20120817_com_911_contest.jpgThe Service is challenging young people to use their creativity to keep police lines of communication open.

Youth between 10 and 24 are invited to create an original and eye-catching video or poster that will educate and encourage people to use the proper number when calling police as part of an ongoing public awareness campaign on the use of police emergency and non-emergency phone lines.

The Service’s emergency number is 9-1-1 and the non-emergency numbers are 416-808-2222, or *687 on your cellphone.

Sandy Briell, of Communications Services, said an increase in unintentional pocket dials and misdials triggered the contest to support its public information campaign.

“The video/poster contest will add to the initiative and it will involve young people who constitute a large demographic when it comes to the issues we are trying to address,” she said.

“The posters are requested to address key themes which are the proper use of 9-1-1, which number should be used when calling the police and avoiding pocket dials.”

The contest is part of a public awareness campaign over the course of this year.


The contest runs from September 9 to November 9 and there’s a limit of three contest entries per person/team. Contestants under the age of 18 are required to have their parent or legal guardian sign the entry form and other related documents.

Poster entries may be hand-drawn or digitally designed and must be no larger than 22” x 28”. Printer-friendly high-resolution formats are preferred.

Video entries should be no longer than 60 seconds and more than 100 MB of file size and must be in a format suitable for upload to YouTube.

Beginning September 9, entries can be uploaded via  www.torontopolice.on.ca/911contest but can also be submitted in person or by mail to 9-1-1 Video/Poster Campaign Contest, Toronto Police Service Corporate Communications, 40 College St., Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2J3.

The winners will be notified by email or phone no later than November 23 and will be required to complete and return a release form to claim their prizes.

Prizes will be awarded in the 10-13, 14-17 and 18-24 age categories.


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