Special Innovators

Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs across Ontario have been most supportive of the Innovation Expo experience, with groups in Toronto, Sarnia/Lambton and Thunder Bay beginning to plan events for 2012.  One of the greatest champions of the Innovation Expo program is Eastview (Toronto) Boys’ and Girls’ Club. 

Beginning in September 2010, Eastview consistently hosted Innovation Expo events on a weekly basis.  The tremendous success of the Innovation Expos can best be demonstrated by Eastview’s incorporation of these events into their regular camp and after-school programming for 2011 and beyond.  

Eastview offers integrative programming inclusive of youth with special needs, such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the autism spectrum.  Innovation Expos have exposed these children to science and technology programming, which would have otherwise been a low priority in their formal education.  As a direct result of the topics explored in the Innovation Expos, these students have shown increased interest in world issues.  One of their child and youth workers initiated a regular “current events” discussion period. During these periods, students review newspaper articles and discuss the impact and implication of these issues, as well as suggest possible solutions.  Innovation Expo programming provides enrichment beyond the classroom that these marginalized and special needs students would otherwise not have experienced.

Youth Science Ontario looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the Eastview Boys’ and Girls’ Club to bring creative, engaging and exciting Innovation Expo events.   If you would like more information about the Innovation Expo program, please contact our Program Coordinator, Carolyn Loos, at cloos@youthscienceontario.ca or 416 598 8827 ex. 103.