Congratulations to our Travel Recap Challenge Winners!
Every year at WorldStrides Canada, we can’t wait until it’s time for our video and photo contest. There’s nothing better than witnessing what incredible moments you capture on your tour, and getting to see how our programs come to life through your eyes is pure magic.
This year, you sent us nearly 3,000 submissions! Narrowing that down to just six Grand Prize winners was no easy feat. After careful consideration—and with the help of our staff judging panel—we’re excited to announce the winning entries from the 2026 Travel Recap Challenge!
GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
Spain Tour 2026
By: Pauline M. in Spain
“There were many life-changing moments for students, especially stepping out of their comfort zones as first-time travellers and understanding what they are capable of accomplishing when given a nudge! The Flamenco dancing held students in awe, especially my First Nations students who drew a close connection of the footwork to their powwow dances. The Caminito del Ray was a huge celebration for those who feared heights, and overall, the group gained an understanding of the cool and unique experiences that travel offers. Six travellers from this tour are signed up for our school’s 2027 tour!”
Zoé's Photos from Italy
By: Zoé B. in Italy
"Rome, Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre."
Québec Arts Trip
By: Isabel E. in Québec City, Canada
"We visited the Traditional Huron Site, Onhoua Chetek8e. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the sacred masks, as it is believed that photographing them can diminish their power. The site gave me a deeper appreciation for nature and its strength, and a greater sense of gratitude toward Indigenous communities, whose presence and knowledge are deeply connected to the history of what we now call Canada. We also visited the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Parc des Champs-de-Bataille, where the art reminded me to appreciate both the big and small moments that shape who we are. Finally, the Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack filled not only our stomachs with food, but also our hearts with happiness and our minds with lasting memories."
Halifax 2026 with Banting School
By: Manel M. in Halifax, Nova Scotia
“I went to Halifax. I made great connections with friends and took some nice pictures.”
Volcan Arenal
By: Benoit D. in Arenal, Costa Rica
“Costa Rica with my Sec. 4 and 5 students.”
Senior Toronto Trip 2026
By: Catherine E.-T. in Toronto, Ontario
“ Our graduation trip to Toronto will stay in my memory forever. We got to discover so many amazing places, including the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and the CN Tower. The highlight of our trip was definitely the cruise. We danced, laughed, and made so many unforgettable memories together. On our way back to Montréal, some people were sleeping while others were singing, but we all felt like one big family.”
In addition to our six Grand Prize winners, we recognized monthly winners for the best submissions from February to June across three categories: Learning in Action, Destination Highlights, and POV. Scroll down to view all winning submissions.
MONTHLY PRIZE WINNERS
CATEGORY: LEARNING IN ACTION
Bonhomme FOR PM!
By: Scott Minnick. in Québec City, Canada
"Photo in front of the Parliament Building in Quebec City"
Sugar Shack
By: Nouna P. in Québec City, Canada
"Dancing at the Sugar Shack"
Service-Learning in Costa Rica 2026
By: MegAnne P. in San José, Herradura and Aguirre, Costa Rica
“We landed in San José, where we spent one day. From there we travelled to Herradura, a small village where we stayed for five days and took part in community service projects, including painting. We also had the opportunity to enjoy some amazing activities, such as hiking, white-water rafting, and a visit to San Antonio Beach.”
Circus School Gone Wrong
By: Opeyemi A. in Montréal, Canada
“This was our first time doing circus school and we tried the 25ft trapeze.”
Remembrance Trip, from Amsterdam to Berlin
By: Sébastien R. in Berlin, Germany
“We travelled to Amsterdam, following in the footsteps of Anne Frank and World War II (the Atlantic Wall and the Vught camp), and to Berlin (the Wall, bunkers, and memorials).”
MONTHLY PRIZE WINNERS
CATEGORY: DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS
Lost In The Spray
By: Jackson P. in Québec City, Canada
"The Montmorency waterfall in Quebec City is a big waterfall that we got to visit up close. 'The experience definitely stuck with me. That was one of my favourite parts of the trip,' said the person in the photo."
Greece by EDI
By: Élodie R. in Greece
"Here is an overview of our 9-day adventure, including 7 days in Greece, where our 46 Secondary 2 to 5 students had the opportunity to discover breathtaking landscapes, a rich culture, and a fascinating history. Accompanied by 4 staff members and guided by a passionate French-speaking guide, the students were able to enjoy a unique educational experience filled with discoveries, memorable highlights, and lasting memories."
Mamma Mia!
By: Kim B. in Mykonos, Greece
“The 53 Pura Vida Travel club members spent two glorious nights on Mykonos. We enjoyed swimming, exploring the colourful streets, touring the island, dining by the sea and experiencing Greek Orthodox Easter (complete with a red egg tournament taught to us by our tour director). This Mamma Mia moment captures the group’s energy.”
Pigeon Love
By: Kayleigh S. in Paris, France
“Me and my fellow French students went on a trip to Paris to learn and experience more about the culture. It was a wonderful trip and me and my friend Riley both bought pigeon Jelly cat plushy’s that we brought around the city!”
Spain Tour 2026
By: Pauline M. in Spain
“We did various city tours, but among many highlights were a visit of the Sagrada Família, Barcelona Aquarium, free time in Valencia, Flamenco dancing in a cave (a must!), a 10k hike around the Alhambra in Granada, the Caminito del Ray boardwalk (a must!), a sunset cruise in Malaga (a must!), and a visit to Gibraltar (a must!). Beach time anywhere was also loved by all.”
MONTHLY PRIZE WINNERS
CATEGORY: POV
Dufferin Terrace
By: Ciara C. in Québec City, Canada
“Fun down the Dufferin Terrace ice slide.”
French Class Trip 2026
By: Hailey S. in Québec City, Canada
"We were mostly in old town Quebec but also went dog sledding else where and learned about the native peoples."
Québec Arts Trip
By: Isabel E. in Québec City, Canada
"We visited the Traditional Huron Site, Onhoua Chetek8e. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the sacred masks, as it is believed that photographing them can diminish their power. The site gave me a deeper appreciation for nature and its strength, and a greater sense of gratitude toward Indigenous communities, whose presence and knowledge are deeply connected to the history of what we now call Canada. We also visited the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Parc des Champs-de-Bataille, where the art reminded me to appreciate both the big and small moments that shape who we are. Finally, the Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack filled not only our stomachs with food, but also our hearts with happiness and our minds with lasting memories."
La Concorde's Educational Trip 2026
By: Isabelle P. in Vienna, Bratislava, Munich, Zurich, Central Europe
"On our way to Europe!"
Up to Parliament
By: Callista C. in Ottawa, Canada
“Here’s a transition from on the coach bus to parliament, showcasing the beauty of Ottawa.”
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Our sincerest congratulations to all of our winners, and a big thank you to everyone who entered. You all helped make this year’s contest a huge success! We can’t wait to see where your travels take you next.
We received so many great submissions that we’ll be keeping more to share throughout the year—so keep an eye on our Instagram for more incredible highlights from this school year.
And don’t worry—we’ll be back next year with another edition of the WorldStrides Canada Photo & Video Contest!
