Curious about the origins of everyday items? Take the Challenge!
Important Dates
September 18, 2023, 8:00 am ET
Contest Opens.
December 31, 2023, 11:59 pm ET
Early Bird Bonus and Teacher Incentive Draw Deadline.
March 29, 2024, 11:59 pm ET
Contest Deadline.
Contest Instructions
Get ready to turn your imagination loose and develop a creative message to answer the WHERE Challenge guiding questions: What on Earth is in your stuff and WHERE on Earth does it come from? You may submit an individual entry or enter with a group, youth organization (scouts, guides, 4H, etc.) or classroom. To download contest materials, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Step 1. Select object
Select an everyday object at
home or school.
Step 2. Identifying non-renewable resource(s)
Identify one or more non-renewable Earth resources needed to make that object (such as copper, iron, or silicon).
Non-renewable resources are substances which occur naturally within the Earth and must be mined, quarried or pumped out from underground. These resources are found in limited quantities and are consumed more quickly than natural processes can replace them. Many non-renewable Earth resources are recyclable (e.g. glass and aluminum pop cans) but only a small proportion of what is produced is recycled.
Some examples of non-renewable Earth resources include:
- Fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas (used to make plastic)
- Metallic minerals such as hematite (iron ore), used to make steel
- Rocks such as limestone, used to make cement
- Industrial minerals such as quartz sand, used to make glass
The following are NOT considered non-renewable Earth resources:
- Trees and plants (used to make lumber, fabric and paper)
- Water
- Food: fruit and cereals; meat from animals
- Geothermal energy
- Wind energy
Step 3. Tell a story
An equal emphasis is placed on research (40%) and innovation (40%), and a lesser emphasis is placed on mechanics (20%). Twelve points is the highest score you can get in any one category; research, innovation and mechanics. Please refer to the judging rubrics for an outline of the criteria that will be used to assess your entry.
Remember, all you have to do is tell a story about any object in your home or school. Tell us about one or more non-renewable Earth resources needed to make that object and WHERE on Earth those resources come from. Your entry can be anything that tells a story: a poster, a dance, a song, a play, a video, a multimedia presentation or anything else you can think of. So dream big, and have fun!
Step 4. Choose a format
Tell us WHERE on Earth those non-renewable resources were discovered and produced. Were any of them discovered here in Canada?
Now you’re ready to create a story to explain why non-renewable Earth resources are so important in our daily lives. Your story can be told through an essay, a poem, a song or a play, a painting or a poster, an audio, video or multimedia presentation or anything else you can dream up! Remember, your entry may be used as a promotional tool to demonstrate how non-renewable Earth resources are essential to our everyday lives.
Multimedia
A multimedia presentation must be two minutes or less. If your entry is a video, go to the YouTube website. You will then be prompted to create a YouTube account – or log in, for those who already have an account – and upload your video. Make sure you include the link to your YouTube submission on the registration form.
Not sure where to start? Here is some inspiration.
Power to the People Poster: Canadians use a great deal of energy equivalent to nearly 7,500 kg of oil per person annually. We also produce a great deal of energy, adding alternative energy sources and new power storage methods more and more to the mix. Whatever energy sources we use, the metals and minerals of the Earth, along with the people who find and process them, make them possible.
Step 5. Submit entry
You can submit your entry until 11:59 pm ET March 29, 2024. Also, remember to fill out all categories on the entry form before you submit your entry. All entries will become the property of Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited, which retain the right to reprint, publish or display the entries in any format.
Please note that all entries MUST be submitted in digital format.
Electronic Submission
Fill out the entry form and upload your files accordingly (if multiple files, please upload a .zip file). Electronic submission is the best method if your entry is an essay (story or research paper), an audio presentation (song or music) or imagery (painting, poster, illustration, digital painting).
If your entry is a video, upload your video to YouTube as a ‘video response’ to the WHERE Challenge commercial and include the link on your entry form.
Snail Mail
If you’d prefer to mail in your entry, please note that you MUST submit your entry in the form of a USB. You may send your entry to:
WHERE Challenge
c/o Mining Matters
1102-150 Ferrand Drive, Toronto, ON M3C 3E5
Telephone: 416.863.6463
Fax: 416.863.9900
Rules & Conditions
The following are the rules and conditions applicable to the WHERE Challenge Sponsored by Teck Resources Limited (the “Contest Rules”).
1. To be eligible for the WHERE Challenge (the “Contest”), a participant must be a legal resident of Canada between the ages of 9 and 14 years during the Contest submission period of September 18, 2023 to March 29, 2024 (“Contest Period”)
2. For the purpose of these Contest Rules, “Immediate Family” means husband, wife, spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, son and daughter, whether or not they reside in the same household.
3. An Immediate Family member of any advertising and promotional agencies or judges associated with the Contest, but not of Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Mining Matters (Mining Matters) and Teck Resources Limited, is not eligible to participate in the Contest.
4. Mining Matters may at any time require proof of identity and/or eligibility to participate in the Contest. Failure to provide such proof within a reasonable period of time may result in disqualification. All personal and other information requested by and supplied to Mining Matters for the purpose of this Contest must be truthful, complete, accurate and in no way misleading.
5. Mining Matters may disqualify any entry or entrant in its sole discretion, should any entry or entrant at any stage supply untruthful, incomplete, inaccurate or misleading personal details and/or information.
6. All entries must be submitted in a digital format.
7. All entries must be submitted between 8:00 am ET September 18, 2023 and 11:59 pm ET March 29, 2024. Late entries will not be considered.
8. Entries will be declared invalid if they are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, mutilated, forged, garbled or mechanically or electronically reproduced.
9. Eligible videos must (a) be a maximum of two minutes in length—any entries exceeding this limit will be disallowed; (b) be submitted in YouTube Supported Formats; (c) be in English or French; (d) not contain any inappropriate content including, but not limited to, content prohibited by law (invasion of privacy, defamation, copyright infringement) and (e) include a supporting script or storyboard.
10. All footage used in the videos is to be original. The videos must not contain any images not created by the entrants (such as pictures, photographs, stock film or images from the internet) unless clearance to use them has been received. Proof of clearance may be requested if the video is selected for an award.
11. Entrants are encouraged to use only original music in their videos or to use royalty-free and rights-free music. Any music used must be accompanied by the appropriate permissions and clearances. Proof of clearance may be requested if the video is selected as a prize winner.
12. Teachers who submit a minimum of ten entries from the same class before 11:59 pm ET December 31, 2023 will be eligible to enter a random draw to win a new tablet.
13. Entrants who submit eligible contest entries prior to 11:59 pm ET December 31, 2023 will qualify for the Early Bird Bonus Draw. The winner of the prize will be selected by random draw.
14. All entries submitted become the sole property of Mining Matters and none will be returned for any reason.
15. The odds of being selected as a potential winner are dependent upon the number of eligible entries received. Before being declared a winner, potential winners shall be required to comply with these Contest Rules.
16. On or before May 17, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, all winners will be selected by the judges from all eligible entries received. The judges, at their absolute discretion, shall select the winners based upon which entries best meet the contest criteria. All decisions of the judges will be final and binding and may not be challenged in any way.
17. The selected potential winners will be notified by telephone and/or email no later than the week of May 20, 2024 and must respond within one week (7 days) of notification. The selected potential winners’ response and consent form must be received within one week (7 days) of such notification. If the selected potential winners do not respond in accordance with these Contest Rules, he/she will be disqualified and will not receive a prize and another potential winner will be selected. If after three such attempts Mining Matters has not identified a winner, Mining Matters reserves the right to award the prize (or its cash equivalent) to a charity of its choice. Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited are not responsible for the failure for any reason whatsoever of a selected potential winner to receive notification or for Mining Matters to receive a selected potential winner’s response.
18. By entering the Contest, the entrant releases and holds Releasees, as defined in paragraph 22(a) below, harmless from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to the entrant, Releasees or any other person, including personal injury, death, or property damage, resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, participation in this Contest, any breach of these Contest Rules, or in any prize-related activity. The entrant agrees to fully indemnify Releasees from any and all claims by third parties relating to the Contest, without limitation.
19. Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited assume no responsibility or liability for lost, late, misdirected or incomplete entries, notifications, responses, replies or any release. Entrant assumes liability for injuries caused or claimed to be caused by participating in the Contest, or by the acceptance, possession, use of, or failure to receive any prize. Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited assume no responsibility or liability in the event that the Contest cannot be conducted as planned for any reason, including those reasons beyond the control of Mining Matters or Teck Resources Limited, such as infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or corruption of the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest.
20. By entering this Contest, entrant agrees to be bound by these Contest Rules, as posted on the WHERE Challenge website (earthsciencescanada.com) during the Contest Period. Entrant further agrees to be bound by the decisions of the judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Mining Matters reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entrant found to be: (a) violating the Contest Rules; (b) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; (c) violating the terms of service, conditions or use and/or general rules or guidelines of any canada.com property or service; and/or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE CONTEST WEBSITE OR ANY RELATED WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, MINING MATTERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
21. Entrant grants Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited the right to: (a) use his or her personal information for the purpose of Mining Matters administering the Contest; (b) use his or her name, photograph, likeness, voice, prize information and/or biographical information for publicity and promotional purposes without further compensation unless prohibited by law; and (c) use his or her name and his or her respective city and province of residence in connection with the Contest Website, other related websites and/or any other media now known or hereafter devised. Personal information will not be provided to any third party other than as provided for in these Contest Rules. Mining Matters, Teck Resources Limited and any of their third party agents will use personal information only for purposes related to this Contest and are required to protect all personal information.
22. Each winner will be required to execute a legal agreement and release (“Release”) that:
A. confirms that winner’s (i) eligibility for the Contest and compliance with these Contest Rules; (ii) acceptance of the prize as offered; (iii) release of Mining Matters, Teck Resources Limited and their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliated and related operations and their employees, directors, officers, suppliers, agents, sponsors and administrators (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all liability for any loss, harm, damages, cost or expense arising out of participation in this Contest, participation in any Contest-related activity or the acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize, including without limitation costs, injuries, losses related to personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation, or portrayal in a false light, or from any and all claims of third parties arising therefrom; and B. grants Mining Matters and Teck Resources Limited the unrestricted right, at the their discretion, to publish without any further compensation to the winner the entry submitted, name, picture, portrait, likeness, audio and/or video recording, interview and voice and any website dissemination or broadcast thereof of that entrant for advertising and promotional purposes. The executed Release must be returned within one week (7 days) of the verification as a winner or the selected potential winner will be disqualified and the prize forfeited.
23. All intellectual property, including but not limited to trade-marks, trade names, logos, designs, promotional materials, web pages, source code, drawings, illustrations, logos, slogans and representations are owned by Mining Matters, Teck Resources Limited and/or their affiliates. All rights are reserved. Unauthorized copying or use of any copyrighted material or intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.
24. Mining Matters reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, amend, modify or terminate all or any portion of this Contest at any time for any reason without prior notice.
25. These are official Contest Rules. This Contest is subject to applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations. These Contest Rules are subject to change without notice in order to comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal laws or the policy of any other entity having jurisdiction over Mining Matters or Teck Resources Limited.
Mining Matters reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, amend, modify or terminate all or any portion of this Contest at any time for any reason without prior notice.
These are official Contest Rules. This Contest is subject to applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations. These Contest Rules are subject to change without notice in order to comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal laws or the policy of any other entity having jurisdiction over Mining Matters or Teck Resources Limited.