Canadore Innovation Challenge FAQ

Students may register using the provided link: https://forms.office.com/r/ENvr74qf14

Canadore Faculty and Staff may register here:

If you need further assistance, you can email Melissa Roffey at melissa.roffey@canadorecollege.ca.

No, participation in the Canadore Innovation Challenge is free for all eligible students.

No, the event is in-person only, as it involves hands-on activities and direct engagement.

Teams will aim to create solutions in 5 key areas:

• Affordable Housing
• Community Revitalization and Sustainable Development
• Food Security
• Health Challenges and AI
• Mobilizing Clean Water

Teams will tackle challenges such as: designing energy-efficient tiny homes, building self-sustainable communities, ensuring year-round food production, revolutionizing healthcare with AI, and exploring new clean water solutions. Our tiered approach allows participation at any stage, whether pitching a new concept, refining a prototype, or seeking to implement a fully developed innovation.

Upon registration, teams will receive a collection of inspiring project proposals and suggestions from our academic planning team, based on in-depth discussions with city officials and industry leaders, to spark creativity and guide project development.

Examples:

Affordable Housing: Innovate with modular designs, energy-efficient tiny houses, and off-grid living. Consider district heating for Northern Ontario to cut costs and improve living conditions.

Community Revitalization & Sustainable Development: Build self-sustaining communities with energy-efficient infrastructure and smart technologies. Focus on partnerships to boost economic growth and resilience in Northern Ontario.

Food Security: Develop solutions for year-round food production in extreme climates using hydroponics, modular farming, and community grow plots to ensure fresh, local food.

Health Challenges & AI: Use AI to improve healthcare by analyzing patient data, personalizing treatments, and streamlining systems for better outcomes and accessibility

Mobilizing Clean Water: Expand on existing water health solutions in Indigenous communities across the country, fostering a more sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient journey toward Indigenous water sovereignty.

Solutions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Innovation: Assesses originality, creativity, and the use of innovative technologies or methods. This carries the most weight.
• Impact and Feasibility: Evaluates the potential effects and practical implementation of the solution.
• Sustainability: Focuses on environmental impact and long-term viability.
• Economic Viability: Looks at budget planning and economic potential.
• Community Engagement: Measures the improvement in residents' quality of life.
• Presentation: Judged on clarity, thoroughness, professionalism, audience engagement, visual elements, and responses to judges.

For detailed evaluation criteria, refer to the rubric here.

Yes, all teams must structure their presentation PechaKucha style. Please see the following link for more information on this type of presentation. https://youtu.be/a94MJj43HxI

Each team will have exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds to present their solution using the PechaKucha format. Make sure to clearly communicate your ideas within this structured time frame.

The presentation should be structured as a PechaKucha, with 20 slides automatically advancing every 20 seconds. Please see the following link for more information on this type of presentation. https://youtu.be/a94MJj43HxI. You can also view the slidedeck here. The slides should cover the problem introduction, an overview of your proposed solution, its feasibility and impact, and a conclusion summarizing key points. Be prepared to answer questions from the judges during the Q&A session. 

Participants will have access to:

• Labs and Mentors: Teams will receive support through access to labs and guidance from industry experts serving as mentors.
• Innovation Zones: Dedicated spaces for each challenge area to foster creativity and collaboration.
• Materials: Any other necessary materials for developing and implementing solutions. Teams should promptly communicate their needs to the college to ensure they have all the resources required for success.

You can reach out to the challenge organizers via the following email addresses:

• Melissa Roffey: melissa.roffey@canadorecollege.ca 
• Maria Parra: maria.parra@canadorecollege.ca 
• Paul Koidis: paul.koidis@canadorecollege.ca 

Feel free to contact any of them for more information or assistance.

Participating in the challenge gives students the chance to showcase their skills, network with industry professionals, and gain valuable experience to enhance their resumes. This experience will help prepare you for a successful career in a stronger, more resilient economy.

Each of the five key challenge areas will have one winning team, with each team receiving a $5,000 prize to split among team members. Additionally, winning teams will receive support after the event to develop full business plan proposals.

All students who participate in the challenge will also receive a $100 stipend.