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CBC’s Rick Mercer Report attends international robotics showdown at UOIT

FIRST Stronghold™ competition draws attention with more than 1,000 competitors

March 22, 2016

CBC's Rick Mercer (middle) tries to control the robot of the team from Trafalgar Castle School (Whitby, Ontario) at the FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College.
CBC's Rick Mercer (middle) tries to control the robot of the team from Trafalgar Castle School (Whitby, Ontario) at the FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College.

CBC Television’s Rick Mercer was part of the action as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College co-hosted the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) Greater Toronto East Regional.

Over three days of intense competition, 50 teams from across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, New York and Texas demonstrated their engineering skills and knowledge in FIRST Stronghold™, a robot battle developed for the 2016 FRC competition. The game features a medieval-themed playing field equipped with reconfigurable obstacles that teams incorporate into their battle strategies.

One of the highlights of this year’s event was a visit by CBC Television’s Rick Mercer Report (RMR). Mercer took a turn trying to navigate the robots while competing against some of the students in a match. His visit to the FRC competition was featured on the March 22 episode of RMR (video link of segment courtesy Rick Mercer Report/CBC Television).

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) is an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.

After the final match, four teams were declared regional champions:

  • (2056) Orchard Park Secondary School (Stoney Creek)
  • (2634) Chaminade College (Toronto)
  • (746) Westview Centennial Secondary School (Toronto)
  • (118) Clear Creek High School (League City, Texas, USA)

Each school was awarded a spot at the FRC World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri in late April. Three other teams in specific award categories will also compete at the World Championship. The FRC Greater Toronto East Regional was the second of seven national qualifying competitions across Canada.

“FIRST® is committed to sustaining key programs that ignite young minds,” says. We are delighted the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College are such supportive partners of the FIRST program. The shared campus provides an outstanding backdrop that certainly inspires the participants as they consider their future post-secondary studies.”
-Nisarg Sanchela, Co-Chair, FRC Planning Committee

Local media coverage links:

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FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College
FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College
FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College
FIRST Robotics Canada event March 12 at UOIT and Durham College
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