city unique? Behind the glittering skylines of our country’s major cities, historic neighbourhoods, picturesque parks, fantastic festivals and architectural gems await. We want to see your best photos capturing the colour and life of Canadian cities.

(c) Active outdoors
How do you stay active? Whether it’s hiking a mountain trail, paddling along the shore of a still lake, or cross-country skiing through fresh snow in your local park, we’re looking for photos of you, your friends and family enjoying Canada’s diverse landscapes in every season.

(d) Iconic landscapes
From the wave-swept fiords of Newfoundland, to the dramatic peaks of the Canadian Rockies, to the ancient forest groves of British Columbia, to the breathtaking openness of the Arctic tundra, we want to see your best photos of Canada’s iconic landscapes.

(e) Wild weather
Canada is notorious for its weather extremes! We’re looking for your best shots that tell an amazing weather story, be it a dramatic thunderstorm, a record-breaking snowfall, or the simple sculptural beauty of clouds on a summer’s day.

Photos must be uploaded to the appropriate category. Judges reserve the right to place the entry in an appropriate category or remove a photo from the Competition should it not be suitable for the category to which it was submitted. Photographs that are removed from the Competition are not eligible for a Prize. Photographs placed in another category are only eligible to win a Prize in the category into which the entry has been placed.

7. Publication
Winners' names and photographs may be published in special themed issues of Canadian Geographic magazine and will appear at annual18.canadiangeographic.ca.

Canadian Geographic Enterprises and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society reserve the non-exclusive right to publish any entry and/or use any entry in its material during or after the Competition without further compensation to the entrants. For Canadian Geographic Enterprises and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, promotional material shall include without limitation any print or electronic advertising or marketing material such as posters, online images, newspaper ads, television ads, e-mails and social media content.

Waiver forms/ model releases are the responsibility of the entrant and must be available in the event the photo is selected as a winning photograph.

8. Copyright
Photographic entries must not infringe upon or violate any laws or any third party rights, including, but not limited to copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary rights and must not constitute material that would be considered libeling, defamatory, or a privacy violation.

Entrants must obtain all necessary permissions, licenses, clearances, releases, waivers of moral rights and other approvals from third parties (including but not limited to all copyright holders and all individuals appearing in the story submission), necessary to use the photographic entry, in whole or in part, in any way, including to reproduce, make derivatives, edit, modify, translate, distribute, transmit, publish, license and broadcast the photographic entry worldwide, by any means, without limitation. Any and all such permissions, licenses, clearances, releases, waivers of moral rights and approvals must be included.

The owner of a photographic entry retains ownership over the photograph. Each entrant (and his/her/their parent or guardian) irrevocably and in perpetuity grants the Competition Sponsor a world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable and non-exclusive right and licence to use, copy, adapt, transmit, communicate, publicly display and perform, distribute and create compilations and derivative works or merchandise from the photographic entity to promote the Competition Sponsor.

Each entrant (and his/her/their parent or guardian) represents and warrants that he/she/they have the right to grant the licence set out above.

9. Selection of Winners
All winners will be selected on the basis of skill as determined by a panel of Competition judges. This Competition is based on photography skills alone and not subject to random draw or any other element of chance. The winners of the prizes will be chosen and evaluated based on the following judging criteria: composition, content/originality, technical quality and visual impact.

The winners will be notified by email or telephone by 5 p.m. ET on February 8, 2019.

All prizes will be delivered to the winners by mail. All decisions of the Competition judges are final.

10. Chances of Winning
The chances of winning a Prize will depend on the number of eligible photographs received and the evaluation of the photographs by the panel of judges.

11. Technical
The Competition Sponsor is excluded from all liability for any personal injury, loss or damage of whatever kind (including loss of data) cause directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from uploading photographic entries and material to the Competition website. The Competition Sponsor is not responsible for any failure of the Competition website during the Competition,  problems or technical malfunctions of computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software or any e-mail, online or internet entry lost due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or property related to or resulting from uploading any photographic entry to the Competition.

12. Cancellation
The Competition Sponsor reserves the right, with the consent of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, to terminate or suspend the Competition or to amend these Rules and Regulations at any time and in any way, without prior notice, for any reason whatsoever. Without limiting the foregoing, if for any reason the Competition is not capable of running or being completed, as originally planned (for example, as a result of tampering or infection by a computer virus) the Competition Sponsor reserves the right, with the consent of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, to cancel the Competition.

13. Disqualification
The Competition Sponsor, in their sole discretion, may disqualify any individual who attempts to undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition by tampering with any website mechanism, or who violates these Rules and Regulations.  

14. Prizes
The prizes consist of five (5) category prizes and five (5) runner-up prizes (the “Prizes”). Winners will receive no compensation, credit or prizing other than as disclosed in these Rules or otherwise provided at the sole discretion of the Competition Sponsor.  Prizes are not transferable; no prize substitutions or equivalents are permitted, except by the Competition Sponsor at their sole discretion. In all cases, the Competition Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any of the Prizes.

Category winners (5 total)
The Category Winners will each receive a Vistek prize pack consisting of a Tenba Solstice 20L Backpack (value: $179.99), a Benro iFoto Series 2 Aluminum Tripod Kit with IB2 Head (value: $219.99) a Matin cleaning set (value: $19.99), a Jupio Universal Fast Lithium Battery Charger with LCD screen (value: $59.99) and an Illumi 107 cm 5-in-1 Double-Stitched Reflector (value: $69.99).

Additionally, Category Winners will receive a copy of Canadian Geographic’s Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (value: $100) and a one-year subscription to Canadian Geographic magazine (value: $30).

The “Active outdoors” Category Winner will receive a Nikon KeyMission 170 action camera (value: $499.95)

The other four (4) Category Winners will each receive a Nikon KeyMission 80 action camera (value: $349.95)

Total approximate retail value $1,029 - $1,179

Runners Up (5 total)
The Runners Up will receive a Vistek prize pack consisting of a Tenba DNA 8 Messenger bag (value: $149.99), a Benro TSL08AN00 Slim Aluminum Tripod Kit with N00 Ball Head (value: $129.99) and a Matin optics cleaning set, large (value: $14.99).

Additionally, the Runners Up will receive a one-year subscription to Canadian Geographic magazine (value: $30).

Total approximate retail value: $324

Honourable mentions (5)
Honourable mentions will receive a one-year subscription to Canadian Geographic (value: $30) and a copy of Best Wildlife Photography 2019 (value: $12.95).

Total approximate retail value: $42.95

Prize value is an estimate; actual retail value will vary depending on where the prize is shipped.

All prizes must be accepted as awarded and may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion, sold, redeemed for cash, combined with any other promotion, or exchanged for a different prize. Allow six to eight weeks for delivery of Prizes.

To be declared a winner, the selected entrant must sign and return a declaration and release form confirming eligibility and compliance with these Rules and Regulations, consenting to the use, without further compensation, of his/her/their name, address (city and province or territory of residence) and photograph(s) in any Competition-related publicity and releasing the Competition Sponsor, their directors, officers, employees and their respective agents, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and assigns, from all liability arising in connection with the Competition or the acceptance, use or redemption of a Prize as awarded. The declaration and release must be returned to the Competition Sponsor within ten (10) days after receipt. Entrants who fail or are unable to meet any of these Rules and Regulations may be disqualified and alternate winner(s) will be selected.

15. Limitation of Liability
By entering and participating in this Competition, each entrant agrees to hold harmless the Competition Sponsor, their directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and assigns from any liability for damage, injury, death, loss, cancellation or other liability arising from the entrants acceptance or use of a Prize or substituted prize or having participated in this Competition including, without limitation, claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, travel-related injuries and/or death, or from the misuse or malfunction of a Prize or substitute prize. Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, whatsoever and howsoever arising, by participation in this Competition or use or redemption of any Prize.

The Competition Sponsor, their directors, officers, employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries, and assigns assume no liability for losses incurred as a result of a cancellation of the Competition or for any reason whatsoever or through the acts or defaults of any company or person providing a Prize or for events occurring after the award of a Prize. All such losses or expenses will be borne by each individual Prize winner. The Competition is subject to all applicable federal, provincial, and local laws and may be void where prohibited by the law of the entrant’s place of residence. Decisions of the Competition Sponsor regarding all aspects of the Competition are final.

16. Disputes
By participating in the Competition, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Rules and Regulations. In the event of any dispute as to whether a person is an entrant, a potential winner or a winner, or as to the qualification of any entrant, potential winner or winner to, or the adequacy of any prize or any substitute prize, the decision of the Competition Sponsor will be final.

For Residents of Quebec Only: any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of a publicity Competition may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any such litigation respecting the awarding of a prize to any resident of the Province of Québec may be submitted to the Régie only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement.

17. Privacy
The Competition Sponsor respects every entrant’s right to Privacy. By entering this Competition, each entrant is deemed to automatically have provided his/her/their consent that personal information collected from entrants will only be used by the Competition Sponsor or their affiliates to administer the Competition and to publish the winning photographs. Neither the Competition Sponsor nor their affiliates will share personal information relating to entrants with any third parties, except as necessary for the administration of the Competition or as may be required by law. Any conflict or discrepancy between the foregoing provisions of this Rule 17 and any applicable laws or regulations of Canada, or the provinces or territories of Canada, with respect to privacy, shall be resolved in favour of such applicable laws or regulations. The Competition Sponsor will not attempt to contact the entrant for any purpose other than as may be required by law unless they have opted-in to receive relevant communications from the Competition Sponsor.

If you have any questions about Canadian Geographic’s use of your personal information, please contact Canadian Geographic’s Privacy Officer by e-mail at [email protected] or by mail at:

Canadian Geographic
Privacy Officer
50 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1M 2K1


18. Interpretation of these Rules
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Rules and Regulations, or the respective rights and obligations of the prize claimants and the Competition Sponsor in connection with the Competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with (i) the laws of the Province of Québec and the laws of Canada applicable therein with respect to the residents of the Province of Québec, and (ii) the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein with respect to residents of the other Canadian provinces and territories, without regard to conflicts of law principles. Any attempt by a participant or any other individual to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition could be a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Competition Sponsor reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Competition is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws.