Today marks the launch of the TELUS Cast Your Vote campaign where Canadians have the opportunity to vote on the next TELUS critter. From now until May 20, you can cast your vote for your favourite critter whether it be one of the Small Wonders, the Big Awesomes, or the Cool Classics. The top critter in each category will make the final three and it will be up to you to vote on the overall winner. Each day that you vote, you will get a ballot for the Grand Prize Draw where you can win a trip to Africa for an amazing sightseeing safari, or one of ten Blackberry Playbook tablets. But that's not all. For every vote, Telus will give $1 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

As part of this contest, I have joined 12 other bloggers across Canada to campaign on behalf of one of the adorable critters. By the end of the voting period, the top three bloggers will win one of three TELUS Smartphone prizes. I have chosen to support the great big Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). This furry North American animal can weigh as little as 500 grams at birth but can grow as heavy as 1000 lb! I chose to support the Grizzly Bear as the next TELUS Critter because this animal plays an important role in our ecosystem and can easily represent Canadian wildlife. If you are on Facebook, I kindly ask you for your support and join me in promoting the Grizzly Bear as the next TELUS Critter. Let's join hands and show Canada that this often feared animal isn't as horrible as its scientific classification may suggest. Vote for the Grizzly today!