Vanier takes top honours at the 19th Annual CRC Robotics Competition

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If you didn’t get to attend the 19th Annual CRC Robotics Competition held from February 13 to 15, 2020, you missed something sensational. The competition is Quebec’s largest and most thrilling hands-on learning event for high school and Cegep students. The excitement and the energy of 500 participating students and thousands of spectators cheering for their favourite teams and robots nearly blew the roof off the Vanier College gymnasium. Twenty-six teams participated in this year’s game called Flip 2020. 

 "We were blown away by the relentless effort and grit displayed by this year’s participants more than ever. With a game requiring strategic thinking and strong decision-making skills, all teams accepted the challenge without skipping a beat. By Saturday, every team had their own game strategies and truly learned what it means to take the right decision at the right time,” states Natasha Vitale, one of the organizers of the CRC Robotics Competition. “As always, we were also very impressed with the kind of cooperation we saw between the competing schools and the teamwork among the participants.  We would like to thank Vanier College for their enormous contribution and truly outstanding work in hosting this year's competition and ensuring its success."

Everywhere you looked there was a flurry of activity: teams were assembling and hosting their kiosks, groups of students huddled over their robots, going back and forth between their creation and a tool box, sometimes even making major adjustments before the heats; others were carrying their prize robot onto the playing field. The air cracked with excitement, imagination and creativity.

Top honours went to Vanier College, with Collège Sainte-Marcelline coming in an extremely close second place overall. “But all twenty-six teams went home winners,” comments Natasha Vitale.  “They came to the competition with working robots, they learned an immeasurable amount, they had an exhilarating experience, and they made lasting bonds and friendships.”  See the highlight video of this year’s competition on CRC Robotics’ YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PC648Fe_C0&t=5s

CRC Robotics has already started planning the 20th Annual Competition, with a game called Invicta 2021, to be held in February 2021.  Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and will end in October 2020.  CRC Robotics is open to any school who wants to join, and CRC Robotics representatives are available to visit schools, to give live robotics demonstrations and to get students interested in forming a team and joining the fun.

The CRC Robotics Competition is unique because it’s the only robotics competition where all the work is done exclusively by students who must build a robot and a kiosk, as well as produce a video, design a website, and solve real-life problems using programming languages.

As planning for the 2020-2021 season begins, CRC Robotics is seeking title partners to fund its expansion and make this unique educational experience available to more students.  CRC Robotics is always looking for engineers, filmmakers and journalists to provide judging. In addition, mentors and volunteers who can provide lessons and guidance to students at participating schools or to join the organizing committee are always welcome!

Teachers, students, and school administrators who would like more information on participating in the CRC Robotics Competition or for sponsorship, mentorship, judging and volunteering opportunities, please contact Natasha Vitale, CRC Robotics Coordinator at 514-264-7836 or natasha.vitale@sciencetech.ca.

 For details and videos visit:

Website: www.robo-crc.ca    Facebook: www.fb.com/roboCRC/         Instagram: @roboCRC

Detailed results are in the press release.