Explore the Whiteshell

Explore the Whiteshell Photo Contest Rules

Official Explore the Whiteshell Photo Contest Rules and Regulations

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. SEE BELOW FOR FULL CONTEST DETAILS. PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST CONSTITUTES YOUR FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF, AND AGREEMENT TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY, THESE CONTEST RULES (THE “CONTEST RULES”).

1. Contest Details

1.1. The sponsor of the Contest is the Whiteshell Marketing Organization (WMO), located at Box 13, Falcon Beach, Manitoba, R0E 0N0, Canada (the “WMO”).

1.2. The Contest is divided into four seasonal periods:

  • Winter: January 7, 2025, 12:00 AM CST – March 9, 2025, 11:59 PM CST.
  • Spring: March 20, 2025, 12:00 AM CST – June 8, 2025, 11:59 PM CST.
  • Summer: June 20, 2025, 12:00 AM CST – September 7, 2025, 11:59 PM CST.
  • Fall: September 22, 2025, 12:00 AM CST – December 7, 2025, 11:59 PM CST.

1.3 Winners for each seasonal period will be announced on the following dates:

  • Winter: March 17, 2025
  • Spring: June 16, 2025
  • Summer: September 15, 2025
  • Fall: December 15, 2025

2. Eligibility

2.1. No purchase necessary. To be eligible to enter the Contest or win a prize, participants must be residents of Canada, have reached the age of majority in their province or territory, or have written permission from a parent or legal guardian to enter the Contest. Employees, board members, immediate family members of employees or board members, and those domiciled with employees or board members of the Whiteshell Marketing Organization are not eligible.

2.2. All photos entered in the Contest must feature content from the Whiteshell Provincial Park from the current seasonal period.

3. Entry

3.1. Submission Limit: Entrants may submit multiple photo entries during the Contest Period. There is no maximum number of entries per person. However, entrants may not win more than one prize per Contest Period.

3.2. How to Enter: Entrants may submit photo entries through one of the following methods:

3.2.1. Online Submission: Photo entries can be submitted via the Explore the Whiteshell’s Website Submission Form. All entries must adhere to the file specifications listed below and include the required information outlined in the submission form.

3.2.2. Email Submission: Entrants may submit their photo entries via email to info@explorethewhiteshell.com. Each email must include the photo as an attachment (not embedded in the email body) and a completed entry form. The entry form can be submitted as a PDF attachment, or the required information may be provided in the body of the email. Incomplete submissions may be disqualified.

3.3 File Specifications: All photo entries submitted must follow the following file specifications:

  • Photos must be in JPG or PNG format.
  • File size should be between 3 MB and 20 MB at 300 dpi.
  • The file name should include the image title and the photographer’s name.
  • No watermarks or logos should be included in the photos.

3.4. Required Submission Information: For every photo submission, entrants must provide their:

  • First and Last Name,
  • Full Mailing Address,
  • Email Address,
  • Phone Number,
  • Instagram handle (optional) and
  • Theme (Scenic, Wildlife, Adventure, or Flora).

In addition, the following details about the submission must be included:

  • Common and/or scientific names of the main wildlife and flora subject,
  • A caption that tells us a bit about the photo and how you came about snapping the shot,
  • The location within the Whiteshell Provincial Park where the photo was taken (i.e. Trail name, lake name, GPS location)

3.5. Certification: Entrants must certify the following for each submission:

  • I certify that I am the photographer of the file being uploaded.
  • I have read and agree to the Rules and Regulations.

3.6. Important Notes: Submissions that do not meet the requirements outlined above may be disqualified.

4. Winner Selection

4.1. Judging: Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges appointed by the WMO Board of Directors. Photos will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, quality, and how well they capture the season and the themes (Flora, Wildlife, Adventure, Scenic). All decisions are final.

4.2. Winner Contact: The prize winner will be contacted by a representative from WMO within four business days by phone and/or email. Where the prize winner is found to be ineligible, declines to accept the prize or is unable to be contacted for whatever reason within four business days, they shall be deemed to have forfeited the prize, and another eligible entry may be selected at the sole discretion of the WMO.

4.3. Odds: The odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period. Each eligible entry is considered for a chance to win.

4.4. Age of Majority: If a prize winner is under the age of majority in their province or territory of residence, the parent or legal guardian of the prize winner must accept the prize on their behalf.

5. Prizes

5.1. Seasonal Prizes: There will be three quarterly Prizes consisting of:

  • 1st Place: $100 cash prize and a feature in the WMO Calendar.
  • 2nd Place: $50 cash prize and a feature in the WMO Calendar.
  • 3rd Place: $50 cash prize and a feature in the WMO Calendar.

5.2. Prize Supplements: Prize values may be supplemented by additional items, services, or cash contributions from sponsors. Specific details of these contributions, if any, will be included in the promotional materials for each seasonal contest.

5.3. Prize Acceptance: Prizes must be accepted as awarded and are not exchangeable, refundable, transferable, or convertible to cash. No substitutions except at the WMO’s option and sole discretion. The WMO reserves the right to substitute a prize or a prize component with one of equal or greater value, in its sole discretion, for any reason. If a prize winner cannot claim a prize or a prize component as awarded, the prize winner’s rights to that prize or prize component may be forfeited, which shall be determined at the WMO’s sole discretion.

5.4. Contest Consent, Release and Indemnity Form: Before being awarded a prize, a prize winner must complete and return a Contest Consent, Release and Indemnity Form (the “Form”). The Form will be sent directly to the prize winner at the mailing or email address provided at the time of entry and must be signed and returned within seven business days. Failure to return a completed Form before the deadline will result in disqualification from the Contest. Prize Winners are responsible for obtaining and returning completed copies of the Form.

5.5. Claiming Prize: Upon return of the completed Form, prize winners will be given instructions on how to claim the prize within a reasonable timeframe. Any prize winner who fails to claim the prize within the reasonable timeframe may be required to forfeit the prize, and an alternate eligible entry may be selected at the sole discretion of the WMO.

6. Copyright and Usage Rights

6.1. The copyright of submitted photos remains with the entrant.

6.2. Entrants who submit photo entries to the Contest grant WMO a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, and irrevocable license to use, publish, copy, adapt, reproduce, transmit, communicate, display, distribute, create compilations and derivative works from the photo entries in WMO publications, on its website, or any promotion material connected to this Contest or other WMO activities.

6.3. Each Entrant represents and warrants that they are the owner of the photo entries or have obtained permission or license from the owner to submit the photo entry to this Contest and that the photo entries do not infringe the rights of any third party.

6.4. Model Release: A completed release form is required for your photos to be considered if there are any people in the photo. Please submit a release form from each person in your submission.

7. Ethics and Content Restrictions

7.1. Photo entries must only include native or naturalized species that can be found in the wild or in their natural habitat in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada.

7.2. Entrants should always remain conscious of their surroundings when photographing wildlife or participating in outdoor activities. Entrants should be mindful of best practices when exploring natural habitats and make every effort to minimize habitat disturbance and environmental impact.

7.3. Entries must not include:

  • Animals in captivity or unnatural conditions,
  • Content obtained through unethical means (e.g., baiting wildlife).
  • Depictions of harmful, dangerous, or damaging activities to the natural environment, wildlife, photography subjects, or photographer.

7.4. WMO reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to disqualify entries from Entrants where it is suspected that the photo does not align with the Contest’s values, ethics, or guidelines.

8. General Conditions

8.1. Compliance with Rules and Laws: By entering this Contest, each participant agrees to follow these Contest Rules, which may change at any time at the WMO’s discretion without notice. This Contest follows all federal, provincial, territorial, and local laws in Canada and is void where prohibited by law.

8.2. Contest Changes or Cancellation: The WMO may cancel, suspend, change, or extend the Contest at any time without notice if something outside their control—like a technical issue, tampering, fraud, or any other unexpected problem—makes it difficult to run the Contest fairly.

8.3. Tampering and Misconduct: The WMO has the right to disqualify anyone who tampers with the entry process, cheats, or disrupts the Contest in any way. This includes things like hacking, fraud, or other dishonest actions. The WMO may also ban such individuals from participating in future contests.

8.4. No Guarantees for Prizes: The WMO does not guarantee the quality or suitability of any prizes offered in this Contest.

8.5. Limitations of Responsibility: The WMO and its advertising or promotion partners are not responsible for:

  • Problems with the Contest website during the Contest Period.
  • Technical issues with internet systems, servers, or software.
  • Entries that don’t go through due to technical problems or internet congestion.
  • Any combination of the above issues.

8.6. Uncontrollable Events (Force Majeure): The WMO is not responsible for delays or failure to provide prizes caused by events beyond their reasonable control, like natural disasters, strikes, or other major disruptions.

8.7. Disputes and Decisions: By entering, participants agree to follow these Contest Rules. If there’s any disagreement about the Contest—such as who qualifies, who wins, or the nature of the prizes—the WMO’s decisions are final.

8.8. Privacy: By entering, participants agree that the WMO and its representatives can collect, store, and use their personal information for running the Contest. If participants choose, they may also agree to receive further communications from the WMO.