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The Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by Youth Science Canada. Started in 1962, it is the highest level of competition in Canada, and approximately 400 projects and 500 students are judged at the fair. Finalists must qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors at over 100 regional science fairs (or, in the province of Quebec, the provincial science fair) throughout Canada.
Contents
Competition is split into three age categories: Junior for grades 7 and 8, Intermediate for grades 9 and 10, and Senior for grades 11 and 12.
The Canada-Wide Science Fair is an opportunity for students to showcase their scientific achievements alongside fellow students who share a similar passion for science and technology. In order to be able to participate at the CWSF, students need to first compete at their regional science fairs. Only those selected few who attain top positions at their regional science fairs will be eligible to compete at the CWSF. The Canada-Wide Science Fair is a weeklong event. Students travel with their respective regional representatives to the designated location (listed below). Throughout the week, they not only engage in the judging process, but they are also given the opportunity to meet other young scientists from across Canada. They partake in a number of excursions in the region that the CWSF takes place in, and thus, the CWSF provides a mix of education and recreation.
The Canada-Wide Science Fair has been held every year since 1962.
History
The First Canada-Wide Science Fair was held May 11 and 12, 1962 at the Science Building at Carleton University in Ottawa. The announcement was made jointly by Dr Heart Pavre, President of the Canadian Science Fair Council and Air Vice Marshal R.E. McBurney, Chairman of the Fair. Dr. Andrew Stewart, chairman of the Board of Broadcast Corporation officially opened the fair by "dialing" a ribbon cut electronically; He dialled a series of numbers, the numbers were flashed to a computer which later activated a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon. 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; the students came from as far west as Calgary and as far east as Montreal.
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF)
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.
Awards
Almost $1 million in awards and scholarships is given out each year at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.
The Canada-Wide Science Fair was previously sponsored by Blackberry until 2013. CWSF's largest awards are the Platinum Awards for the best project in each age division (Junior, Intermediate, and Senior). The Junior and Intermediate grand winners receive $1,000 while the Senior winner receives $2,500 as the best project. All grand award winners first receive a gold medal. Other awards include silver and bronze medals, as well as numerous special awards. Challenge awards are also offered for the best project in each category for the age division. Therefore, each category will have three best-in-category winners.
Host Cities
Below is a list of host cities of the Canada Wide Science Fair.