Quebec City-based photographer Maxime Légaré-Vézina has been named Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025, earning the top distinction from Canadian Geographic. His recognition comes with a two-year term as the Audain Emerging Photographer-in-Residence, supported by the Audain Foundation, allowing him to shoot on assignment in British Columbia and share the power of visual storytelling.
Celebrating Canada’s Wildlife Through Photography
Celebrating Canada’s Wildlife Through Photography
The Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition, hosted by Canadian Geographic, drew more than 10,000 entries across four categories: Terrestrial Life, Aquatic Life, Flora and Fungi, and Things With Wings. Nine photographers were recognized for their remarkable images of species and landscapes across the country.
Category Highlights
Things With Wings: Winner Leslie Poulson (Bralorne, B.C.) with a dragonfly covered in dew.
Terrestrial Life: Winner Jean-Simon Bégin (Quebec City) with a dramatic shot of lynx in an Ontario snowstorm.
Aquatic Life: Winner Alex Côté (Magog, Que.) with a merganser chick diving in Lake Memphremagog.
Flora and Fungi: Winner Jillian A. Brown (Squamish, B.C.) with an image of moss consumed by wildfire.
“Terrestrial life” winner Jean-Simon Bégin gave us chills with his shot of a family of Canada lynx making their way through a heavy snowfall in northern Ontario.
“Aquatic life” winner Alex Côté offered us a compelling glimpse at the hidden world of freshwater with his atmospheric shot of a common merganser chick diving in Quebec’s Lake Memphremagog.
With wildfires once again dominating headlines this summer, “Flora and fungi” winner Jillian A. Brown captured the deadly beauty of a fire near Squamish, B.C. as the flames consumed moss on a cliff face.
“Things with wings” winner Leslie Poulson wowed the judges with a macro shot of a northern spreadwing dragonfly covered in droplets of morning dew.
A Photographer’s Journey
A Photographer’s Journey
Three years ago, Légaré-Vézina left his career in banking to pursue photography full-time. At 36, he has built his craft on patience, close observation of animal behaviour, and a commitment to capturing intimate moments in the wild. “My passion is still there: to travel, discover new species, and live this life of adventure,” he said.
Canadian Geographic’s Legacy
Founded in 1930 and published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Geographic is Canada’s #1 paid magazine with more than 4.3 million monthly readers. Its Photo Club, a community of over 15,000 amateur and professional photographers, continues to spotlight Canadian talent through competitions like this one.
The winning images from the 2025 Canadian Wildlife Photography of the Year competition will be featured in the November/December issue of Canadian Geographic, available on newsstands October 15.