Paradise, N.L.-based photographer David Sturge is the Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year and begins a two-year term as an Audain Emerging Photographer-in-Residence with Canadian Geographic.
OTTAWA, AUGUST 27, 2026 — Canadian Geographic, Canada’s #1 paid magazine, has chosen the winners of its 2026 Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition, which celebrates remarkable images of Canadian wildlife captured by Canadian photographers. Out of a total of more than 10,000 entries, 18 photographers were honoured for their outstanding work.
“There were many new names among the winners this year, which is incredibly exciting for our photography community,” said Canadian Geographic Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Pope. “The magazine team and our judges were impressed with the diversity of species and habitats depicted in the entries. It just goes to show: we Canadians love our wildlife!”
Photos were entered into four categories (“Terrestrial life,” “Aquatic life,” “Flora and fungi” and “Things with wings”) and judged by Canadian Geographic’s editorial and design staff, as well as professional wildlife photographers Jenny Wong, John E. Marriott and Maxime Légaré-Vézina — himself a past winner of the competition.
“Terrestrial life” winner Steven Marriott captured the ultimate action shot of an American mink mid-bound at Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, Ont.
“Aquatic life” winner Jean-Christophe Lemay intrigued the judges with his utterly original shot of a sandworm (Alitta virens) swimming on the surface of the St. Lawrence Estuary.
“Flora and fungi” winner Anthony Zerafa’s winning shot of Scheuchzer’s cottongrass (Eriophorum scheuchzeri) growing on the shore of Colour Lake on Axel Heiberg Island in Nunavut reminds us that, although treeless, the High Arctic is home to remarkable plant biodiversity.
“Things with wings” winner Jon Behuniak delivered what the judges called a truly original shot with his macro capture of a thick-headed fly on a raspberry cane in Asquith, Sask.
One photographer’s body of work stood out among all the entries. The 2026 Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year is David Sturge of Paradise, N.L., who now begins a two-year term as an Audain Emerging Photographer-in-Residence with Canadian Geographic. Thanks to the generous support of the Audain Foundation, whose wildlife conservation mandate is focused in British Columbia, Sturge will have the opportunity to shoot on assignment for Canadian Geographic in B.C. and participate in events promoting visual storytelling.
Sturge grew up in Labrador City. On annual family vacations to Newfoundland, he spent hours crawling under fishing stages, finding crabs, snails and fish. “It was an ecological Disneyland,” he says. His journey in photography began with watching his dad capture those vacations with an old Argus C35. Sturge himself started out as a self-proclaimed “weekend warrior,” photographing weddings. Then, 10 years ago, he left his desk job to chase the life he truly wanted as a wildlife photographer, taking gigs as a provincial park ranger and captain on marine wildlife boat tours to be closer to the animals.
Now, Sturge wants to use his photography to raise awareness of how the natural world is changing due to anthropogenic climate change and the importance of protecting wildlife. “I love to create beautiful images and connect with these creatures,” he says, “but I know these stories need to be told.”
The winning images will be published in Canadian Geographic’s November/December 2026 issue, available on newsstands everywhere October 19.
About the Can Geo Photo Club
Canadian Geographic actively seeks out and nurtures Canadian photographic talent through its Photo Club, a free-to-join, 15,000-member-strong community of amateur and professional photographers. The Club hosts two competitions per year.
Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year 2026 – full winners list
Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year
David Sturge, Paradise, N.L.
Terrestrial life
Winner: Steven Marriott, Oshawa, Ont.
Runner-up: Chris Gibbs, Calgary
Honourable mention: Liron Gertsman, Vancouver
Honourable mention: Andrew Waterhouse, St. Thomas, Ont.
Aquatic life
Winner: Jean-Christophe Lemay, Rimouski, Que.
Runner-up: Yagnesh Mangukiya, Belleville, Ont.
Honourable mention: Eli Wolpin, Vancouver
Honourable mention: Dalin Laqua, Okotoks, Alta.
Honourable mention: Jack Medeiros, Kingston, Ont.
Flora and fungi
Winner: Anthony Zerafa, Montreal
Runner-up: John Deal, Campbell River, B.C.
Honourable mention: Rob Gubiani, Gatineau, Que.
Honourable mention: Tyler Cave, Victoria
Things with wings
Winner: Jon Behuniak, Asquith, Sask.
Runner-up: Hugues de Millville, Toronto
Honourable mention: Shane Turgeon, Edmonton
Honourable mention: Natasha Grapes, New Westminster, B.C.
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