Canada-Wide Science Fair

Summary

Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by Youth Science Canada. Finalists qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors at over 100 Youth Science Canada-affiliated regional science fairs in every province and territory, or, in the province of Quebec, the provincial science fair.

Youth Science Canada
HeadquartersPickering, Ontario
Location
  • Canada
Official language
English, French
Executive Director
Reni Barlow
Websitehttp://www.youthscience.ca/

Competition is split into three age/grade categories: Junior for grades 7 and 8, Intermediate for grades 9 and 10, and Senior for grades 11, 12 and Cégep.

The Canada-Wide Science Fair is a weeklong event. Students travel with their respective regional representatives to the designated location (listed below). The Canada-Wide Science Fair has been held every year since 1962. The Canada-Wide Science Fair was presented by Blackberry from 2012 through 2014.

History edit

The First Canada-Wide Science Fair was held May 11 and 12, 1962 at the Science Building at Carleton University in Ottawa. In 1962, the fair was co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ottawa Incorporated. The initial Headquarters for the Canadian Science Fairs Council was 45 Rideau Street, Ottawa. The two-day science fair was made up of 45 exhibits of regional winners from secondary school fairs across the country.[1]

The 2020 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton, Alberta was cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic: the cancellation was the first time that Youth Science Canada had ever cancelled the fair.[2] Next year saw its return on a virtual basis.

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) edit

Several competitors and winners from the Canada-Wide Science Fair have been selected for competition at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair as part of Team Canada, among them inventors Ann Makosinski and Alex Deans. Past Canada-Wide Science Fair winners Raymond Wang and Austin Wang both from Vancouver, BC, won the Gordon E. Moore award at Intel ISEF in 2015 and 2016, respectively.[3]

Awards edit

Almost $1 million in awards and scholarships is given out each year at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.[4] Bronze, silver, and gold medals are awarded to outstanding projects in each age/grade category (see above). Challenge awards are presented for the best project in each of seven STEM challenges (discovery, energy, environment, health, information, innovation and resources) for each age/grade category. Sponsored special awards are also offered. Three Grand Awards recognize the top project from the gold medal winners in each age/grade category: The Best Project Award (including $2,500 cash) is presented to the top overall project, regardless of category. The top projects from the two remaining categories receive Platinum Awards, which include $1,000 cash. Two or three of the platinum award winners compete at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists.[5]

Host Cities edit

Below is a list of host cities of the Canada Wide Science Fair.[6][7]

Year City Province Regions Projects Finalists
2024 Ottawa ON
2023 Edmonton AB
2022 Fredericton NB
2021 Ottawa ON
2020 Edmonton AB N/A N/A N/A
2019 Fredericton NB 103 409 461
2018 Ottawa ON 103 403 458
2017 Regina SK 101 390 443
2016 Montréal QC 104 420 485
2015 Fredericton NB 101 402 469
2014 Windsor ON 100 381 462
2013 Lethbridge AB 100 400 481
2012 Charlottetown PE 103 402 489
2011 Toronto ON 99 425 509
2010 Peterborough ON 102 407 494
2009 Winnipeg MB 102 387 474
2008 Ottawa ON 102 386 478
2007 Truro NS 98 369 459
2006 Saguenay QC 99 369 455
2005 Vancouver BC 98 384 479
2004 St. John's NL 96 375 483
2003 Calgary AB 90 362 465
2002 Saskatoon SK 89 336 447
2001 Kingston ON 91 345 431
2000 London ON 95 341 437
1999 Edmonton AB 99 328 427
1998 Timmins ON 98 318 443
1997 Regina SK 93 315 411
1996 North Bay ON 103 331 423
1995 Whitehorse YT 102 317 393
1994 Guelph ON 102 307 410
1993 Rivière-du-Loup QC 106 299 399
1992 Sudbury ON 103 298 387
1991 Vancouver BC 102 297 383
1990 Windsor ON 99 310 411
1989 St. John's NF 94 311 377
1988 Winnipeg MB 92 308 396
1987 Mississauga ON 85 297 376
1986 Calgary AB 71 302 374
1985 Cornwall ON 68 272 321
1984 Halifax NS 67 262 314
1983 Saskatoon SK 61 188 230
1982 Toronto ON 56 196 248
1981 Waterloo ON 52 186 236
1980 Thompson MB 51 170 236
1979 London ON 50 171 220
1978 Sudbury ON 55 165 182
1977 Victoria BC 51 137 168
1976 Brandon MB 47 124 163
1975 Jonquière QC 48 134 187
1974 Calgary AB 42 112 147
1973 Thunder Bay ON 38 100 124
1972 Sarnia ON 38 96 110
1971 Edmonton AB 34 85 85
1970 Hamilton ON 38 91 91
1969 Regina SK 30 64 64
1968 Vancouver BC 28 68 68
1967 Québec QC 28 72 73
1966 Windsor ON 26 74 74
1965 Winnipeg MB 26 68 68
1964 Montréal QC 22 60 60
1963 Toronto ON 18 53 54
1962 Ottawa ON 12 45 45

References edit

  1. ^ The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario) May 12, 1962 Page 3 science fair
  2. ^ YSC Cancels Canada-Wide Science Fair 2020
  3. ^ "Austin Wang wins Top Prize at Intel International Science and Engineering Fair | Youth Science Canada". youthscience.ca. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  4. ^ "Top Prizes Awarded at Canada-Wide Science Fair | Youth Science Canada". youthscience.ca. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  5. ^ Bainbridge, Alisha. "Team Canada heading to EUCYS 2017".
  6. ^ Information verified directly from Youth Science Canada
  7. ^ "Future Canada-Wide Science Fairs". Youth Science Canada. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16. Retrieved 1 May 2015.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Youth Science Canada