Vanier Hosts 19th Annual CRC Robotics Competition

With STEM fields being the future of society, CRC Robotics is proud to announce the arrival of the 19th annual robotics competition, Flip 2020. After months of hard work and preparation, hundreds of students from 26 Canadian high schools and colleges will face off over three days at Vanier College to test their mastery of robotics and game strategy. Click here for a fun and quick explanation of this year’s game. Although it is a competition by nature, the organizers emphasize: “If you get to this competition with a working robot, you’re already a winner.”

That said, a working robot is only one part of the challenge. In this competition, as in today’s professional world, it takes all kinds of talents for a project to succeed. It's strong teamwork and a varied skillset that the CRC Robotics Competition aims to recognize, awarding teams not only in the game but in other components as well, such as bilingual video production and website, kiosk, programming, robot construction and design, and sportsmanship. Such components challenge the students’ creativity and proficiency in the digital realm and allow them to innovate and learn how to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Many volunteers were former participants themselves who developed a strong passion for robotics and felt inclined to pass along their experience to the next generations of students. Though the major event only lasts for three days of the year, CRC Robotics volunteers work year-round to not only organize the big competition down to the last screw in the field but also to organize and host workshops on a variety of STEM topics for students to improve their knowledge of robotics. The major goal of all these workshops is to promote students' independence and offer them a platform to test their abilities and explore their passions without adult intervention since teachers and mentors are only permitted to offer guidance. Everything seen at Flip 2020, as with all previous years, is entirely done by the students. CRC Robotics is unique because everything about the robot, the programming, the kiosk, the video, and the website is conceived and built by the students, and, where language is necessary, both French and English must be used.

CRC Robotics is also proud to note the rising involvement of female students in the competition and encourage their participation through Aim Together conferences held year-round where successful women working in STEM fields can share their wisdom with the students. “Year after year, we see the participation of girls in this competition increase exponentially. As a former participant and involved with CRC Robotics since 2007, it brings me such joy to know that we are reaching more girls as the years progress and that we are truly promoting women in STEM with every year that goes by," says Natasha Vitale, Coordinator of CRC Robotics and also an advocate for women in STEM. "In such a world where gender equity is becoming increasingly prominent, it is important for us to inspire our girls to continue their studies in STEM fields, starting with encouraging their passion for robotics."

To take part in this incredible celebration of student innovation, join us on February 13-15, 2020, at Vanier College (821 av Sainte-Croix, Montreal) or visit the CRC website for a detailed schedule of the competition.

It’s an event for the whole family, where the students get really excited and involved. It’s fun. It’s lively. It’s colourful. It’s free! It’s open to all.

For details and videos visit:

Website: www.robo-crc.ca

Facebook: www.fb.com/roboCRC/

Instagram: @roboCRC

For information please contact: Natasha Vitale, CRC Robotics Coordinator, Telephone: 514-264-7836; Email: natasha.vitale@sciencetech.ca

List of 2020 Participating Schools:

School Name

Location

Cégep du Vieux-Montréal

Montreal, QC

Cégep Vanier College

Saint-Laurent, QC

Centennial Regional High School

Greenfield Park, QC

Champlain College

Saint-Lambert, QC

Collège André-Grasset

Montreal, QC

Collège Citoyen

Laval, QC

Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne

Montreal, QC

Collège Letendre

Laval, QC

Collège Montmorency

Laval, QC

Collège Sainte-Marcelline

Montreal, QC

Dawson College

Montreal, QC

École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle

Laval, QC

École secondaire Jules-Verne

Vancouver, BC

École secondaire Monseigneur-Richard

Verdun, QC

John Abbott College

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Kells Academy

Montreal, QC

La Cité Collégiale

Ottawa, ON

Lake of Two Mountains High School

Deux-Montagnes, QC

Lower Canada College

Montreal, QC

Macdonald High School

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC

Marianopolis College

Westmount, QC

Rosemount Technology Center

Montreal, QC

Royal West Academy

Montreal West, QC

Saint Lambert International High School

Saint-Lambert, QC

St. George’s School of Montreal

Montreal, QC

West Island College

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC