Our Canada - Contributor's Guidelines

Our Canada is full of true stories and photos sent in by readers across the country for other Canadians to enjoy. Any appropriate photo or story is welcome at any time.

Our editorial style is relaxed and conversational, so please write your submission the way you'd relate it to a friend. Since most of the magazine is written by "regular" people like you -- readers eager to share their own stories -- we rarely use freelance-written material.

Because our features don't often run more than 500 words (and many submissions run much shorter than that), we can't take the time to read lengthy submissions or books.

Before you send anything:

Be sure the first page of your submission contains your name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, if you have one. Don't forget to write your name and address on the back of each photo, preferably with soft pencil or marker, and identify any information you have regarding who, what and when. You're welcome to send a photocopy of an original photo (for reference only, since photocopies cannot be reproduced for publication). Or, we recommend that you first have a reprint made of cherished photos before you send them. If we're able to use your story, we'll ask to borrow the original or a sharp reprint. If you use e-mail, you can send a JPG image.
We do not publish fiction. Instead, we invite Canadians to tell their own true-life stories, whether they're about the most beloved person in your community, your most embarrassing moment, or how you got your garden looking so good. We're especially glad to get humourous anecdotes. We will accept previously published material, as long as the story had minimal exposure and as long as you retain the rights.

Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, and in an effort to involve as many contributors as possible, we often edit or excerpt longer stories. Any submission may also be considered for publication in an Our Canada promotional piece or on our web site.

To say thank you for sharing your story with us, we'll offer you a one year free-gift subscription to Our Canada.You can keep this subscription for yourself, or pass it along to someone of your choice. Don't worry if you are already a subscriber and would like to keep this gift—we'll simply tag the new subscription onto the end of your existing one! (Written submissions become our property on publication and may be considered for use in promotions or on our web site. In submitting a photo you grant us permission to reproduce it in Our Canada and in other printed media, in promotions and on the Internet as single images, in e-greeting cards, or as wallpaper.)

If you submit photos and would like them returned, be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with the proper postage. Due to postage costs and our limited number of staff, we cannot respond to submissions that do not include an SASE.

After you send us photos or articles, and if you've included an SASE for a response, please be patient. We receive an awful lot of material, and it often takes us a while to catch up.

Mail your submission to:

Our Canada
P.O. Box 11721,
Station CV,
Montreal, Que.,
H3C 6N9