Canada-Wide Science Fair
Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair 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.
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. Next year saw its return on a virtual basis.
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.| 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 |