Youth Science Ontario Showcase 2011 was held on Friday, May 20^th in conjunction with the 50^th Anniversary of the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Toronto.

Friends of Youth Science Ontario may know that we usually hold our annual Showcase event about 3 weeks after the Canada-Wide Science Fair. The purpose is to celebrate the success of Team Ontario and showcase their award winning projects to a broader audience of corporate VIPs, sponsors, potential sponsors and government officials.

This year, since the Canada-Wide Science Fair was being held in Toronto, we decided to hold our Showcase during the Canada-Wide Science Fair Public Viewing. This allows us to recognize all 200 Team Ontario members and give our guests the opportunity to witness the energy and enthusiasm of 500+ young scientists as they share their enthusiasm for science, engineering and technology.

Showcase 2011 is particularly special to Youth Science Ontario as our Executive Director, Carolyn Rayfield, one of our newest Board of Directors members, Mr. Grant Tipler and our in-coming Board of Directors Chair, Mr. Lorne Heslop were given the rare opportunity to speak to ALL Team Ontario participants and delegates to open the day’s event.

After taking the official Team Ontario photo, participants headed to their project displays in the Exhibit Hall as our Showcase and guests moved to an Open House Reception room for a light breakfast and informal networking. Guests were given the opportunity to tour the Exhibit Hall and visit with members of Team Ontario, view their projects and in many cases, see their medals won the previous afternoon at the Awards Ceremony.  Some guests were escorted by Youth Science Ontario staff and Board of Directors members. Others browsed on their own looking out for participants proudly wearing their Team Ontario jackets!

Youth Science Ontario would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for sponsoring this event.