April 9, 2026 (Kemptville, ON) – Creativity and technical skill were on full display as 130 intermediate students from nine Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) schools competed in the 2026 Intermediate SKLZ Competition, held April 7 in Kemptville.
From robotics to green energy, Grade 7 and 8 students teamed up to take on six categories: Construction Challenge (tiny homes), Green Energy (wind turbine construction), LEGO Mechanical Engineering (gantry crane challenge), LEGO Robotics, Technology Challenge (Hydraulic Crane challenge) and TV/Video.
Launched in 2018, the event highlights collaboration, innovation and problem-solving as students tackle real-world design and engineering challenges. Local industry professionals, educators and technical specialists volunteered as judges, evaluating student performance and creativity.
Leo Matheson, a student at Carleton Place High School (CPHS), was storyboarding his video submission in the TV/Video category. He said connecting with other students is his favourite part of the competition.
“My friend and I are with the CPHS Video Editing club and we’re interviewing other students about their projects,” he said. “I love seeing how others work, and picking up new techniques.”
Meanwhile Georgia Moyle from Glengarry District High School was helping her team build a hydraulic crane.
“It’s really fun to collaborate and meet other students with the same interests,” Moyle said. “By working together, we can see how different ideas come together within the project.”
Participating UCDSB schools included: Almonte District High School, Athens District High School, Carleton Place High School, Char-Lan District High School, Glengarry District High School, North Dundas District High School, Pleasant Corners Public School, Rideau District High School, and St. Lawrence Secondary School.
Gold medal winners from each event will now advance to represent the UCDSB at the Skills Ontario Provincial Competition in Toronto on May 4 and 5, 2026.
Gold Medal Results:
Construction Challenge (Tiny Homes)
Glengarry District High School
Shelby McRae, Alieke Schaafsma, Colt Walker, Oakley Williams
Green Energy (Wind Turbine)
North Dundas District High School
Seth Harper, Nathan Lepage
LEGO Mechanical Engineering
Char-Lan District High School
Alyssa Lalonde, Hudson Murray, Gabby Philippe, Thomas Wilson
LEGO Robotics
Rideau District High School
Parker Reeds, Emma Sullivan, Payton Vankoughett, Austin Vankoughett
Technology Challenge (Hydraulic Crane)
Pleasant Corners Public School
Weston Brideau, Giuliani Cosentino, Annabelle Janacek, Avery McKinnon
TV/Video Production
North Dundas District High School
Eden Desormeaux, Sawyer Torrens