Key dates
The Canadian Geographic Challenge runs throughout the school year. Students, classrooms and schools can start as soon as they sign-up. Each Level (i.e., age cohort) has their own set of Challenge rounds. Please refer below to your specific Level for the key dates and deadlines.
Level 1 (grades 4-6)
| November 2020 | Registration opens for Level 1. Questions for the Classroom round are made available. |
| January 2021 | Questions for the School round are made available. This is the final round for Level 1. |
| April 30, 2021 | Deadline to identify all Level 1 School winners in order to receive their prize. Names entered after this day will not be eligible for a prize. |
Level 2 (grades 7-10)
| November 2020 |
Registration opens for Level 2. Questions for the Classroom round are made available. |
| January 2021 | Questions for the School round are made available. |
| March 19, 2021 |
Deadline to name all Level 2 School winners. Any Level 2 School winner not identified by this date will not be eligible for the Provincial/Territorial round of the Challenge, which is used to determine the National Finalists. |
| March 22 to April 14, 2021 | Provincial/Territorial round is made available. Only Level 2 School winners are eligible to participate in this round. |
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April 19 to 23, 2021 |
If necessary, Provincial/Territorial tie-breakers are administered. |
| April 30, 2021 | Top 20 participants from the Provincial/Territorial round are selected as National Finalists and are notified with further instructions. |
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May 2021 |
National Final. Format (in-person or live virtual) is yet to be determined and will be subject to safety considerations due to COVID-19. |
Level 3 (ages 16-19)
| December 2020 | Registration for Level 3 opens. |
| January 2021 | Phase 1 is made available. |
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February 28, 2021 |
Deadline for participants to complete Phase 1. |
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March 5, 2021 March 29, 2021 April 6, 2021 |
Top 20 Phase 1 finalists will receive instructions for how to participate in Phase 2. Deadline for top 20 finalists to submit their Phase 2. Phase 3 (fieldwork) begins. Top 10 students from Phase 2 will be contacted with more information. |
| April 30, 2021 |
Deadline for top 10 finalists to submit their Phase 3. |
| May 5, 2021 | Top 6 finalists from Phase 3 will be notified and will receive instructions an interview. |
