Rules and Regulations

Canada’s  Coolest School Trip

Official Contest Rules & Regulations

Contest dates: September 12, 2011 – January 31, 2012

THE CONTEST PERIOD

1. The “Canada’s Coolest School Trip” Contest (the “Contest”) is run by Parks Canada  (the “Contest Administrator”), in collaboration with the My Parks Pass program partners – Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute,  and with the prize sponsors Brewster Inc. (operating as Brewster Travel Canada) and Banff Lake Louise Tourism,. Contest entries will be accepted online from September 12, 2011 at 12:00:01 AM (ET) until January 31, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM (PT) (the “Contest Period”).

CONTEST GROUP ENTITIES

2. For the purposes of the Contest, the Contest Group Entities are: Parks Canada at 25-7-N Eddy Street, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0M5; and the My Parks Pass Program partners Nature Canada and The Historica-Dominion Institute; Brewster Inc. (operating as Brewster Travel Canada); and Banff Lake Louise Tourism, together with their affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, suppliers of materials and services related to the Contest, the contest website www.myparkspass.ca/  www.monpasseportparcs.comand any other corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity directly involved in the Contest (collectively, the “Contest Group Entities”). The Contest Group Entities will collectively act as the contest judges.

ELIGIBILITY

3. The Contest is open to all Grade 8 and Secondary II and split class containing Grade 8/Secondary II students who are residing in these provinces and territories in Canada at the time of contest entry and the Grand Prize judging: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut. For greater clarity, any student residing outside of Canada during the contest entry and draw periods, or who is not in Grade 8 or Secondary II or in a split class at the time of entering this contest is not eligible to enter. Extra-curricular school clubs and groups are not eligible to enter.

Employees of the Contest Group Entities, their affiliates, advertising and promotional agencies, service providers, prize sponsors and the contest judges are not eligible to enter.

HOW TO ENTER

4. The Canada’s Coolest Trip Contest may be entered online only, by completing the online entry form in full and meeting the other contest entry requirements at www.myparkspass.ca/ www.monpasseportparcs.comwithin the contest entry period. Contest entries received by mail will not be accepted.

Contest Entry: Part 1

Entry into the contest requires the authorization from a teacher or Principal of a school.  The online entry form must be completed by a representative of the class which could be a teacher, student or parent/guardian, with the entrant’s full legal name, telephone number, email address, the name of his/her school , the school address, city, province and postal code, name of the class teacher, and all other required fields that appear on the contest entry form. An entrant who is below the age of majority in his/her province or territory of residence must have the consent of his/her parent or legal guardian to submit his/her personal information in order to enter the contest. If a parent or legal guardian does not provide consent, the entrant will be disqualified.

Contest Entry: Part 2

Class-Produced Video Entry:To complete the official contest entry, the Grade 8 class must produce a video re-creating a significant Canadian moment related to a national park, historic site or national marine conservation area. The video may be made on one of the topics suggested on this website, or another relevant topic of the classroom’s choosing. Other video criteria include:

·         Videos must be entirely the original creation of the classroom entrant as represented by the Grade 8 teacher. All elements, including music and images must be original or the entrant must have obtained all of the proper approvals and permissions from the copyright holders.

·         Each entrant (Grade 8 class) may enter only one video.

·         Videos must be presented in at least one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French.

·         Maximum video length is 3 minutes.

A representative of the Grade 8 class must upload the class video on the contest website, and it will then be entered into the voting and judging process.An optional short written essay will allow the class to explain why the moment they have chosen is significant. Videos submitted that do not adhere to the required subject matter will be disqualified.

Entrants can choose from any of the 213 Parks Canada-managed national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.  A list of suggested topics is provided.

Sampling of Contest Video Topics:

1)     Discover the hot springs at Banff National Park

2)     Recreate the moments leading up to Confederation at Sir George-Etienne Cartier National Historic Site

3)     Relive the sinking of the W. L. Wetmore at Fathom Five National Marine Conservation Area

4)     Explore the history of the West Coast fishing industry (Gulf of Georgia Cannery)

5)     Rescue the Athabaskan crew as a member of the HMCS Haida during World War II

<CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE TOPICS FOR YOUR CLASS VIDEO>

There is a limit of one contest entry per eligible class; duplicate entries, incomplete entries, and entries with falsified information will be disqualified. The decision to disqualify any entry is at the sole discretion of the Contest Judges, and will occur without notice or communication to the entrant. The disqualification decision of the judges is final and not subject to review.

Only one (1) email address may be used by any individual who enters the Contest on behalf of his or her Grade 8/Secondary II class. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an entrant, the entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized holder of the email address at the time of entry. For these purposes, the “authorized holder” is the natural person who is assigned to the submitted email address by an Internet access or online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.

All entries must be received no later than January 31, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM (Pacific Time). Late entries will be disqualified. There is no fee to enter this contest, and no purchase is necessary.

THE VOTING

5. Once a class representative completes the contest entry form and uploads the class-produced video on the contest website, students from their school, students from other schools, and the general public may login to the contest website and vote for their favourite video. Voters will be required to register on the website with their first name, last name, email address and postal code. Each voter may register only once. Each time you vote, you will be required to login with your email address. Voting is limited to one vote per person per video.

The top 10 videos with the most votes will be short-listed and judged by a panel of judges.

·         Public voting opens on February 14, 2012

·         Public voting closes at 5:00pm ET on March 5, 2012

·         Official judging is on March 8, 2012

THE JUDGING

6. On March 8, 2012, at the offices of Nature Canada, 300-75 Albert Street, Ottawa ON, a panel of judges made up from the Contest Group Entities will select the winning entry from the top ten (10) class videos that received the most votes on the website. Judging will be based on a judging rubric of criteria, such as:

·         Application:The degree to which the video entry demonstrates an understanding of the audience, purpose, visual technique and format.

·         Knowledge & Understanding:The degree to which the video entry demonstrates an understanding of the national park, historic site or marine conservation area. The degree to which the video expresses knowledge of the sequence of events and individuals/geographic and environmental factors involved.

·         Expression & Communication:The degree to which the video entry engages in the creative process with an understanding of role, relationship, place, focus and emphasis; the effectiveness with which the findings are communicated.

·         Inquiry & Analysis:The degree to which the video demonstrates an understanding of the significance of the event, its causes and consequences, and its impact on continuity and change within Canada’s history and consciousness.

If a contest judge has a conflict of interest during the judging process, (for example, the judge represents a contest partner where an employee has grade 8 student with an entry voted into the top 10), then that judge will not participate in judging that entry.

The decision of the judges is final and binding without right of appeal.

<CLICK HERE TO SEE THE JUDGING RUBRIC>

THE GRAND PRIZE: CANADA’S COOLEST SCHOOL TRIP

7.There will be one (1) Grand Prize awarded for the winning Grade 8 class, with a maximum number of thirty (30) students and ten (10) adult chaperones from the single winning class. Chaperones will be a combination of teachers, and parents/legal guardians of the winning classroom’s students. The retail value of the prize trip is $51,000 CAD. The travel prize will be a four (4) days and three (3) night adventure at Banff National Park. The travel details are:

·         Travel dates: May 28 – 31, 2012. Travel dates are firm and no deviations are permitted. There are no blackout periods.

·         Round-trip flights to and from the winning classroom’s nearest major airport  to Calgary will be provided by Air Canada, courtesy of Banff Lake Louise Tourism; regular economy class.

·         Hotels: There will be two (2) nights of accommodations (double occupancy) at the Mount Royal Hotel Banff, and one (1) night of accommodation (double occupancy) at the Glacier View Inn.

·         Airport transfers from the winners’ homes to their nearest major airport are not included.

·         Airport transfers in Banff to and from the hotels are included.

·         4 days of private motor coach transportation.

·         Any entry fees for activities in Banff, such as:

o    The Banff Gondola.

o    Banff Lake Cruise.

o    Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure.

·         Meals: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners.

Grand Prize Travel Conditions:The Grand Prize class trip must be accepted as awarded, and is non-transferable. If a student travel winner is a minor, he or she must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to take the trip.

The Grand Prize trip will take place on:May 28 – 31, 2012. Travel will be arranged by Brewster Inc. (operating as Brewster Travel Canada) and Banff Lake Louise Tourism. The travel partners reserve the right to select the travel date and structure the travel route at their sole discretion.

The travel prize has no cash redemption value. If a winner or chaperone is unable to travel on the required dates, they will forfeit the prize.  The contest judges may elect to choose another winner. Air travel (if required) is from the nearest major airport to the winner’s point of departure. All members of the travel party must travel at the same time, and depart from the same airport. No travel deviations are permitted. Retail values are shown in Canadian Dollars. Travel insurance is not included. All winners are encouraged to purchase their own travel, medical and cancellation insurance. All members of the travel party are responsible for all personal travel documents such as passports or visas that may be required.

All expenses not expressly specified as being included in the Travel Prize (including, but not limited to, personal travel insurance costs, meals, tips and gratuities, extra amenities, hotel charges other than accommodation (e.g. telephone, fax or cable charges, mini-bar, room service, laundry or other hotel services) or expenses or any other costs not specifically listed as being included in the prize package) are the responsibility of the winners and his/her family.

Air travel is not eligible for any frequent flyer program points or credit. The Contest Group Entities make no express or implied warranties of any kind with respect to safety, or performance of the contest prizes.

AWARDING THE PRIZES

8. The school’s authorizing teacher or principal  will be contacted by phone by Katherine Lim of Nature Canada on Thursday, March 1, 2012 during regular school hours. Each student, teacher, parent/guardian chaperones in the selected classmust agree to accept the Grand Prize  as awarded and fulfill the requirements set out in Rule 9 below. The Prizes are not redeemable for cash or credit. If for anyreason  the authorizing teacher or principal cannot be reached after two attempts, and does not respond within five (5) business days of being contacted, or is unable to accept the prize as awarded, his/her entry will be declared null and void, and the Contest Group Entities / Contest Administrator / the Judges reserve the right to select another eligible entry.

The Contest Sponsors will not be held responsible for the loss of prizes due to changes in mailing addresses, errors in completed Entry Forms or any other circumstances leading to an invalid, erroneous or incomplete mailing address or email address. Travel arrangements will be made within 45 days of receiving the signed Release Forms.

TO BE DECLARED A WINNER

9.To be declared a winner of a contest prize (a “Winner”), a selected entrant must, in addition to meeting the Contest eligibility criteria and otherwise complying with the official Contest rules, first:

·         Be reached by telephone by Katherine Lim of Nature Canada and respond within the five (5) business days immediately following the judging;

·         Ensure that all members of the travel party complete and sign the Sponsors’ form of Declaration and Release including the permission and signature of a parent or legal guardian for each traveling student, and return it to Nature Canada, Att: Katherine Lim at fax # 613-562-3371 no later than March 30, 2012;

·         Disqualification:If any one of the above mentioned conditions is not met, the selected entrant will be disqualified and shall not be entitled to receive any prizes. The Contest Administrator and the contest judges reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to verify the information on the contest entry form of any selected entrant, and if any information if deemed to be false, the Administrator reserves the right to disqualify that entrant and  select another eligible entrant as a potential prize winner. The decision of the Contest Administrator / Contest Judges is final and binding, without right of appeal.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

10. Verification of Entries:The validity of any Contest entry is subject to verification by the Contest Administrator. Any incomplete or fraudulent entries will be rejected. Any entrant or other individual who enters or attempts to enter the Contest in a manner which is contrary to these official Contest Rules or which is otherwise disruptive to the proper operation of the Contest or by its nature is unjust to other entrants or potential entrants will be rejected and that entrant or purported entrant will be disqualified. All decisions of the Contest judges, who may be employees or independent contractors of the Sponsors and Contest Administrator, with respect to any and all aspects of the Contest, including without limitation the eligibility or disqualification of entrants or entries, are final and binding without right of appeal.

11. The Odds: The odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

12.This Contest is void where prohibited, and is subject to all applicable Federal, Provincial and Municipal laws.

13.Acceptance of Prizes:All Prizes must be accepted as described in these rules and cannot be transferred to another individual, substituted for another prize or exchanged in whole or in part for cash or credit. If for any reason a selected entrant cannot be reached through the contact information provided, or does not respond to the Contest Sponsor within five (5) business days of being contacted, or if there is any reason a winner cannot accept the prize as awarded, his/her entry will be declared null and void, and another eligible entrant will be selected from among the remaining eligible entries.

14. Substitution of a Prize:The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, and for any reason whatsoever, to substitute a Prize or any part thereof, with an alternate prize of equivalent value.

15.Other Termination of Contest: The Contest Sponsors,Contest Group Entities and Administrator reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Contest, in whole or in part, in the event of any cause or circumstance, including without limitation any virus, computer bug or unauthorized human intervention, unauthorized or automated voting, or any other cause that is beyond the control of the Sponsors / Administrator, that could corrupt or affect the administration, security, impartiality or normal course of the Contest.

16.Release and Exclusion of Liability:By entering or attempting to enter the Contest, each entrant and/or purported entrant agrees: (i) to release, discharge, and forever hold harmless the Contest Group Entities, and their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and other representatives (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all claims, actions, damages, injuries, demands, manner of actions, causes of action, suits, debts, duties, accounts, bonds, covenants, warranties, indemnities, claims over, contracts and liabilities of whatever nature or kind arising out of, or in connection with the entrant’s participation or attempted participation in the Contest, compliance or non-compliance with these Contest rules and acceptance and use of the Grand Prize any portion thereof; and (ii) if selected as a potential Prize winner, to sign (along with the signature of a parent or legal guardian) the Sponsors’ form of Declaration and Release in this regard before receiving a prize.

The Releasees will not be responsible for lost, incomplete, late or misdirected entries or for any failure of the Contest website during the Contest Period, or for any technical malfunction or other problems with, any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment or software or for any technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination of the foregoing, and will not be liable for any resulting injury or damage to any person or property arising from, or relating to, that person’s or any other person’s participation or attempted participation in the Contest, or attempted voting in the contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. (iii) Each winner must sign a release form, giving the Contest Group Entities permission to publish in print, broadcast or online, the winner’s name and likeness without remuneration.

17.Name/Image of Winners:By entering the Contest, the winners agrees to abide by the Contest rules and authorizes the Sponsor and its advertising and promotional agencies and their respective employees or other representatives to broadcast, publish and otherwise use his or her name, photograph, image, statements regarding the Contest or any prize, place of residence and (or) voice for publicity purposes, without any form of remuneration, including without limitation, on any website operated by or on behalf of the Contest Group Entities.

18. Communication with Entrants:No communication or correspondence will be entered into with any Contest entrants about their specific contest entries, other than with winning entrants selected by the contest judges.  Any follow-up communications will be for the purpose of gathering students’ or teachers opinions on the My Parks Pass program, and invite suggestions on how to make the program more appealing in the future.

19.Personal Information: The personal information gathered about contest entrants in connection with this Contest will be kept in a secure and confidential database, and will not be rented or sold. Personal information of the contest entrants will be used for the administration of this Contest, and may be shared with contest co-sponsors, excluding Parks Canada, for the purposes of operating this contest only. If you wish to opt-out after the registration process, please mail a written request, including your name, address and phone number to:

Nature Canada, 300-75 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5E7

Att: Katherine Lim

Subject: Canada’s Coolest School Trip Contest