Join in the fun of the Water Smart® Contest to spread the Society’s drowning prevention messages and help save lives.
The Lifesaving Society’s 2026 Water Smart Contest is now open to the public as well as affiliates, extending participation to engage the broader community in promoting water safety education and fostering positive behaviour change in, on, and around water.
The theme for 2026 is Prepare and has participants helping Buddy the Lifeguard Dog prepare for a safe day at the beach.
Send in your contest entries by clicking here.
How it works
The Water Smart Contest is divided into three age categories (5 and under, 6-10 and 11-15). Each age group’s contest is slightly different and designed be age-appropriate. This contest can be run during camps, on a rainy day, during National Drowning Prevention Week, or any other time over the summer. Download the contest pages below!
Affiliates offering the under 5 category shall select a winning design and award the winner locally.
Affiliates offering the 6-10 and 11-15 categories shall select a winning design locally for each category to send to the Lifesaving Society. The Society evaluates all submissions and chooses one provincial winner. Entries from the general public (not tied to an affiliate) can be submitted directly for consideration too.
Affiliates can apply with the form found below to receive a free package of materials that can be used as prizes within your facility or simply as promotional/participation materials. However, we also suggest providing your own prizes or getting a local business to sponsor a prize.
The Society's chosen provincial winners will be notified via email and receive a Water Smart prize pack.
The contest closes Sept 11, 2026.
Resources
Click here to download the ages 5 and under contest page. Participants colour the items Buddy needs for a safe day at the beach.
Click here to download the ages 6-10 contest page. Participants draw the items from Buddy's beach safety checklist.
Click here to download the ages 11-15 contest page. Participants draw items Buddy should have for a safe day at the beach.
Affiliates may apply for a free package of materials using this form. This must be done by July 6, 2026.
Send in your contest entries by clicking here.
Rules and Regulations
By entering the Water Smart Contest, you are guaranteeing that you have read and agree to the Rules and Regulations of the contest and you grant the Lifesaving Society, Ontario Branch the right to contact you regarding your entry, publicize your entry, promote your entry for any other purpose related to the Contest and/or broadcast your entry.
Affiliates may only submit one entry per age group and must provide the following information:
- Entrants’ name, age, email address, mailing address and phone number; and
- Facility name and contact information.
Members of the public not tied to an affiliate must provide the following information:
- Entrants’ name, age, email address, mailing address and phone number
Send winning entries as a photo or scan here or by mail to:
2026 Water Smart Contest
c/o The Lifesaving Society
475 Cochrane Drive
Markham, ON, L3R 9R4
Deadline for entries is September 11, 2026 and winners will be announced shortly after. Proof of age of entrant(s) and verification of identity may also be required.
One entry per participant is allowed, and each entry must:
- be the original creation of the entrant(s)
- not be defamatory, libelous, obscene, lewd, offensive, pornographic, sexually explicit, disparaging or otherwise illegal, objectionable or inappropriate
- not violate or infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy or publicity right or other proprietary or intellectual property right of any person or entity
- not contain any copyrighted material not in the public domain or for which you have not obtained the rights to use
- not contain any artwork for which you have not obtained the rights to use.
All entries must be appropriate for all audiences. Entries referencing sex, drugs, or violence will not be accepted. Any entry that includes content that is deemed inappropriate, indecent, obscene, as determined by the Lifesaving Society in its sole discretion, will not be eligible.
By entering the Lifesaving Water Smart Contest, each entrant - with the consent of parent(s) and/or guardian(s) in the case of those under 18 years of age - is representing and warranting that the entry they submit are their own creations and that they have obtained permission, if applicable, to enter this contest, and that the submission of the idea will not violate any enforceable agreements or understandings the submitter has with any third party.
Rights and Usage
By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees and hereby irrevocably and perpetually grants and assigns to the Lifesaving Society Ontario complete ownership and marketing rights to the content, along with the right to use entrant's name, likeness, image and biographical information in any manner and medium in connection with the Water Smart Contest and without any additional compensation. The Lifesaving Society may: (a) edit and/or format the content, (b) create derivative works from the content or any portion thereof, and (c) reproduce, publish, display and distribute any of the content or derivative works in any medium now or hereafter existing, including without limitation, posting on The Lifesaving Society’s website or any other website or platform for purposes of the competition and for any general promotional purpose of The Lifesaving Society.