Last Updated: March 30, 2023
Official Rules for the Canada Post Small Business Tales of Triumph Contest
By entering and/or voting in the Canada Post Small Business Tales of Triumph Contest (the “Contest”), participants (entrants and voters) agree to abide by these Official Contest Rules and will be deemed to have received, understood, and accepted the Official Contest Rules by participating in the Contest. The decisions of Canada Post Corporation (“Canada Post”) with respect to all aspects of the Contest are final and binding.
The Contest is sponsored by Canada Post. The Contest and your participation are subject to all federal, provincial, and local laws and to these Official Contest Rules. These Official Contest Rules do not provide any warranties for the Contest and limit Canada Post’s liability.
The Contest will run from April 17, 2023, at 9:00.00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to December 31, 2023, at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET) (the “Term”).
Within this Term are several important periods of time or specific dates:
- General submission period: From April 17, 2023, at 9:00.00 a.m. (ET) to May 12, 2023, at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET).
- Selected finalists notified on or around: May 29, 2023.
- Public announcement of finalists: On or about June 5, 2023.
- Canada’s Choice and Employee’s Choice voting period: June 5, 2023, at 9:00.00 a.m. (ET) to June 30, 2023, at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET)
- Promotion of prize winners: Immediately following public announcement of winners on or about October 2, 2023, up to and including December 31, 2023 (“Promotion Period”).
All submissions for the Contest must be in English or French.
The following must all be true during the Term for a company to be eligible for the Contest:
- the company must have a place of business located in Canada;
- the company must be a “small business” with less than five million dollars ($5,000,000 CDN) in annual gross sales*;
- the company must offer products or services for direct sale online or through a physical location in Canada to Canadian end users;
- the company is not a franchisee (operating or holding a franchise); and
- the company must be able to utilize the shipping and marketing credit prizes.
*The company cannot be a subsidiary of a domestic or international parent company, where the parent company has more than $5,000,000 CDN in gross annual sales.
A company is not required to be a Canada Post customer to enter the Contest; however, due to the nature of the prizes, a company is required to become a Canada Post customer to receive and utilize the prizes.
A company is not eligible for the Contest should its store, ecommerce site and/or its products or services (for sale online in Canada and sold or shipped to Canadian end users), without limitation, be:
- illegal;
- not in compliance with applicable privacy laws;
- non-mailable matter as described in the Non-Mailable Matter Regulations;
- infringing upon the copyright, trademarks, privacy/publicity, intellectual property, or other rights of any third party, living or deceased;
- promoting unlawful behaviour, profanity, nudity, or explicit sexuality;
- harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libellous; or
- hatefully, racially, ethnically or otherwise offensive or objectionable.
All stores, ecommerce sites and/or products or services for sale that are submitted to the Contest must be consistent with Canada Post’s corporate image and be suitable for family audiences and for display and publication on national media sources such as television, newspapers, social media, and the Canada Post website (www.canadapost.ca), at the sole determination of Canada Post.
To enter and to be eligible to win a prize, the authorized representative of the company must be a legal resident of Canada at the time of entry, who has reached the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside and who is not an employee of Canada Post, its affiliated companies or agents, its respective advertising or promotional agencies, or a member of any such employee’s immediate family (regardless of where they live) or persons with whom they are domiciled (whether related to the employee or not). In these Official Contest Rules, “immediate family” includes mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, partner, or spouse.
All submissions are subject to review for eligibility. An internal Canada Post panel (“Pre-screening Committee”) may review submissions for eligibility, though such review does not relieve entrants from responsibility for compliance with these Official Contest Rules. Incomplete submissions or submissions that do not comply with these Official Contest Rules will be declared invalid. Entries become the sole property of Canada Post and will not be returned. Submissions rejected by the Pre-screening Committee will be destroyed within thirty (30) days.
An authorized representative of a company must access the application process found at www.canadapost.ca/talesoftriumph and follow the requisite electronic online submission process. No other forms of entry, submission or means of transmission or delivery will be accepted. No responsibility is assumed by Canada Post for any lost, late, damaged, destroyed, or misdirected submissions or for any faulty electronic data transmission, equipment failure or other online communication problems occurring in connection with participation in the Contest.
Through the application process, companies are required to answer a few short questions via an online application or video. When you click “Enter Now”, through the www.canadapost.ca/talesoftriumph website, the company will be directed to an external site to provide information about their business and complete the questions.
Limit of one (1) entry per company. Any additional entries will be disqualified.
The following are the categories to which prizes may be awarded:
- Doing Good
- Customer Connection
- Rising Stars
A company is permitted to submit only one (1) entry in one of the following categories:
DOING GOOD
We’re recognizing businesses who know that doing good is good for business. They don’t just support their customers. These businesses offer sustainable solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time, contributing to healthier communities and a stronger Canada for all.
CUSTOMER CONNECTION
We’re recognizing small businesses that thoughtfully tailor each interaction with their customers. Whether through their marketing, physical or on-line store, packaging, or overall experience – these small businesses succeed by building valued and lasting customer connections.
RISING STARS
We’re recognizing businesses that have not just launched in the last two years but are on the rise and ready to shine. Some are online and some are bricks and mortar, but all of these businesses have discovered their own place in the small business universe. To be eligible for this category, the business must have launched between May 12, 2021, and May 12, 2023.
The Canada Post Pre-screening Committee will review submissions against the category criteria. Based on this criteria, representation from entrants across Canada, and diversity in business offerings, the Canada Post Pre-screening Committee will select up to 45 eligible submissions (up to 15 submissions per category) to be reviewed by an external panel of judges to select the finalists. A total of 15 finalists (5 finalists for each of the 3 categories) will be selected by the external panel of judges.
If selected as a potential finalist, on or about May 29, 2023, a representative of Canada Post will contact the authorized representative named in the submission package by email and by telephone to inform the entrant that they are a potential finalist (“Potential Finalist”). Potential finalists are asked to answer more detailed questions through an interview. Only those companies selected as Potential Finalists will be contacted by Canada Post.
To be declared a finalist, the Potential Finalist must also complete a release package which will be conditional on the Potential Finalist’s winning a Contest prize (“Release Form”). This Release Form will, among other things, confirm (a) compliance with all eligibility requirements, these Official Contest Rules and all applicable laws; (b) acceptance of the prize as awarded, without substitution; and (c) release and indemnification of Canada Post, its respective affiliated and related companies, advertising and promotional agencies, and shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against all liability in connection with participation in the Contest and acceptance and use of the prize.
The Release Form must be returned by email to the email address provided by no later than May 31, 2023, by 4:00.00 p.m. (ET).
If: (a) Canada Post is unable to contact the Potential Finalist through email or telephone as set out above; (b) the Potential Finalist fails to return the properly executed Release Form within the specified time; or (c) Canada Post determines that the Potential Finalist has not complied with these Official Contest Rules, or otherwise disqualifies the Potential Finalist or determines the Potential Finalist to be ineligible to receive the prize, then the external panel of judges may select another entrant as a tentative finalist. Canada Post will continue that process until all finalists have been declared.
If for any reason there are not enough qualified or suitable submissions, as determined by Canada Post, the Canada Post Pre-screening Committee, or the external panel of judges at their sole discretion, less than 15 submissions for review by judges and/or less than 5 finalists may be selected in a particular category. If for any reason no submissions comply with these Official Contest Rules or there are no qualified or suitable submissions, as determined by Canada Post at its sole discretion, the Contest prizes will not be awarded.
The finalists will be announced publicly on or around June 5, 2023.
The prize winners will be announced publicly on or around October 2, 2023.
Grand Prize Winner Selection
An external panel of judges will review the finalist submissions and select one (1) grand prize winner for each of the three application-based categories (Customer Connection, Doing Good, and Rising Stars).
Employee’s Choice
One (1) finalist will be named the winner of Employee’s Choice. The winner will be determined by one (1) round of voting open to Canada Post employees through an online internal employee voting portal. Voting is open from June 5, 2023, at 9:00.01 a.m. (ET) to June 30, 2023, at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET). Employees can vote for one (1) finalist.
The finalist receiving the highest vote count will be awarded the Employee’s Choice prize.
If an entrant is selected as both a Grand Prize winner and the winner of Employee’s Choice, the entrant will be eligible to receive only the Grand Prize.
Canada’s Choice
One (1) finalist will be named the winner of Canada’s Choice. The winner will be determined by one (1) round of online voting open to Canadian residents from June 5, 2023, at 9:00.01 a.m. (ET) to: (i) June 30, 2023 at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET); or (ii) the date on which 30,000 total votes have been received, whichever occurs first. Visit [INSERT URL] to vote.
The finalist receiving the highest vote count will be awarded the Canada’s Choice prize. There is a limit of 30,000 votes (total) for Canada’s Choice and voting will close early if the voting limit is reached.
If an entrant is selected as both a Grand Prize winner and the winner of Canada’s Choice, the entrant will be eligible to receive only the Grand Prize.
- To vote, you must be a legal resident of Canada at the time of voting, who has reached the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which you reside.
- You can vote from June 5, 2023, at 9:00.01 a.m. (ET) to June 30, 2023, at 11:59.59 p.m. (ET) (or the date on which 30,000 total votes have been received, whichever occurs first, for Canada’s Choice).
- Only one vote per person. Any additional votes, as determined by Canada Post at its sole discretion, will be void.
- You must follow the provided instructions to submit your vote. This includes providing Canada Post with the following information to validate your vote: first name, last name, email address and postal code. Any votes made by accounts with non-working or invalid email addresses will be void.
- Votes generated by: (i) automated means, including, without limitation, by script, macro, and vote bots; (ii) technical means, including, without limitation, hiding, deleting, or blocking cookies and masking IP addresses; or (iii) any other means intended to impact the integrity of the voting process, as determined by Canada Post in its sole discretion, may be void. Votes obtained by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including, without limitation, email generators, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public, payment for votes or offering to trade votes, as determined by Canada Post, in its sole discretion, may result in those votes being void and the entrant at issue being disqualified from the Contest.
- No other forms of voting will be accepted.
The prizes for the Contest are:
- Grand Prize, Canada’s Choice & Employee’s Choice (total of 5 prizes available): Package worth more than $100,000: Canada Post services: including $10,000 in Canada Post Parcel and Smartmail MarketingTM services; Full planning and execution of a Neighbourhood MailTM campaign (approximate value: $1,000)
- Content and local media about your business including paid advertising in local markets and national exposure via earned and paid media (approximate value: $100,000) and content about your business on the Canada Post blog, social media, a webinar and e-newsletter (approximate value: $1,000).
- Personalized support including a coaching session with an expert from our panel of judges and a support session with a Canada Post expert on e-commerce and shipping technology (approximate value: $1,000)
Remaining finalists (total of 10 prizes available): Each finalist not selected as a Grand Prize, Employee’s Choice or Canada’s Choice winner will receive a marketing package worth up to $2,000 through Canada Post digital channels and events.
Parcel shipping and Smartmail Marketing™ credits will be applied to a customer’s account within forty-five (45) days of October 2, 2023, unless the prize winner is an existing Canada Post customer with a pre-existing debt, in which case there will be no credit applied to the customer’s account until the debt is fully paid. For greater certainty, an existing customer who wins a prize may not use an awarded credit to pay down or clear a pre-existing debt owed to Canada Post. All unused prizes expire on December 31, 2024, and winners are expected to use the allocated prizes before this end date or advise Canada Post accordingly.
The prizes may not be redeemed for cash. The prizes must be accepted as awarded without substitution and are not transferable. Canada Post reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute another prize or component of a prize of the equal or greater value, without liability, if the prize cannot be awarded for any reason. All prizes described are in Canadian currency. Taxes, if applicable, are the sole responsibility of the winner.
Use of the prizes will also be subject to: (1) any agreement with Canada Post to which you are a party; (2) the Canada Postal Guide; and (3) any additional terms and conditions applicable to a Product or Service.
If a prize winner’s customer account or agreement with Canada Post is closed or terminated for any reason, all remaining credits will automatically be forfeited.
Limit of one (1) prize per finalist. If an entrant is selected as both a Grand Prize winner and the winner of Employee’s Choice or Canada’s Choice, the entrant will be eligible to receive only the Grand Prize. If an entrant is selected as the winner of both Employee’s Choice and Canada’s Choice, the entrant will be eligible to receive only one prize, which will be determined by the category with the highest number of votes. The entrant with the second highest number of votes in the other category and who has not already been selected as a Grand Prize winner will be eligible for selection as the new winner.
In the event of a tie, the winner will be selected by the external panel of judges based on a review of the entrants’ submissions and interview answers.
The odds of winning depend on the total number of eligible entries received.
All winners and all finalists will receive the following:
- Media exposure including website visibility, social media, and news releases announcing the finalists and winners.
- Exposure on Canada Post internal communication channels that reach more than 45,000 employees across Canada, including IntrapostTV visible in plants and depots and the Intrapost internal employee website, to which all employees have access.
No changes will be accepted for any submission once submitted.
A panel of up to five (5) judges for the Contest is selected by Canada Post. Canada Post reserves the right to change the number of judges should a judge not be able to complete the review during the judging period or further judges are required to review the submissions based on a large volume of submissions. Judges will be recused in the event of a conflict of interest for any eligible submission and the remaining judges will evaluate the eligible submission. Judges will execute non-disclosure agreements to protect the confidential information in submissions.
The decisions by the judges and Canada Post with respect to all aspects of the Contest are final.
All submissions are subject to verification for accuracy. Any submission that is false, misleading, late or in violation of these Official Contest Rules is void.
The decisions by Canada Post with respect to the tallying of votes, and invalidating or disqualifying any suspected votes, voters, or entrants, shall be at the sole discretion of Canada Post and are final.
As part of submissions to the Contest, entrants will be leveraging certain trademarks, such as brand names, logos, or branded products. At the date and time of an entrant’s submission and up to December 31, 2024, inclusive, the entrant hereby grants to Canada Post a royalty-free, non-exclusive, revocable license to use the entrant’s intellectual property (IP) as may reasonably be required, including, for purposes related to the announcement of the finalists, for the Promotion Period, and to promote the winners of the Contest. Canada Post acknowledges and agrees that, except as expressly set out herein, it does not have and will not acquire any right, title or interest in or to any of an entrant’s intellectual property.
At any time, Canada Post will request an entrant’s approval of advertising and promotional materials, outside of the announcement of the finalists, referencing or using the entrant’s name or any marks or any other intellectual property of the entrant (the “Request”). The Request will be sent to the entrant’s representative listed in the submission package. Because the Contest is run on a short, strict timeline, if an entrant does not respond to the Request within five (5) business days, the entrant will be deemed to have accepted the Request and Canada Post will proceed to use the advertising and/or promotional materials referenced in the Request during the Term.
Nothing in these Official Contest Rules grant an entrant any rights to use any Canada Post intellectual property, including trademarks, trade names, or official marks. Canada Post may allow the use of special Think SmallTM or Tales of Triumph trademark(s) under restrictive terms to finalists and winners.
By entering the Contest, you declare that you have complied with the Official Contest Rules and meet all eligibility requirements.
Your participation in this in this Contest is solely at your own risk. You are solely responsible for all costs you incur to enter the Contest.
If there are any inconsistencies between these Official Contest Rules and any matter published on the website regarding the Contest, these Official Contest Rules will prevail. These Official Contest Rules may change from time to time without prior notice and at Canada Post’s sole discretion. It is the participants’ responsibility to regularly check these Official Contest Rules to determine if there have been changes made and to review such changes. If any change made is material to an entry or submission, Canada Post may, but is under no obligation to, contact the representative named in the submission to inform the entrant of the change.
Canada Post reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to withdraw, terminate or modify all or any part of the Contest at any time by publishing a notice on the Canada Post website if for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned. This includes, without limitation, technical failure or corruption, computer virus, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or any other cause beyond the control of Canada Post which in the opinion of Canada Post affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest.
Entrants or voters (“Participants”) who violate these Official Contest Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest or engage in any conduct that is detrimental to Canada Post, the Contest, or another entrant (determined by Canada Post in its sole discretion) are subject to disqualification. Canada Post reserves the right to reject submissions from companies whose eligibility is in question or companies that have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. Canada Post reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Participant it finds to be violating these Official Contest Rules, tampering with the voting process, or acting in an unsportsmanlike or improper manner and void all associated votes.
THE PARTICIPANT IRREVOCABLY RELEASES CANADA POST FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGE TO PROPERTY, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH) FOR HARM YOU MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT OF ENTERING, ATTEMPTING TO ENTER, OR VOTING IN THE CONTEST, AND, IF DECLARED A WINNER, FROM ACCEPTING AND USING THE PRIZE.
CANADA POST SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT, NEGLIGENCE, PRINTING, ADMINISTRATIVE OR OTHER ERRORS THAT MAY ARISE OR OCCUR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST. THIS EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY APPLIES NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF LOSS OR DAMAGE YOU EXPERIENCE.
THE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD CANADA POST HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND, DAMAGES, LOSSES, FINES, PENALTIES, SETTLEMENT OR OTHER COSTS, INCLUDING REASONABLE LEGAL FEES, MADE BY ANY THIRD PARTY DUE TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE PARTICIPANT’S BREACH OF THESE OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE PARTICIPANT’S VIOLATION OF ANY LAW OR THE RIGHTS OF A THIRD PARTY.
No responsibility will be taken by Canada Post for any failure of the Canada Post website or the Contest website or for any problems or technical malfunction of a telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email, online, or Internet submission to be received by Canada Post on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to a Participant’s or any other person's computer related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material with regards to the Contest. The sole determinant of time for the purposes of receipt of a valid submission will be the Canada Post server machine(s).
In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an electronic submission, the submission will be deemed submitted by the “authorized account holder”; that is the person in whose name the Internet service is registered, provided that person meets all eligibility criteria set forth herein. “Authorized Holder” shall mean the natural person assigned to the email messaging address by an Internet service provider, online service provider, telephone company, mobile telephone service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email messaging addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email message address.
The Authorized Holder of the account shall only be an individual who has the authority to represent the company and represents the accuracy of the information contained in the submission.
The terms and conditions for the Canada Post website apply to the Contest website and can be found here.
Canada Post has policies and procedures in place to protect the confidential information and personal information, as defined in the Privacy Act, that it handles. Canada Post is subject to the federal Privacy Act and the Canada Post Corporation Act.
The Canada Post Privacy Policy applies to the Contest and can be found here.
Confidential information does not include any information which: (a) is publicly available; (b) is subsequently lawfully obtained by Canada Post from a third party on a non-confidential basis; (c) is known to Canada Post without restriction on disclosure prior to its initial disclosure by the other; (d) is independently developed by Canada Post; or (e) the disclosure that is required pursuant to an order of a court, administrative tribunal or other body having the power to compel the production of confidential information.
Canada Post will attempt to use non-confidential information when announcing, promoting, and awarding a prize to finalists and winners. If Canada Post decides that confidential information would be relevant and/or necessary for the announcement, promotion and awarding of prizes of finalists and winners, Canada Post will seek express consent from the authorized representative of the entrant and such consent will not be unreasonably withheld. Because the Contest is run on a short, strict timeline, if the finalist does not respond within five (5) business days, the finalist will be deemed to have provided Canada Post with consent.
Under no circumstances will Canada Post be liable for any direct, indirect, general, special, or consequential damages whatsoever arising out of or relating to an entrant’s confidential information.
Any litigation respecting the conduct or organizing of a publicity contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the Régie only for the purpose of helping the parties to reach a settlement.