A program that helps youth develop coding and other digital technology skills will continue to reach thousands of students in Northern Ontario in the coming years, thanks to a renewed investment from the federal government.
Science North announced Friday it will receive $2.5 million to continue delivering CanCode programming in the region over the next three years.
That will allow it to reach an estimated 70,000 students, including over 22,000 Indigenous students, the provincial agency estimated.
“Science North has a mandate to serve all of Northern Ontario,” said CEO Guy Labine. “This funding helps Science North engage with Indigenous peoples and help kids get hands-on with technology when they might not otherwise be able to.”
More than 1,000 teachers will be engaged in curriculum-linked experiential learning workshops, including 300 educators from First Nations schools, Science North added. An additional 5,000 teachers will have access to online resources.
Science North says it reached over 100,000 students over the past four years through the federal program, offering hands-on learning related to digital skills and science, technology, engineering, and math.
“With this funding, Science North will continue to engage and inspire an appreciation for science while building foundational skills,” said Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu. “Creating equal opportunity for all communities in Northern Ontario to learn and explore is fundamental to unlocking the potential of our region.”
