National Engineering Month in Ontario 2009

Belleville Events

6th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Competition - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, February 23, St., Theresa Catholic Secondary School, 135 Adam St.

The Quinte chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario challenges students in grades 4 to 12 to construct a bridge using only 100 Popsicle sticks and white glue. Built ahead of time, bridges will be tested to destruction with the PEO Thousand Islands chapter’s Bridge Buster. To allow younger students the chance to win, trophies will be awarded in various categories, including strongest bridge, best-looking bridge, most innovative design and most promising bridge builder. A cash prize will also be awarded to the strongest bridge. Spectators welcome! For more information, contact Heide-Marie Ross, P.Eng., at 613-392-2811, ext. 4829 or by email.

Burlington Events

15th Annual Halton Engineering Challenge (HEC) - 8:30 a.m. - to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 1, John T. Tuck Public School, 3365 Spruce Ave.
The Halton Engineering Challenge (HEC) is a co-operative effort between Meritor Suspension Systems Company (MSSC), the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic District School Board, the Professional Engineers of Ontario (Hamilton Chapter) and McMaster University’s engineering students. The HEC is a unique co-operative effort developed by teachers and professional engineers to meet many of the knowledge, skills and application expectations of the grade eight “Fluids” and “Mechanical Efficiency” units. The challenge has been written as a useable curriculum unit in which teachers have the opportunity of teaching theory through lessons and activities that are engaging, fun, interesting and that meet required expectations. Professional engineers are paired with schools and visit teachers and classes as technical consultants and mentors. By accepting the challenge, approximately 1,000 grade eight students work in teams of four to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the theoretical portion of the Challenge to an authentic engineering problem. They have the opportunity to design and construct a hydraulic robotic arm capable of transporting miniaturized automotive coils based on the coil manufacturing process at MSSC in Milton. The performance task becomes a competition each year, during National Engineering Week, as the top 30 teams from schools throughout Halton meet to present their robotic arms to panels of professional engineers. Gold, silver and bronze plaques are awarded to teams earning an appropriate position on the assessment rubric. The top three teams win a tour of the manufacturing facilities at MSSC. Special note for 2008: the night before this year's Challenge there will be a 15-year reunion of all teachers, engineers and volunteers who have been involved since 1993. Please get in touch! Click here for complete details or for more information, contact Bernard Amyot, P.Eng., at 905-662-7921 or by email.

Chatham Events

6th Annual Impromptu Design Competition - 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, March 1, Chatham-Kent Secondary School, 285 McNaughton Ave. E.
The Chatham-Kent chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts impromptu design competitions for students in the Lambton-Kent School District: one for grades 7 and 8, the other for grades 9 to 12. This is an applied science competition where teams compete against each other to make the best solution to an engineering problem using the materials provided. This competition requires no preparation from the team besides signing up before the deadline of February 23, 2007. The entry fee for seniors is $20/team, which includes pizza for lunch while the junior entry fee is $10/team. On the day of the competition, the senior teams arrive at the competition by 8:30 a.m. to sign in. At 9 a.m., the rules will be announced, the project will be explained and materials to complete the project will be given out. The senior teams will have until approximately 3 p.m. to complete the project, at which time the testing will begin. The junior competition begins at 12:45 p.m., with sign in at 12:30 p.m., and then testing begins at 2 p.m., finishing by 3 p.m., in time to watch the senior testing if interested. For more information, contact Angela Hastey, P.Eng., at 519-436-4600, ext. 2049, by email.

Cornwall Events

8th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Competition - Saturday, March 1, Cornwall Square, Main Concourse
The Upper Canada chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a Popsicle stick bridge-building competition for primary and secondary student teams. Instructions and building packages will be distributed to the teams several weeks before the event. Spectators welcome! For more information, contact John St. Marseille, P.Eng., at 613-933-5602 or by email.

Kingston Events

8th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Competition - 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, March 1, Queen's University, Ellis Hall, 58 University Ave.
The Kingston Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario challenges local elementary school students as well as adults to construct the strongest bridge possible using only 100 Popsicle sticks and white glue. Engineers and Queen's University graduate students will visit local schools and act as mentors to students. Entrants must pre-register and construct their bridges in advance using supplied materials. Bridges will be tested and prizes awarded in two categories: "Elementary" for grade school students and "Open" for high school students, adults or families working together. Winners will receive $50 and a trophy. Spectators welcome! Contact Brenden MacKinnon, P.Eng., at 613-384-2713 or by email or Doug Hamilton, P.Eng., at 613-389-9628 or by email.

Engineer Build Competition
Students from Queen's University, Royal Military College and St. Lawrence College compete in a catapault design contest. The three teams will have 12 hours to go from idea to working catapault given set material and design restrains. The catapaults will be judged on both design concept and success of the design. For more information, please contact Jonathan Hordo at 613-533-6008 or by email.

High School Outreach - Queen's University
The Queen's Engineering Student Society invites high school students enrolled in physics or science courses to visit Queen's for a day. First, students will be addressed by David Strong, P.Eng., the NSERC Chair in Design Engineering. Then they will get a chance to apply their knowledge on a design project that stresses creativity, communication and teamwork, as well as physics and cost management. After lunch, students will rotate through stations that demonstrate various engineering principles as well as the importance of building materials, sustainability, greenovation and energy efficiency. For more information, contact Jonathan Hordo at 613-533-6008 or by email.

Kitchener/Waterloo Events

Drop-in K'NEX Construction Workshops at the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum - 12 p.m to 4 p.m., Saturday, February 23, Sunday, February 24, Saturday, March 1 & Sunday, March 2
Engineering volunteers will assist children over the age of six in creating wonderful structures using K’NEX, the popular colour-coded toy, on the two weekends of Engineering Week. Special features will include a bridge-building challenge. The workshops are free with admission. Location: 10 King St. W., Kitchener. Call 519-749-9387 for information or consult the website: www.TheChildrensMuseum.ca.

London Events

Drop-in K'NEX Construction Workshops at the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, then daily from Tuesday, February 26 through Sunday, March 2, also 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 29
Engineering volunteers will assist children over the age of six in creating wonderful structures using K’NEX, the popular colour-coded toy, during National Engineering Week. Special features will include a bridge-building challenge. The workshops are free with admission. Location: 21 Wharncliffe Rd. S. Call 519-434-5726 for information or consult the website: www.londonchildrensmuseum.ca.

Guiding Exploring Technology - Scouting Exploring Technology (GETSET) - 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 1, London Scout HQ, 531 Windermere Rd.

The London chapter Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists presents a hands-on day for Guides and Scouts to explore engineering technology and do badge work while having fun discovering the various aspects of engineering technology in the London area. This is done via Tech Tables (hands-on displays), Tech Talks (presentations of the show and tell type), Tech Tours (off-site at partner locations) and Tech Tasks (challenges that enhance awareness of engineering technology and science). In the Bridge-Busting Competition, co-hosted with the London chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario, builders will be able to test the load limit of their Popsicle-stick-and-white-glue-only bridge with the Incredible Hydraulic Crushing Machine. Participants must register by noon. Testing starts at 1 p.m., and the bridge that supports the largest load wins. For more information, contact Peter Nicholas, C.E.T., by email or leave a voicemail message at 519-878-0942.

Western Engineering Bonanza - Thursday, February 21, Spencer Engineering Building, University of Western Ontario
This full-day outreach event introduces high school students in London and surrounding areas to Western's engineering programs, different fields of engineering and the many opportunities that the engineering profession offers. Students and accompanying teachers will attend several information sessions, including presentations by professors from different disciplines as well as presentations by engineering student clubs. In the afternoon, students will compete in a hands-on design competition. The design competition is intended to challenge the thought processes of the students and to get them actively involved in the problem-solving, which is a central part of the engineering profession. The day will conclude with prizes being given to the top three designs of the competition.

Engineering Week Luncheon - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, February 25, Hilton Hotel
The London chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a luncheon with city engineer Ron Standish, P.Eng., giving the keynote address. Seating is limited, so reserve today! Members and public welcome. Tickets: $30 per person. Contact Ian Cheng, P.Eng., at 519-652-2104 or by email.

Paper Airplane Toss and Bridge Building Competition – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, February 23, London Boys & Girls Memorial Club, 184 Horton St.
Almost everyone has made a paper airplane at some time, but have you ever wondered what kind of science is behind the power of flight? This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about flight and to compete with your pet design. Will your design have the endurance for a lengthy flight? Will your design have the ability to land accurately? Come on out to the grand finale, bring your kids, have fun and find out. Bridges to be built on the weekends of February 2, 9 and 16. At the finale, bridges will be load tested. Come out to meet the winners. For more information, contact Syd Van Geel, P.Eng., at 519-433-9796 or by email.

Toyota Cambridge Assembly Plant Tour & Hanson Concrete Plant Tour Tuesday, February 26
The London chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a day of tours for its members only. Guests will first visit the Hanson Concrete plant at 11 a.m. followed by a tour of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc. at 2:15 p.m. The cost is $20 per person (includes both tours, bus fare and refreshments).London departure at 9 AM. J-AAR Excavating Parking lot, located at 31 Exeter Road (SW corner Wonderland Rd & Exeter Road).
Space is limited to 48 PEO members. Advance registration required. Please make cheque payable to PEO - London Chapter, mail it to: 6 Pinegrove Crescent, London, ON N6J-3Y9. For more information, contact Oscar Avila, P. Eng. at 519-633-6810, ext. 4510 or by email.

Diamond Aircraft Tour - 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 27
The London chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a four of Diamond Aircraft for its members only. Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc., with facilities in London, Ontario, and Wiener Neustadt, Austria, produces single and twin-engine propeller aircraft and a single-engine jet aircraft. By merging the best of leading edge technology with proven composite airframe materials and build techniques, Diamond is committed to providing pilots with exceptional aviation experiences. The London facility has over 250,000 square feet of state-of-the art production facilities where the aircraft is designed, built and tested. Space is limited to 20 PEO members. Advance registration required. Admission is free. For more information, contact Oscar Avila, P. Eng., at 519-633-6810, ext. 4510 or by email.

Formet Industries Tour - 1:15 p.m., Thursday, February 28
The London chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a tour of Formet Industries for its members only. Formet produces the complete welded assembly truck frame for General Motors for their GMT 900 full size truck line. Formet produces 32 different models. These models include ½, ¾, and the one ton models with variations of regular cab, extended cab, cab chassis, utility, short box and long box with two-wheel and four-wheel drive combinations. Formet Industries is set-up into four focused factories: the centre of excellence in high pressure hydroforming; raw bending (uniquely developed by Formet), robotic mig welding assembly and high temperature wax coating and final assembly of bolt-on components. Space is limited to 25 PEO members. Advance registration required. Admission is free. For more information, contact Oscar Avila, P. Eng., at 519-633-6810, ext. 4510 or by email.

Bell-Old South Technology Challenge - 15th Anniversary event - Thursday, February 28
Teams of grade 5 and 6 students from local elementary schools converge on the South Secondary School campus for an annual event shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Two teams of three members each are selected to attend from each participating school. The teams assemble that day knowing only that each team will be given an identical challenge where they will be asked to plan, design and construct a device to meet the challenge, using simple materials supplied. No team has advanced knowledge of the challenge, bringing only ingenuity, cooperation and determination as the essential tools to be applied during the exercise. The day concludes with each team’s solution being evaluated as to how well it met the offered challenge in an always exciting and quite often surprising test cycle. For more information, contact Mark Chenosky at 519-663-7128 or by email.

Mississauga Events

Bridge Building Contest – 9 a.m. Saturday, March 1, Tomken Road Middle School, 3200 Tomken Rd.
The Mississauga and Brampton chapters of Professional Engineers Ontario invite Grade 7 to 8 students from the local Peel District School Board to design, construct and test bridges. Judging will be in three categories: most innovative design, loading capacity (hold maximum load) and other factors. Parents, local and regional officials, media are invited and welcome. For more information, contact Khaled El-Rahi, P.Eng. at 416-677-3905 or by email.

Newmarket Events

Design Challenge 2008 - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, February 28, Newmarket High School
The Education Committee of the Professional Engineers Ontario York chapter invites grade 7 and 8 student teams from area public and separate schools to build an innovative container for sports athletes which will maintain the fluid temperature as cold as possible, retain the fluid and yet be designed with the least cost and smallest outside dimensions. For more information, contact Lolita Chakravarti, P.Eng., at 905-737-9869 or by email.

Niagara Falls Events

National Engineering Week Activities

The Niagara Engineering Week Committee (consisting of PEO, OACETT and CEO chapter reps) celebrates Engineering Week 2008 with two activities. For more information, contact Cary Clark, P.Eng., at 905-680-3716 or by email.
• National Engineering Week Luncheon - 12 p.m., Tuesday, February 19, Club Italia, 2525 Montrose Rd., Niagara Falls
The Niagara Engineering Week committee invites local
dignitaries and professionals to a luncheon and technical
forum. Cost: $45 per person.
• Classroom Presentations
Pairs of Certified Engineering Technologists and
Professional Engineers visit between 15 and 25 Grade 7/8
classrooms for a half-day of fun engineering activities.

North Bay Events

Balsa Wood Bridge-Building Contest - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, March 1, Commerce Court Campus, Canadore College
The North Bay Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a bridge-building contest for local students. The challenge is to build a bridge using six pieces of balsa wood. Engineers will critique bridges for design and likely failure mode and then them to destruction. Prizes will be awarded to bridges with the greatest weight to load ratio and for finish and build quality. For further information, contact John Simmonds, P.Eng., at 705-474-4667 or by email.

Oakville Events

Engineering Career Night - 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Wednesday, February 27, Abbey Park School , 1455 Glen Abbey Gate
The Oakville chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario presents a showcase for high school students focusing on the theme of climate change and the role of engineering and the field's contributions to date toward the solution to this global problem. For more information, contact Donald Belyea, P.Eng., at 905-339-0059, ext. 364 or by email.

New Directions: Driving Ontario’s Auto Industry - from the perspective of the next generation of engineers and scientists - 9 a.m., Thursday, February 28, Oakville Conference Centre, 2515 Wyecroft Rd.
With one in six Ontario jobs tied to the automotive industry, what is the future of work for students interested in this sector? We want to hear about the future from the student and grad perspective – to hear your thoughts on what the auto and manufacturing landscape will look like by 2018. Join us for a round table discussion to explore the future of the automotive and manufacturing industry following the Mind to Market breakfast. The round table includes industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers and select industry leaders. There is no cost for students to attend this event; however space is limited so please register by email. There is also limited space for students to attend the Mind to Market breakfast event. For more information on OCE’s Mind to Market event, click here. When you register, please take a moment and send us your burning questions on the subject.

Oshawa Events

3rd Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Competition - Saturday, March 1, Ontario Institute of Technology, Market Place Cafeteria
The Durham chapter of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists along with the Lake Ontario chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario invite grade 6 to 8 students from local school boards to participate in a bridge-building contest. For more information click here or contact Bob van den Berg, C.E.T., at 905-391-6107 or by email.

Engineering Design Challenge - University of Ontario Institute of Technology
The Engineering Student Society invites high school students from all grades to compete in an engineering-related activity: preparing an elastic band car built from certain materials to be tested during the event. For more information, contact Mary Viloria by email.

Ottawa Events

Drop-in K'NEX Construction Workshops at the Canada Science and Technology Museum - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Saturday, February 23 to Sunday, March 2

Engineering volunteers will assist children over the age of six in creating wonderful structures using K’NEX, the popular colour-coded toy, during National Engineering Week. Special features will include a bridge-building challenge. Workshops are free with admission. Location: 1876 St. Laurent Blvd. Call 613-991-3044 (toll-free 1-866-442-4416) for information or for information or consult the website: www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca.

Engineering Challenge 2008 - Tuesday, February 26, Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Ottawa chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario and the National Research Council collaborate with Grades 4 to 6 teachers to engage up to 2,500 students in a problem-solving activity in which “engineering teams” design and construct a mechanically powered launcher prototype from readily available craft supplies and recycled materials. Volunteer engineers begin visiting the classroom in early February to help the students with their design and building work, and in-school competitions will be held prior to the final event. For more information, contact Sucha Mann, P.Eng. at 613-591-3002 or by email or Kate McLaughlin at 613-993-9284 or by email.

University of Ottawa Celebrates Engineering Week
The Engineering Students’ Society hosts a whole week of activities to promote engineering to children and youth. Hands-on activities will be preceeded by an informative presentation on the nature of engineering, geared to show how enginering corresponds to everyday lives. For more information, contact Logan Maley at 613-562-5800, ext. 6188 or by email.

Engineering Week 2008 at Carleton

The Carleton University Engineering Student Society hosts a variety events to celebrate Engineering Week 2006. For more information, contact Cindy Coleman at 613-520-3616 or by email.
    • Mall Display - Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24,
        Rideau Centre
        Interactive engineering-related displays showcase how engineers
        help society. The display includes a number of projects by
        Carleton engineering students, who can to explain and answer
        questions.
    • High School Outreach - Monday, February 25
        Engineering students visit high school science classes throughout
        National Engineering Week. Working alongside the teachers, they
        will show students how studies in high school apply to
        engineering problems and real-life technology.

    • Engineering Design Competitions - Tuesday, February 26 and
        Wednesday, February 27, Univesrity Centre
        Students from local elementary and high schools will take part
        design competitions. The winning team in each division will be
        awarded a trophy and there will be prizes for the top three
        teams. Students and accompanying teachers will be provided
        with a pizza lunch.
    • Fourth Year Project Fair - Thursday, February 28, University
        Galleria
        Displays of the final year projects of Carleton engineering
        students accompanied by project demonstrations from visiting
        corporations.

Pembroke Events

Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building and -Busting Competition - Saturday, March 1, West End Mall
The Algonquin chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a bridge-building contest for grade 6 to 8 students whom engineers have visited by in the classroom to encourage team participation. Prizes to be awarded for the best strength to mass ratios. For more information, contact Lance Goodick, P.Eng., C.E.T., at 613-584-9962 or by email.

Peterborough Events

Engineering and Technology Challenge - 9 a.m., Thursday, February 28, Evinrude Centre
The Peterborough chapters of Professional Engineers Ontario and Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists invite students from local high schools to participate in a design/build competition. There will be a short tutorial on electrical motors and other related material to provide some insight for the students as to how to optimize their projects. Each team’s project will be tested to ensure it meets the specified criteria and compared as to how well it performs relative to other projects. For more information, contact Jim Bailey, P.Eng., at 705-652-1728 or by email.

Pickering Events

Mall Display - Pickering Town Centre
Members of the Lake Ontario chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario and the Durham chapter of the Ontario Association of Certified Technicians and Technologists staff informative, interactive displays, including K’NEX for kids to build structures. For more information, contact Derek Van Ee, P.Eng., at 905-686-5035 or by email.

Richmond Hill Events

5th Annual Design Challenge - Construct a Bridge using K’NEX - 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, February 23, Academie de la Moraine, 13200 Yonge St.
Grade 5/6 students from all York Region schools are asked to construct bridges using supplied K'NEX or LEGO in one hour with the least amount of material (400 grams maximum) to withstand the highest load at the mid-span. Judging will be based on team cooperation, bridge aesthetics and best weight-bearing bridge. For more information, contact Mervat Rashwan, P.Eng., ing., or Magdy Rashwan, P.Eng., at 905-763-2745 or by email.

Sarnia Events

4th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Contest Finale - 11 a.m., Saturday, March 1, Lambton Mall
The Lambton chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts the finale of a bridge-building competition for local Grade 5 and 7 students. From November to February teams of volunteers visit schools and conduct the actual bridge building. Designs are evaluated on deflection versus mass. The best design from each school will be tested at the finale and prizes awarded for the best design in the Junior and Senior divisions. For more information contact David Murray, P.Eng., at 519-869-6683 or by email.

Sault Ste. Marie Events

6th Annual National Engineering Week Celebration Saturday, February 23 - Sunday, March 2, Station Mall

The Algoma Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts the Display of Ingenuity as well as a number of activities to celebrate National Engineering Week in Ontario. See what local engineers are doing in a fine example of engineering projects by local consultants being displayed all week. Saturday, March 1 events include the following:
> In the Fifth Annual Math Challenge grade 7/8, grade 9/10 and grade 11/12 students go head to head solving engineering-type problems through the use of mathematics.
> Test innovative ideas at the Egg Drop Competition by constructing a contraption with the materials provided to protect the egg from breaking upon impact after falling from the height of a one-storey building.
> LEGO robotics as well as a series of engineering-related short films to be screened at the Galaxy movie theatre.
For more information, contact David Spacek, P.Eng. at 705-942-2070 or by email.

Scarborough Events

5th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge-Building Contest - 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, February 23, Scarborough Civic Centre Council Chamber
The Scarborough chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a bridge-building competition for grades 3 to 8 students. Students design, build and test a bridge that weighs less than 300 grams and prizes are awarded for student presentation and technical explanation, creativity, construction quality, construction technique and aesthetics, as well as the amount of strength divided by the weight of the bridge. Click here for more information or contact Jason Ettorre, E.I.T., at 416-569-9925 or by email.

4th Annual Design Challenge - 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Thursday, February 28, Ecole St. Jean Lalande, 500 Sandhurst Cir.
Grade 5/6 students from public and separate French school boards and private French schools are asked to construct bridges using supplied K'NEX or LEGO in one hour with the least amount of material (400 grams maximum) to withstand the highest load at the mid-span. Judging will be based on team cooperation, bridge aesthetics and best weight-bearing bridge. Interested French-speaking engineers and engineering students are invited to volunteer. For more information, contact Mervat Rashwan, P. Eng., ing., or Magdy Rashwan, P.Eng., at 905-763-2745 or by email.

Hands-On Science Fair & Technology Exhibits - Saturday, March 1, Malvern Mall
The Toronto East and Central chapters of Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists invite students from elementary and secondary schools in the GTA to participate in various interactive exhibits that build upon each other to teach progressively more complex scientific principles learned in class and show how they are applied in the real world through engineering. For more information, contact David Crowder, C.E.T., at 416-497-8600 or by email.

Sudbury Events

Drop-in K'NEX Construction Workshops at Science North - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 23 & Sunday, February 24, Saturday, March 1 & Sunday, March 2
Engineering volunteers will assist children over the age of six in creating wonderful structures using K’NEX, the popular colour-coded toy, on the two weekends of Engineering Week. Special features will include a bridge-building challenge. Workshops are free with admission. Location: 100 Ramsey Lake Rd. Call 705-522-3701 for information or consult the website: www.sciencenorth.ca.

EXTREME Virtual Reality Science Fair School Visits - Monday, February 25 & Tuesday, February 26, grade schools throughout Greater Sudbury
High school students who have been working on EXTREME Virtual Reality science and engineering projects take their presentations on the road, visiting local grade 7/8 students in the Sudbury area. These visits provide a chance for the high school students to educate their feeder schools about their research and modeling projects. Grade 7/8 students will be given the chance to see how new technologies are playing a vital role in rethinking the way many industries are operating. For more information, click here or contact MIRARCO's David Kurt at 705-675-1151, ext. 5099.

EXTREME Virtual Reality Community Presentations – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 27, Willet Green Miller Centre, Laurentian University
High school students present their virtual reality projects to an audience of industry, academia and community members. These presentations provide a stage for the students to network and receive suggestions about how to take their science and engineering projects to the next level in the EXTREME VR Competition. Held in Laurentian’s state-of-the-art 3D laboratory, the event showcases the students’ research and virtual models. For more information, click here or contact MIRARCO's David Kurt at 705-675-1151, ext. 5099.

Thunder Bay Events

National Engineering Week 2008 Challenge
Lakehead University’s Faculty of Engineering invites grade 7 and 8 students to participate in team design competitions in chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering. Materials and challenges to provided onsite. For more information, contact Dr. Meilan Liu, P.Eng., at 807-343-8952 or by email.

Lakehead University Engineering Lab Tours
Lakehead University's Faculty of Engineering invites Grade 7 and 8 students from three local school boards to meet engineering students, visit engineering labs and see demonstrations of engineering student projects. For more information, contact Dr. Meilan Liu at 807-343-8952 or by email.

Toronto Events

Drop-in K'NEX Construction Workshops at the Ontario Science Centre - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 23 & Sunday, February 24, Saturday, March 1 & Sunday, March 2
Engineering volunteers will assist children over the age of six in creating wonderful structures using K’NEX, the popular colour-coded toy, on the two weekends of Engineering Week. Special features will include a bridge-building challenge. Workshops are free with admission. Location: 770 Don Mills Rd. Call 416-696-1000 for information or consult the website: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca.

Public Library Career Talks - February 25 to 29, 26 Toronto Public Library Branches
Engineering volunteers will give special career presentations and demonstrations to elementary school classes at the following branches of the Toronto Public Library during Engineering Week: Agincourt, Brentwood, Brookbanks, Burrows Hall, College/Shaw, Danforth/Coxwell, Davenport, Downsview, Eatonville, Eglinton Square, Fairview, Gerrard/Ashdale, Goldhawk Park, Jane/Sheppard, Jones, Long Branch, New Toronto, North York Central, Pape, Parliament, Riverdale, Sanderson, St. Lawrence, Weston and Woodside Square. For more information, contact Julie Cohen by email.

Engineering Innovation Forum - 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., Thursday, February 28, Ontario Science Centre
Established as an open forum to focus on current topics from the engineering point of view, this event promotes the work engineers do, the way they do it and how it benefits society in general. This year's theme, "Emerging Engineering Innovations in Health Care" includes discussion of biomaterials, medical instrumentation and delivery of health care. For more information, contact André Rudnicky, P.Eng., at 416-392-3009 or by click here for details or to register.

High School Presentations
Members of the Etobicoke chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario make presentations at local high schools to discuss what careers in engineering involve and to demonstrate through hands-on activities some of the applications of engineering principals used to solve various problems. For more information, contact Richard Weldon, P.Eng., at 416-964-3246 or by email.

Engineering Idol - 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, March 1, St. Mark Elementary School, 45 Cloverhill Rd., Etobicoke
The Etobicoke chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosts a game-style engineering project, where three area high schools will be assigned the same engineering task associated with a renewable energy resource. Two weeks before the competition day, a professional engineer each of the competing schools to tell students what the secret project will be and what materials will be made available to them on competition day. They will also learn what the judging criteria will be, one of which will be the demonstrated performance of the machine. Students will apply many of the scientific principles they have learned in science to this project. For more information, contact Richard Weldon, P.Eng., at 416-964-3246 or by email.

French Classroom Presentations - January 26 - May 26, Toronto & GTA French Schools
French-speaking engineers engage students of French schools in activities and presentations. Toronto and GTA French schools may request presentations on engineering in general or on a specific engineering subject. Interested French-speaking engineers are invited to volunteer. For more information contact Mervat Rashwan, P.Eng., ing., at 905-763-2745 or by email.

Designapolooza - 12:30 p.m., Saturday, February 23, University of Toronto, Sandford Fleming Building, Room 1105
The University of Toronto Engineering Society invites grade 2 to 8 students from local schools to join in an exciting afternoon of design challenges, where students find out what basketball, rollercoasters and robotic arms have in common — and make all of them themselves. They will also learn about design, science and engineering while winning prizes. For more information or to RSVP, click here and follow the link to National Engineering Week or contact the event organizer, Kelvin Lui (Hi-Skule Liaison), by email.

Windsor Events

Canada South Science City Workshops - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, February 25 to Friday, February 29, 930 Marion St.
The Windsor Essex Engineering Week Committee sponsors after-school workshops each weekday of National Engineering Week. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday the 30-minute workshop involves constructing a structure and testing on the earthquake table. On Tuesday and Thursday the 30-minute workshop involves constructing an electric motor. The children are given supplies with directions to construct an electric motor or structure and learn about each device. FREE ADMISSION, FREE PARKING. For more information contact Peter Bziuk, P. Eng. at 519-796-7827 or by email.