Home Initiatives Contests "Get on Board with Rail Safety" Animation Contest Enter the contest

Enter the Contest

Who can enter?

The contest is open to Canadians 13 to 18 years of age. Judging will be split into the following age categories: 
 
  • 13 to 15-year-olds
  • 16 to 18-year-olds

How do I enter

We're asking our Animators to produce a short (max 1 minute) animated video (i.e. using hand-drawn, stop-motion, 2D or 3D animation) that emphasizes at least one of these important rail safety messages:  ​
Animations must also include one of Operation Lifesaver's slogans:
  • Look. Listen. Live.
  • #STOPTrackTragedies

Videos must be uploaded to YouTube to be considered for the contest.  Remember to make your video "public" when you upload it to YouTube. After you've published your video, please fill out a contest submission form by clicking the button at the bottom of this page. You’ll need to include a link to your YouTube video on the form.

Entry forms must be submitted by midnight (ET) on Novembre 6, 2020. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Animations containing offensive content — such as language or imagery— will be immediately disqualified. To discourage trespassing, you must prepare your animation from home or school, using props, models or sketches to show trains, tracks or other railway equipment such as warning signals and devices.

What kind of animation can I produce?

Be creative! You can produce a short animated video using hand-drawn, stop-motion, 2D or 3D animation as long as it emphasizes one of the five rail safety messages above and is produced safely. Participants must not trespass on railway property in the preparation of their video and must follow the contest safety rules at all times.

What are the prizes?

The first, second and third-place winners in each age category will win the following great prizes:

13 to 15-YEAR-OLDS

First Prize:
  • Wacom 13” graphic tablet 
Second Prize:
  • Oculus GO headset
Third Prize:
  • Tracing light box

16 to 18-YEAR-OLDS

First Prize:
  • Permanent license for Harmony Essentials by Toon Boom
Second Prize:
  • Oculus GO headset
Third Prize:
  • Tracing light box

What are the judging criteria?

Our panel of judges will be looking for animated videos that:
 
  • Incorporate at least one of our five listed rail safety messages, and one of Operation Lifesaver’s slogans
  • Accurately show Canadian railway signs and signals (examples can be viewed here).
  • Demonstrates creativity

The top five submissions for each category will be shared on Operation Lifesaver’s website and social media channels, and the public will select the winners by voting for their favourites.

How will I know if I have won?

Winners will be notified by email or phone by the end of November. All winners will be announced on November 23.
 
The animated videos that best convey the rail safety message may even be used in an ad campaign! We will also share some of the entries on Operation Lifesaver’s social media networks throughout September and early October. So, keep an eye on our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook pages to see if yours is one of them!
 
(Due to the large number of entries not all videos will be displayed, and we cannot notify those that are shared.)

What if I have questions?

If you have questions, please email us. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

For full contest rules, click here.

Enter the Contest

( ) -
I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CHILD'S VIDEO, FIRST NAME AND CITY/PROVINCE WILL APPEAR ON THE OPERATION LIFESAVER WEBSITE AS PART OF THIS CONTEST AND MAY ALSO BE SHARED ON OPERATION LIFESAVER'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. OPERATION LIFESAVER IS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING CHILDREN AND TO PRIVACY. INFORMATION GATHERED THROUGH THIS CONTEST WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH THIRD PARTIES, NOR WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE ADDED TO ANY MAILING LISTS.