Do you have a photo that captures the spirit of the Award? We’re inviting Award Leaders across Canada to submit photos that show the Award in Action. Show us how the Award is delivered at your organization and you could win!
We’re awarding three $300 gifts cards of your choice, one for the top photo in each category. Whether it’s a young person reflecting on their progress, being supported by a mentor, or collaborating with a team – we want to showcase the impact of the Award across Canada!
Questions or concerns please reach out to [email protected]
Enter the contest here Photo Release FormContest Rules
Contest begins on June, 18, 2025 at 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and ends on October 7, 2025 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET (the “Contest Period”)
Contest Launch: Tuesday, June 18, 2025
Submission Deadline: Monday, October 7, 2025
Internal Judging Period: October 8-15, 2025
Public Voting: October 21-26, 2025 (Award Awareness Week)
Winners Announced: November 4-8, 2025
The contest is open to Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province/territory at the time of entry. To be an ‘Eligible Contestant(s)’ entrants also must be:
- Staff or volunteers delivering the Award for a registered Award Centre or Operating Partner with a current signed agreement with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada (“Sponsor”).
- Staff/Award Leaders supporting the Virtual Award Centre (VAC) may submit eligible entries on behalf of VAC participants.
Employees, agents, or representatives of the Sponsor or any affiliated parties and their household members are not eligible to participate.
Eligible entrants must submit photographs electronically via https://form.jotform.com/251486217958267 during the Contest Period. There is no purchase necessary to participate.
Each photo submitted must meet submission requirements and fall under one (1) of the following themes:
- Teamwork in Action
- Mentorship in Action
- Goal Setting & Reflection in Action
There is no limit to the number of entries Eligible Contestants can make to each of the three (3) contest themes. However, the same photo cannot be entered more than once or in more than one category, duplicate photo submissions will be disqualified.
By entering, each participant confirms that their photo and submission meet all Contest Rules. The Sponsor and Contest Parties assume no liability for entries that do not comply. Entrants will be held responsible for any issues arising from non-compliance.
To be eligible photos must comply with these rules:
- Photo Size: 1–25 MB
- Format: .jpg or .png
- No Alterations: No digital edits such as combined images, colour/tonal corrections, borders, text, or graphic effects. The only exception is blurred faces if consent is not available.
- Originality: Photo must be original, unpublished outside this Contest, and not a past winner of any other contest.
By submitting, entrants confirm that their photo:
- Is original and all rights, including photographer consent, have been obtained.
- Does not violate any laws or infringe on third-party rights.
- Includes consent from all recognizable individuals, including parental/legal guardian consent for minors. If consent is not available, faces must be blurred.
- Does not contain:
- Nudity, sexually explicit or offensive content
- Derogatory language or symbols
- Illegal, unsafe, or inappropriate activities
- Personal information (names, addresses)
- Advertising or third-party brands/logos
- Anything deemed unsuitable by the Sponsor
Any Photo that the Sponsor deems to violate the terms and conditions set forth in these Rules may be removed from the contest. The Sponsor and/or the Contest Parties reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to edit or modify any Photo, or to request an entrant to modify or edit their Photo, to ensure that the Photo complies with these Rules, or for any other reason.
Finalists and winners will be recognized across multiple platforms, including:
- Award Canada’s website (www.dukeofed.org), newsletter, and social media (@AwardCanada)
- Award promotional materials
- Award Awareness Week spotlights
- Photo credits will be included wherever possible.
Prizes:
Three (3) $300 CAD prepaid gift cards will be awarded—one per category (Goal Setting & Reflection, Mentorship, Teamwork). Each prize will go to the Award Centre of the winning submission and awarded to the listed Award Coordinator to be used by the Award Centre.
Prizes must be accepted as awarded and are non-transferable. Substitutions of equal or greater value may be made at the Sponsor’s discretion. The odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible submissions received for each category.
Virtual Award Centre (VAC) Prizes:
If a VAC photo wins a category, the $300 prize will be split among all eligible VAC participants who submitted photos, applied as a discount toward their next level (Silver or Gold) registration.
Additionally, all eligible VAC participants will be entered into a random draw for a $100 gift card. Only one entry per participant is permitted, regardless of number of submissions. The draw will take place on October 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. EDT in Toronto, Ontario. The odds of winning depend on the number of participants in the VAC that submit eligible entries.
Each Eligible Contestant that submits an entry in compliance with these Rules is eligible to win the Prize(s). Entries that are incomplete, ineligible, inappropriate, or do not meet all requirements will be disqualified.
Judging:
A panel appointed by the Sponsor will evaluate all eligible submissions based on:
- Connection to Theme – Weight=30%
- Visual Impact and Storytelling Weight=30%
- Composition and Technical Quality Weight=30%
- Public Vote (added post-finalist selection)
Weight=20%
In addition to this criterion, the judging panel will prioritize showcasing a diverse range of Award Centres from across Canada.
Judges will select two (2) to five (5) finalists for each of the three (3) themes). Finalists will be notified by email, and their submissions will be shared on social media to capture the public vote.
Public Voting:
Finalist photos will be shared on @AwardCanada (Instagram and Facebook) during Award Awareness Week (October 21–26, 2025). The public is invited to vote for their favourite photo in each of the three contest categories by commenting on our posts.
Here’s how it works:
- A post for each category will be shared on Instagram and Facebook.
- Comment on the post to vote for the photo you think best represents the category.
- One vote per person per category per platform will be counted.
- Voting for each category is open for 48 hours, after which posts will be removed.
Voting Schedule:
- Teamwork in Action
Oct. 20 (12:01 p.m.) – Oct. 22 (11:59 a.m.) ET - Mentorship in Action
Oct. 22 (12:01 p.m.) – Oct. 24 (11:59 a.m.) ET - Goal Setting & Reflection in Action
Oct. 24 (12:01 p.m.) – Oct. 26 (11:59 a.m.) ET
Public votes will be factored into the final score to help determine the winner in each category.
Winners are selected by combining judging panel scores with public votes. One winner per category. The chances of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible Entries received during the Contest Period.
Notification Process:
- Contacted up to 3 times via provided contact details
- Must correctly answer a skill-testing question
- If unreachable, ineligible, or non-compliant, an alternate may be selected
Winners will be notified privately prior to public announcement and must correctly answer a skill-testing question to claim their prize. By accepting the prize, winners release the Sponsor and its affiliates from any liability and consent to the use of their name and province of residence for promotional purposes without additional notice or compensation.
Results will be announced publicly between Nov. 4–8, 2025 via Award Canada channels.
All entries become the property of the Sponsor. The Contest is governed by all applicable laws. The Sponsor’s decisions are final.
By entering, each participant:
- Confirms their submission is original and they hold all necessary rights.
- Grants the Sponsor a non-exclusive, perpetual license to use, edit, or promote the entry for advertising or for any other reason.
- Waives all moral rights to their entry.
- Releases the Sponsor and affiliated parties from liability related to participation, use of entries, or prize acceptance.
Entries must not infringe on third-party rights or contain inappropriate, illegal, or offensive content. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify, remove, or request edits to any entry.
All Entries are subject to verification. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to require proof of identity and/or eligibility (in a form acceptable to the Sponsor) of an Eligible Contestant to participate in this Contest. Failure to provide such proof in a timely manner may result in disqualification. The sole determinant of the time for the purposes of a valid Entry in this Contest will be the Contest server machine(s).
The Sponsor is not responsible for technical issues, system failures, or delays affecting entry submission. Entries are subject to verification, and proof of eligibility may be required.
The Sponsor may adjust dates, contest mechanics, or cancel the contest in response to technical issues, fraud, or other unforeseen circumstances. Any such changes in Quebec are subject to the approval of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.
Quebec Residents: Disputes regarding the contest may be submitted to the Régie for resolution.
By entering, participants consent to the Sponsor using their personal information solely for contest administration, as outlined in the Privacy Policy: https://www.dukeofed.org/privacy-policy/. The Contest winner agrees (on their own behalf) to the publication of their name and province of residence without further notice or compensation.
Email addresses and other personal information will only be collected and used for the purposes of administering the photo contest and contacting entrants regarding their submissions. We will not use or share this information for any other purpose without your explicit consent.
All intellectual property used by the Sponsor in connection with the promotion and/or administration of the Contest, including, without limitation, all trade-marks, trade names, logos, designs, promotional materials, web pages, source code, drawings, illustrations, slogans and representations are owned (or licensed, as the case may be) by the Sponsor. All rights are reserved. Unauthorized copying or use of any such intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.
This Contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram or Facebook. The information you provide will be used for the administration of this Contest and in accordance with the Sponsor’s privacy policy (see above). Social Media platform is completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Contest. All questions or concerns regarding the Contest should be directed to the Sponsor.
In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest related materials, including but not limited to, the French version of these Rules and point of sale, print or online advertising; the terms and conditions of these English Rules shall prevail, govern and control.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada
204-78 George Street
Ottawa,
Ontario K1N 5W1
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