Competition Rules

A student may submit one (1) entry to the competition.

An eligible submission to the contest consists of two elements: a photograph and a written component, both of which can be sent via the online submission form. Each photograph must be an original taken by the students themselves. The requirements for the photograph and artist’s statement submission are described below.

• The photograph must be sent in .JPEG or .PNG format with a resolution of no less than 150-300 DPI.
• Editorial alterations to the photo (e.g.  colour, contrast, definition, shadows, highlights, cropping, levelling, etc.) are permissible, as long as these alterations do NOT alter the reality of the subject or object of the photo.
• Students may use digital cameras or the in-built camera on a smartphone.
• Photographs must be taken in Canada, in the current school year (normally September – June).

Authenticity & Originality of Submissions

To ensure a fair competition and celebrate students’ creativity and photography skills, all submitted photographs must be the original work of the student entering the contest.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): The use of AI to generate, alter, or enhance any part of a photograph. This includes adding, removing, replacing, or generating subjects, objects, backgrounds, or other visual elements using AI tools.
• Manipulating photo content: Editing that changes the factual content of a photograph, such as adding or removing wildlife, people, plants, objects, or other elements, is not permitted. Basic edits such as cropping, adjusting exposure, brightness, contrast, colour balance, and sharpening are acceptable provided they do not alter the authenticity of the image.
• Work completed by someone other than the student: Parents, guardians, teachers, or any other individual may provide guidance but must not edit, manipulate, or create any part of the submitted photograph or accompanying materials on behalf of the student.
• Using someone else’s work: Photographs must be taken by the student specifically for this competition. Images copied, downloaded, or otherwise obtained from the internet, social media, stock image websites, or any other source are not eligible.

EcoSchools Canada reserves the right to request the original, unedited image file (RAW or original JPEG/HEIC) to verify the authenticity of any submission.

Any submission found to violate these rules will be deemed ineligible and removed from the competition. Any attempt to cheat, misrepresent authorship, commit fraud, or otherwise undermine the integrity of the competition may result in immediate disqualification and exclusion from the current and future editions of the Bondar Challenge.

The written submission can be filled in via the online submission form, and consists of an artist’s statement and photographic notes. See below for an outline of expectations:

• Name of the photographer making the submission (surname and first name).
• Date and time the photograph was taken.
• A title for the photograph.
• Place where the photo was taken; in what traditional territory did you take this photo?
• Artist’s Statement: Provide a description of no more than 200 words authored by the student submitting the photograph, containing the following:
  • The goal of the photograph: what the entrant had in mind when the photograph was taken and whether or not the goal was achieved
  • The emotional connection the entrant has with the photograph
  • The artistic aspect of the photo: how the composition makes it an appealing image to the student (e.g., lines, colours, textures)
  • The scientific aspect of the environment shown in the photo: what fact, natural process or principle that is included or at work in the image; the Biome and/or Ecozone presented in the photo
  • Artist’s Critique: how the photograph could be improved, e.g. with a different point of view, by getting closer or farther away, through a different time of day or type of sky, in a different season
  • The written submission must be the student’s original work and must not be generated using artificial intelligence (AI) or any similar tool.

Be recognized for your nature photography by participating in the Bondar Challenge!

• First Place (per category): Go Pro and a headstrap
• Second Place (per category): Binoculars
• Third Place (per category): Field Magnifier & Tree Guide
• Winners will also be awarded a Certificate of Achievement signed by Dr. Roberta Bondar herself.
• Winning submissions will be showcased nationally on EcoSchools Canada’s website, social media and newsletter
• All students who enter will receive a Certificate of Recognition for their participation.

For more details on the competition, please see Judging Criteria.