Newfoundland student Mark Cherwick wins 30th Annual Canadian Geographic Challenge
15-year-old says winning the competition is a dream come true
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, June 2, 2025 – After an exciting weekend of competition in the nation’s capital, 15-
year-old Mark Cherwick from St. John’s, Newfoundland was named the winner of the 2025
Canadian Geographic Challenge, earning the title of Canada’s Top Young Geographer and
taking home the $3,000 grand prize.
The national final, held at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s headquarters at 50
Sussex Drive, brought together 20 outstanding students aged 12 to 16 from every region of
the country. Over the course of three days, participants tackled written tests, outdoor fieldwork,
and live-audience challenges to demonstrate their knowledge of human and physical geography
at both local and global scales.
“This weekend we saw students who weren’t afraid to step outside, pay attention, ask
questions, and look at the world through a geographic perspective. That curiosity and
determination to understand nature and our role in it is what makes them geographers at
heart—and it’s exactly why they excelled in the Challenge,” said Michelle Chaput, Director of
Research and Education at Canadian Geographic Education. “Representing the future of
geography in Canada, these students are bright, inquisitive, and ready to make a difference.”
After an intense weekend of activities, five finalists advanced to the final round which took place
in the Alex Trebek Theatre, named for the late Jeopardy! host and former Honorary President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS). The final round, hosted by RCGS
Explorer-in-Residence Ray Zahab, was watched by a live audience of family members,
educators, and supporters, and culminated in an exciting finish.
The finalists from across the country included:
● National Champion: Mark Cherwick, Grade 9, St. John’s
● Second place winner: Eric Yuan, Grade 9, Calgary
● Third place winner: Mason Slobodin, Grade 8, Ottawa
● Fourth place runner up: Jevon De Silva, Grade 9, Markham
● Fifth place runner up: Edward Clark, Grade 10, Hamilton
This was the second time that Cherwick competed in the Challenge, winning third place in 2024,
and taking home the grand prize during the 2025 competition. Cherwick is a Grade 9 student at
École Rocher du Nord in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
“What I like about Geography is that it is linked to all of the subjects that I am interested in. It’s
the basis of history, political science, linguistics and anthropology. You can’t understand any of
those subjects without understanding geography,” said Mark Cherwick. “The competition is a
great experience and I was happy to win it this year.”
“The Can Geo Challenge is one of the Society’s proudest traditions,” said John Geiger, CEO of
the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. “It not only fosters a lifelong love of geography but
builds confidence, leadership, and critical thinking skills. We’re so proud of every student who
participated this year.”
“This year more than 10,000 students in Grades 4-10 competed in the Can Geo Challenge
across the country. It is a great way for teachers to engage their students in learning more about
Canada and the world. Geography matters more than ever, that’s why I am proud to have
guided this competition for many years,” said Paul VanZant, Chair of Canadian Geographic
Education.
The competition and its 30-year legacy were made possible through the generous support of
Kensington Tours and the Trebek Family Foundation. This year’s national final also featured the participation of Helen Giontsis, President of Kensington, and her team, who met with students and celebrated their achievements.
“I was so impressed by the knowledge that these young people have about the world. Many of
the questions were really challenging, and the students demonstrated a wealth of knowledge
about geography, biodiversity, and incredibly fascinating places they might visit somewhere in
the world,” said Helen Giontsis, President of Kensington.
The Challenge continues to inspire thousands of Canadian students annually, and this year’s
anniversary event reaffirmed the importance of geographic education in understanding and
shaping the world.
Media Contact:
Rosemary Thompson
Vice President, Canadian Geographic
(613) 240-6739
[email protected]
Photos and video available upon request.
