About Canada's Pre-qualifying Competition

As Canada’s official representative for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, The Globe hosts an annual Young Lions pre-qualifying competition. While entering The Globe's competition is the only way to qualify for the Cannes Young Lions, it will also provide you with the valuable preparation you need to successfully compete in the unique conditions of the Cannes Young Lions.

We strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with all the information below, so that you do not run into any unexpected road blocks during registration, the competition or while uploading your entry.

For details about The Globe's Young Marketers competition, please click here or refer to the menu on the left.

How It Works
Teams are made up of two creatives - typically a copywriter and a designer - aged 28 or under (born on or after June 24, 1983). Each team member registers separately and is required to pay a $50 entry fee. Once registered successfully, each team member receives an email with an confirmation number, which you will need to provide at a later date to access the online brief.

If you do not receive your confirmation number, contact Tanya Essarie, the Competition Administrator immediately.

Then 2 days before the beginning of the competition, each entrant will receive an email with the URL location of the official competition brief (the brief will be available for downloading at 9 a.m. ET, on on the day of the competition). If you do not receive an email with the URL, contact Tanya Essarie, the Competition Administrator immediately.

Each individual may only be registered on one team, and each team can only compete in one of the four categories listed below. Limit of one entry per team. Teams must stay within the time constraints of their chosen category, also noted below.
  • Print: Teams will have 24 hours to create a print ad.
  • Cyber: Teams will have 24 hours to create a web ad.
  • Media: Teams will have 24 hours to develop a media/contact strategy.
  • Film: Teams will have 48 hours to film and edit a 30-second commercial.
Important: All entries must be submitted online, and cannot exceed the 10 MB file limit, except the Film and Media entries, which cannot exceed 25 MB.


Competition qualifications
To enter The Globe's Young Lions competition you must meet all of the following qualifications. You must be:
  • 28 years or under, (born on or after June 24, 1983)
  • A Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
  • Be in possession of a valid passport
  • Over the age of majority in your province/territory of residence
  • A high school graduate or equivalent
  • Have gained work experience in the advertising/communications industries
A good level of both written and spoken English is also essential, as all entries presented to the judges are in English.



‘Like’ us to receive updates about the 2012 Young Lions / Marketers competitions. It's also a great way to stay in touch during the Cannes Lions Festival.
Important: Students are currently not eligible to enter as they would have an unfair disadvantage against the contestants who are employed with an agency.



What's up for Grabs
The winning teams from each category win a trip to Cannes to represent Canada in the official Cannes Young Lions competition.

The Globe and Mail pays for travel, accommodation and registration costs at the Cannes Lions Festival June 17 - 23, 2012.


Key Dates for the 2012 Canadian Young Lions Competition
  • Registration opens: January 16.
  • Deadline for registration: March 4 - midnight Eastern Time (ET).
  • Successful entrants will receive the URL for the brief: March 15.
  • Briefs available for downloading via the URL: March 17 at 9:00 a.m. ET
  • Print, Cyber and Media entry deadline: March 18 at 9:00 a.m. ET
  • Film entry deadline: March 19 at 9:00 a.m. ET
  • Judging: March 22 - March 30.
  • Winners announced: May 2.
  • Cannes Lions Festival: June 17 - 23, 2012.

Official Competition Rules and Regulations
The 2012 Globe and Mail Young Lions Competition Rules and Regulations

The 2012 Globe and Mail Young Lions Competition Rules and Regulations_French

Learn More
If you have a question, check our FAQ page. If you don't find your answer there, contact:
Tanya Essarie, Competition Administrator
cannes@globeandmail.com


The 2011 Canadian Young Lions Winners Gallery
Canadian Young Lions, Alex Newman from BBDO Proximity and Patrice Simone Pollack from Argyle magazine, made us proud in 2011 when they took top honours at the Cannes Young Lions Cyber competition.

Visit the Winners Gallery to see all of the winning entries from the 2011 Globe and Mail Young Lions qualifying competition.

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