Main photo: Some of the members of the Hoya Robotics team (from left) Morghan Kiberago, Josh Trask, Ethan Ross, teacher Ian Mctavish, Oliver Byl, Nolan Meeham, and Keira Brisebois
The inaugural InspireTech 2018 Expo was held at Deerhust Resort this past weekend.
InspireTech Canada is a Muskoka-based not-for-profit organization whose goal is to support youth in rural robotics teams and STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) groups.
“Muskoka doesn’t have the same access to fundraising as Toronto does,” said InspireTech Canada founder Kate Boyko. “Our goal is to even the playing field for youth in rural areas. We support them with both fundraising and logistics as well as helping students make connections outside of competitions.”
The expo welcomed five universities and colleges from around Ontario as well as eight tech-based companies.
“There are more tech-based jobs around Muskoka than students are aware of,” said Boyko. “These companies, including MBRP and Loft House Manufacturing, want youth from our community to stay in Muskoka and find tech-based jobs locally long term.”
Students who attended the summit were encouraged to network with schools and companies as well as ask any questions about tech-based programs and universities they may be attending in the future.
InspireTech’s next step is to create “innovation tours” for high schools around Muskoka.
“We want to bring these kids to local tech companies to show them that tech does exist here in Muskoka.”
InspireTech have been big supporters and mentors of the Hoya Robotics team at Huntsville High School, said grade 11 student Keira Brisebois. “We loved helping them and getting involved with the expo. We helped set up the race field as well as invited the other teams from around Muskoka to be a part of the expo.”
Brisebois has been a part of robotics since before she even entered high school and plans on pursuing STEM into the post-secondary level.
“We are trying to help smaller robotics teams and show them that we have just as much talent as teams in big cities,” said Brisebois.
The expo invited teams from all over Ontario including North Bay, Sundridge, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.
Canada-wide science fair winner Brendon Matusch (second from right) with members of the University of Waterloo student design team WATonomous (from left) Ankil Patel, Steven Lee, and, Ali Toyserkani
Three members from WATonomous, a student design team from the University of Waterloo that is dedicated to building autonomous self-driving vehicles, also attended the expo.
“We are here to reach out and demonstrate to youth in Muskoka one example of where STEM can bring you in post secondary,” said WATonomous team member Ali Toyserkani.
Joining their crew for the weekend was Brendon Matusch, 14-year-old Canada-wide science fair winner from Sudbury who created his own autonomous vehicle.
“I came to the summit to encourage other kids in high school to participate in science fairs because of all the learning and connections you can make,” said Matusch.
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