Enter the contest

What do contestants have to draw?

We’re asking children to create an original piece of visual art that shows their favourite Thomas & Friends^TM character, as well as Canadian railway signs and signals, and includes at least one of these important rail safety messages:

Train or track? Just keep back!
Never use tracks as a path or a shortcut
Don't play near tracks or on train equipment
Always obey railway signs and signals
Stand well behind the yellow line on train station platforms

Please note that submitted artwork must be original — traced or cut-and-paste images from Thomas & Friends^TM publications or products will not be accepted. Only one entry per child is permitted

What media can I use?

Children can use any visual media they’d like for their artwork. It can be a drawing, painting, collage, advertisement, comic strip, or any other static visual piece as long as it emphasizes one of the five rail safety messages listed above. So, be as creative as possible!

The artwork can be on any size paper, but we ask that children use a landscape format to make it easier to share their pieces on social media.

4- to 6-YEAR-OLDS

First Prize

Trip for four on VIA Rail’s economy class to any destination in the Corridor (Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London, Niagara Falls, Sarnia or Windsor)
Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set
Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Super Cruiser™
Thomas & Friends^™ TrackMaster^™ Motorized Engine Assortment
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack
AMOSTING Kids Wooden Easel with Magnetic Whiteboard & Chalkboard

Second Prize

Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set
Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Super Cruiser™
Thomas & Friends^™ TrackMaster^™ Motorized Engine Assortment
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack
AMOSTING Kids Wooden Easel with Magnetic Whiteboard & Chalkboard

Third Prize

Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set
Fisher-Price® Thomas & Friends™ Super Cruiser™
Thomas & Friends^™ TrackMaster^™ Motorized Engine Assortment
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack

7- to 8-YEAR-OLDS

First Prize:

Trip for four on VIA Rail’s economy class to any destination in the Corridor (Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, London, Niagara Falls, Sarnia or Windsor)
KINSPORY 174 Pack Deluxe Art Supply Set
Dan & Darci 1000+ Piece Arts and Craft Vault
Mega Construx™ Wonder Builders™ 480-pc Building Tub
KERPLUNK™ Game
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack

Second Prize:

KINSPORY 174 Pack Deluxe Art Supply Set
Dan & Darci 1000+ Piece Arts and Craft Vault
Mega Construx™ Wonder Builders™ 480-pc Building Tub
KERPLUNK™ Game
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack

Third Prize:

KINSPORY 174 Pack Deluxe Art Supply Set
Mega Construx™ Wonder Builders™ 480-pc Building Tub
KERPLUNK™ Game
Thomas & Friends™ Minis 7-pack

All Rail Safety Artists will receive a certificate just for entering.

What are the judging criteria?

Our panel of judges will be looking for artwork that:

Incorporates at least one of our five listed rail safety messages
Shows an original depiction of a Thomas & Friends^TM character
Shows Canadian railway signs and signals
Demonstrates creativity

The top five submissions for each age category will be posted to Operation Lifesaver’s website and social media channels, and the public will be asked to vote for the winners.

How will I know if I have won?

All winners will be announced on November 17^th.

The winners in each of the age categories will receive an email or phone call by the middle of November. We will also share some of the entries on Operation Lifesaver’s social media networks throughout October and early November. 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 artwork will be displayed, and we cannot notify those that are shared.)