UOIT and DC host FIRST Robotics competition

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s (UOIT) and Durham College’s (DC) Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre was rocking last week as the two institutions played host to the FIRST® Robotics Canada (FRC) Greater Toronto East Regional Competition. More than 1,000 students from 48 high school teams from across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Michigan and New York competed in the event held from March 6 to 8.

Using the Aerial Assist℠ program featuring two alliances of three schools, each alliance competed in a timed match to see who can score the most goals. The teams battled for a coveted spot at the FRC World Championship taking place in St. Louis, Missouri from Wednesday, April 23 to Saturday, April 26.

Once all of the dust settled, the alliance formed by W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics, representing a number of high schools from Kingston, Ontario, The Big Bang from Rick Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario and Paradigm Shift from L’Amoreaux Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario won the final competition and will take part in the world finals. W.A.F.F.L.E.S. stands for We are Wild About Family and Friends Learning Engineering and Science.

Also travelling to St. Louis will be the Kinetic Knights (also representing a number of high schools) from Kincardine, Ontario who were the recipients of the Chairman’s Award; Rookie All-Star winners the Robo Blue Devils from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, Ontario; and the Engineering Inspiration award winners, the Tronic Titans from Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario.

"The FIRST Robotics competition gives students an opportunity to work with engineers, to build robots and also learn the necessary soft skills to work as a team," said Rajiv Galva, Chair, GTA East Planning Committee, FRC. "Teachers can interact and connect with students in a way that can't be done in a normal class room. There is a place for everyone on a FIRST Robotics Team, whether you like building robots, writing proposals or creating websites. Students who graduate through FIRST are most likely to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics, which is crucial for the development of the nation."

The FRC Greater Toronto East Regional was the second of seven national qualifying competitions across Canada and is part of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.