Canada-Wide Science Fair


Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by . 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.
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. 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

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.
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.

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.
Bronze, silver, and gold medals are awarded to outstanding projects in each age/grade category. Challenge awards are presented for the best project in each of seven STEM challenges 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 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.

Host Cities

Below is a list of host cities of the Canada Wide Science Fair.
YearCityProvinceRegionsProjectsFinalists
2024OttawaON
2023EdmontonAB
2022FrederictonNB
2021OttawaON
2020EdmontonABN/AN/AN/A
2019FrederictonNB103409461
2018OttawaON103403458
2017ReginaSK101390443
2016MontréalQC104420485
2015FrederictonNB101402469
2014WindsorON100381462
2013LethbridgeAB100400481
2012CharlottetownPE103402489
2011TorontoON99425509
2010PeterboroughON102407494
2009WinnipegMB102387474
2008OttawaON102386478
2007TruroNS98369459
2006SaguenayQC99369455
2005VancouverBC98384479
2004St. John'sNL96375483
2003CalgaryAB90362465
2002SaskatoonSK89336447
2001KingstonON91345431
2000LondonON95341437
1999EdmontonAB99328427
1998TimminsON98318443
1997ReginaSK93315411
1996North BayON103331423
1995WhitehorseYT102317393
1994GuelphON102307410
1993Rivière-du-LoupQC106299399
1992SudburyON103298387
1991VancouverBC102297383
1990WindsorON99310411
1989St. John'sNF94311377
1988WinnipegMB92308396
1987MississaugaON85297376
1986CalgaryAB71302374
1985CornwallON68272321
1984HalifaxNS67262314
1983SaskatoonSK61188230
1982TorontoON56196248
1981WaterlooON52186236
1980ThompsonMB51170236
1979LondonON50171220
1978SudburyON55165182
1977VictoriaBC51137168
1976BrandonMB47124163
1975JonquièreQC48134187
1974CalgaryAB42112147
1973Thunder BayON38100124
1972SarniaON3896110
1971EdmontonAB348585
1970HamiltonON389191
1969ReginaSK306464
1968VancouverBC286868
1967QuébecQC287273
1966WindsorON267474
1965WinnipegMB266868
1964MontréalQC226060
1963TorontoON185354
1962OttawaON124545