BioBlitz 2024

BioBlitz Contest: iNaturalist Observations

Official Contest Rules

1. Sponsor. The BioBlitz Contest (Contest) is sponsored by the Sustainability Office at the University of Waterloo, CPH-2385, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 (Sponsor).
2. Eligibility. This Contest is open to legal residents of Canada, excluding Quebec, who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry. By participating in this Contest, entrants acknowledge compliance with, and agree to be bound by, these Contest Rules. Entrants who do not comply with any of the Contest Rules are subject to disqualification by the Sponsor, in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
3. Contest Dates and Times. The Contest begins on Monday, May 6 at 12:00 a.m. EDT (Contest Start Date) and ends on Sunday, May 12 at 11:59 p.m. EDT (Contest End Date) after which time the Contest will be closed and no further Entries will be accepted.
4. How to Enter. You can enter the contest by logging observations through the iNaturalist platform. To do so, you must download the iNaturalist platform on IOS or Android (this platform is free to download). On the platform, search for the “University of Waterloo BioBlitz” project to identify and record species. Instructions on how to use the platform and make an observation can be found on the iNaturalist “Getting Started” webpage: [https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started].

Each observation logged will count as one Entry into the Contest. Subject to paragraph 7 and 8 below, the three (3) participants with the most Entries (i.e. those who log the most observations on iNaturalist) will receive prizes in accordance with paragraph 5. All Entries must be complete and are subject to verification by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion. There is no limit to the number of Entries for this entry method. Entries via this method must be received by the Contest End Date.

Alternatively, to obtain one (1) Entry in the Contest without downloading or logging observations into the iNaturalist platform, print your first name, last name, complete mailing address (including postal code), valid email address, age and signature on a plain white piece of paper and mail it (in an envelope with sufficient Canadian postage) along with a 25 word or more unique and original essay on why you want to enter the Contest to: Attn: Andrea Bale, CPH 2385, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W., Waterloo, N2L 3G1 (a “Request”).  Upon receipt of a valid Request in accordance with these Rules, you will be eligible to receive one (1) Entry in the Contest. To be eligible, your Request must: (i) be received separately in an envelope bearing sufficient Canadian postage (i.e. multiple Requests in the same envelope will be void); and (ii) be post-marked during the Contest Period and received prior to the Selection Date (defined below). The Sponsor takes no responsibility for any lost, stolen, delayed, illegible, damaged, misdirected, late or destroyed Requests.

Any attempt or suspected attempt to use robotic, automatic, programmed or otherwise illicit means to enter the Contest, or any other methods not authorized by these Contest Rules, for example, but not limited to, creating multiple accounts, identities, or registrations, all in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, shall be deemed as tampering and may disqualify you from entering, participating and/or winning a prize. Entries that contain false or incomplete information are void. Entries that are late, lost, stolen, illegible, contain false information, are damaged, misdirected, mutilated, garbled or incomplete, altered or otherwise irregular or that do not conform with or satisfy any or all of the conditions of the Contest Rules are void. Entrants grant Sponsor a non-exclusive licence to use all Entries for any purpose. No correspondence will be entered into except with Selected Entrants. Proof of transmission (for example, screenshots or captures) does not constitute proof of entry or receipt of an Entry.

5. Contest Prizes. There are a total of three (3) gift cards to local businesses: (1) $250 gift card (most Entries submitted), (2) $100 gift card (second most Entries submitted) and (3) $50 gift card (third most Entries submitted).    

All winners assume any and all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by entering, participating in this Contest or the use or redemption of a prize. Prizes must be accepted as awarded and have no cash value. Prizes or any portion of a prize cannot be combined with other discounts, promotions or special offers. The Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any Prize in whole or in part in the event that all or any component of such Prize is unavailable with a prize or prize component(s) of equal or greater retail value, including, without limitation, but solely at the Sponsor’s sole discretion, a cash award. All characteristics and features of the Prize, except as otherwise explicitly stated above, are at the Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion. The Prize winner is solely responsible for all costs not expressly described herein. Prepaid cards are subject to all of the terms and conditions as stated by the issuer.

6. Odds of Winning. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Entries received before the Contest End Date, as well as the number of eligible Entries submitted by each particular entrant.
7. Skill-testing Question. Selected Entrants will be required, as a condition of winning a prize, to correctly answer, without assistance of any kind, the Sponsor’s time-limited, mathematical skill-testing question to be administered by email.
8. Winner Selection and Confirmation. On Wednesday, May 15 at 10:00 a.m. EDT at 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 (Selection Date) the Sponsor, or an employee, agent or other representative of the Sponsor, will determine the three participants who submitted the most Entries before the Contest End Date and select them as potential winners (Selected Entrants). Selected Entrants will be deemed winners if they meet all of the eligibility criteria set out in these Contest Rules. If a Selected Entrant does not meet the eligibility criteria, he/she will be disqualified and will not receive a prize and the entrant who submitted the next highest number of Entries will be selected. Before being declared a winner, Selected Entrants will be required to: (i) correctly answer the Sponsor’s skill-testing question; (ii) sign and return the Sponsor’s Declaration of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release form (Winner Release); and (iii) comply with all other Contest Rules, all in the sole discretion of Sponsor.

Selected Entrants will be notified within 7 business days of the Selection Date and will be contacted by email provided at the time of entry into the Contest. Up to three attempts will be made to contact Selected Entrants after the Selection Date. A Selected Entrant that does not or cannot accept a prize may be forfeited and a new Selected Entrant selected, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

Disputes regarding identity of entrant: If the identity of a Selected Entrant is disputed, the Entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the individual assigned to the email address entered at the time of entry (Authorized Account Holder). Each Selected Entrant may be required to provide proof that he/she is the Authorized Account Holder associated with a selected Entry.

9. Release and Indemnification. All entrants and winners confirm compliance with all Contest Rules, agree to accept prizes as awarded, and agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the Sponsor, its departments and agencies, parent, related and affiliated companies, subsidiaries, franchisees, advertising and promotional agencies, counsel, marketing partners, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, successors, sponsors, partners, licensees, subsidiaries, agents, artists, advisors, assignees, and all others associated with the administration, development and execution of the Contest (the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all manner of action, cause of action, claim or demand, loss or injury, use or misuse of a prize or any travel related thereto, and the use of Entries by the Sponsor, suit, debt, covenant, contract, including legal fees and expenses, whatsoever, including but not limited to, claims based on negligence, breach of contract and fundamental breach, failure of any third-party contractor or supplier used in connection with any aspect of the Contest to perform or deliver any goods or services, any act of God or any other event beyond the Released Parties’ control, any dissatisfaction of any kind by a winner with any aspect of the Contest or any prize, liability for physical injury, death, or property damage which the entrants, guests, their heirs, successors or assigns have, might have or could have suffered, by reason of or arising out of the entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or in connection with the acceptance and/or exercise by the entrant of prizes as awarded, and, moreover, all entrants and winners agree to indemnify the Released Parties against any loss, damage or expense, including legal fees, that any of the Released Parties may suffer or incur as a result of any non-compliance by entrants with any of the Contest Rules or participation in the Contest and/or in connection with the acceptance and/or exercise by an entrant of a prize, and the use of entries by the Sponsor.
10. Disclaimer: The Sponsor is not responsible for: (i) incorrect or inaccurate Entry information that may affect a person’s ability to participate in the Contest or be awarded a prize, including but not limited to human error, technical malfunctions, lost or delayed Entries for any reason, mail failures, omission, or any combination thereof, and Entries that fail to fully comply with these Contest Rules; (ii) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (iii) lost, incomplete, delayed, mutilated or misdirected Entries; (iv) injury or damage to entrants’ computers or to any other individual’s computer related to or resulting from participating in, or downloading any material regarding the Contest or accepting a prize; (v) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize, including any related travel and the use of Entries by Sponsor; (vi) the security or privacy of information transmitted via computer networks or for breaches of privacy due to interference by third-party computer hackers or otherwise; or (vii) late, lost, misdirected or unsuccessful efforts to notify a potential winner.
11. Primacy of the Rules: In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials, including, but not limited to, any instructions or interpretations of these Rules given by any representative of the Sponsor, the terms and conditions of these Rules shall prevail, govern and control to the fullest extent permitted by law.
12. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with the terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
13. Other Conditions. The Sponsor reserves the right to terminate or amend this Contest at any time and in any way, without prior notice to entrants. Without limiting the foregoing, if, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as originally planned for any reason, the Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the Contest and conduct a random draw from all previously received eligible Entries received by the Contest End Date.
14. Publicity and Entrant Information. By participating in the Contest, entrants consent to the use of their name, address, email address, postal code, telephone number, social media handle(s), comments and image, whether on videotape, photograph or any other means, for the administration of the Contest or any publicity carried out by the Sponsor, without further notice or compensation.
15. Law. The Contest is void where prohibited by law and is subject to all applicable Canadian federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and local laws. This Contest shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the province of Ontario, and the laws of Canada applicable therein, including all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest rules, rights and obligations between entrants and the Sponsor, and procedural provisions, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. Any dispute shall be adjudicated by the courts sitting in Waterloo, Ontario.
16. Rule Amendments. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or modify these Contest Rules, or modify, cancel, or suspend this Contest, without prior notice for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation in the event that any cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor corrupts, or threatens to corrupt, the security or proper administration of the Contest.
17. Intellectual Property. All intellectual property, including but not limited to trademarks, logos, designs, promotional materials, web pages, source codes, images, drawings, illustrations, slogans and representations are owned by the Sponsor. All rights reserved.  Unauthorized copying or use of any of the Sponsor’s intellectual property without the express written consent of the Sponsor is strictly prohibited.
18. Use of Personal Information. By entering this Contest, each entrant expressly consents to the Sponsor, its agents and/or representatives, collection, use, storing and sharing the personal information submitted for the purpose of administering the Contest under the authority of the University of Waterloo Act, 1972 and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F. 31 as amended, as well as in compliance with Sponsor’s policies (e.g., Policy 46) and guidelines.  This section does not limit any other consent(s) that an individual may provide the Sponsor or others in relation to the collection, use and/or disclosure of their personal information. Personal Information will only be used for Contest sponsor(s) marketing purposes with the entrant's consent. Entrants acknowledge that questions regarding the processing of personal information associated with this Contest are to be directed to sustainability@uwaterloo.ca.

 © UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO [2024]. All Rights Reserved.