Cooper Marsh Conservation Area

Saturday, February 1, 2025 (10 am to 2 pm)

Click here for the photo contest entry form.

Click here for the photo contest's Frequently Asked Questions section.

About the Event:

The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne’s (MCA) Environment Program and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) and their partners are once again inviting communities from both sides of the Kaniatarowanenneh – the St. Lawrence River – to join them for a celebration of World Wetlands Day on Saturday, February 1, from 10 am to 2 pm at the RRCA’s Cooper Marsh Conservation Area in South Glengarry. 

Visitors dropping in at the Marsh’s Visitors Centre during the free, family-friendly public event will be able to learn about Cooper Marsh and other wetlands through a variety of interactive displays and activities by local environmental organizations, enjoy free hot chocolate and refreshments by a campfire, venture out on guided snowshoe tours around the Marsh, and have a chance to win several wetland-themed prizes. This year, visitors will also be able to view a kids’ nature photography exhibit and vote for their favourite images.

The World Wetlands Day event is undertaken in part with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change. 

Photo Contest – Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to use an actual camera? Or can I submit nature photos taken with my phone?

• All cameras are acceptable, including phone cameras.

How will RRCA and MCA select finalists?

• When selecting the finalists, consideration will be given to:
• The successful depiction of the theme (i.e., “our natural environment”)
• Creativity (e.g., potential meaning of the photo, composition, photo title, etc)
• Technical delivery (e.g., is the photo in focus? Is it exposed properly? Is it a “great capture”? etc.)

What file size should my photo submission be?

• Your photo should be small enough to be attached in an email. Under 20 megabytes is ideal.

What file format should I use to submit my photo?

• Jpeg is ideal, but other file formats are also acceptable.

Can I use Photoshop or other software to edit my photo?

• Photo editing is permitted, but any elements being added to the photo must have been created by the photographer (e.g., you can’t add in a fox from a photo taken by someone else into a landscape photo taken by yourself)

Can I use AI?

• Use of AI is not permitted.

Can I include people in my photo? Or does it have to be only nature shots or landscapes.

• People can be included in the photo. Remember to focus on the theme of “our natural environment.

How will MCA or RRCA use my photo?

• We will only use your photo for the contest. You retain the rights to your photo. We may reach out to some photographers on an individual basis to ask permission to use their photo for other purposes, including potentially using it to promote a photo contest for the 2025 World Wetlands Day event.