Opportunities
Information on workshops, leadership programs, and experiences.
Interesting for ALL High School students, not only for our Grad Class. You can never start too early to learn new skills and build your resume.
| Title | Information |
| Discovery Day in Health Science | Friday, November 6 | BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver Discovery Days in Health Sciences are one-day events that provide secondary school students (ideally grades 11) with the opportunity to explore a variety of career options in medicine and the health sciences. Participants gain a clearer picture of what it would be like to be a health professional by interacting with researchers, clinicians and educators in their real-life work setting. The event includes a dynamic keynote lecture, a 'Health Pros Tell All' career panel discussion, and an opportunity to attend two interactive workshops pre-selected from a catalogue of options. The workshop list will be posted on the event's website days before the registration date (Sept 28), but you can see last year's workshop list for reference. This event is extremely popular and usually a maximum of 2-3 students from participating schools can register during the first wave. There's usually a second wave where students can sign up for the remaining spots. If you want to be selected to participate, please email Ms Kaufmann at skaufmann@sd43.bc.ca by the end of Monday, September 21. To be considered, your email must include: - a little introduction about yourself, your plans for post-secondary (even if you only have a vague idea so far), your extra-curricular activities, and why you want to participate in this event - a completed consent form signed by your parent/ guardian. I will not follow up if any of this is missing/ not attached. The Discovery Day event is taking place in Vancouver during class time, so make sure that your parents/ guardians are okay with that - and if selected, make sure to inform your teacher and to make up any missed class material. It is your responsibility to get yourself to the event's location. |
| Marine Careers Expo | Marine Careers Expo (MCE) 2026 will be stopping at The Shipyards, North Vancouver. September 26, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Marine Careers Expo is a national initiative that brings together Government of Canada organizations, marine employers, and educational institutions to connect with communities across Canada. Hosted in partnership with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Marine Careers Foundation, and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Expo features interactive exhibits, engagement with marine professionals, and opportunities to explore careers on the water. Check out the wide range of shipboard and shore-based career opportunities available across Canada’s marine sector. The MCE is a great opportunity for students to explore career options and discover pathways that align with their interests, including direct-to-work opportunities, skilled trades, college programs, and university studies. |
| Gairdner High School Symposium | Organized by the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, the Gairdner High School Symposium is an annual half-day event, scheduled for Monday, October 19, 2026, that gives students in grades 10-12 the opportunity to interact with Gairdner award-winning scientists and BC Children's Hospital researchers. Participate in-person or virtually in real-time. Students can register any time Monday, September 14 - Sunday, September 27. |
| fem+ Engineering Mentorship Program | The University of Alberta Faculty of Engineering's fem+ program is a 7-month mentorship experience for women, non-binary and 2SLGBTQ+ high school students interested in exploring the possibilities within engineering. Whether you're certain about pursuing engineering, considering it among multiple programs or just want to know more before making a decision, fem+ is designed to help you explore what engineering is and if it might be the best fit for you! Goal is to help students explore the possibilities in engineering and university for them, not to perpetuate myths and stereotypes that may discourage students from pursuing their goals. Mentees receive one-on-one guidance about the university application process, the transition from high school to university and what engineering is like. Do you love mathematics and science, but may not be considering engineering, are unsure about it or could benefit from an engineering student mentor? Applications for Mentees for the 2026/2027 fem+ program are now open! High School students from all across Canada are welcome to apply. The deadline is Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 10:59 PM Pacific Time. More info. |
| BC Children's Hospital Mini Med School | Take a journey through the body, exploring how it works from the inside out. Through engaging discussions and real-world connections, you will gain a deeper understanding of the science behind how our bodies operate and the many ways this knowledge is used in health and medicine. This four-week lecture series will be scheduled from 6:30-8:00 pm on the following Thursdays: November 5, 12, 19 and 26. NEW! Starting in fall 2026, Mini Med School will be open to Grade 12 students only. Ways to participate: Mini Med School In-Person: Interact with researchers and clinicians in-person at BC Children's Hospital. Mini Med School Online: Engage virtually in real-time. Apply anytime Mon, September 28 - Sun, October 4. After the application deadline, eligible students will be selected through a random draw. Being selected is not based on academic achievements, grades, or any other measure of merit. Students will also need to list a sponsor teacher to support their application. More info. |
| Job Shadow Day in Finance | VersaFi is thrilled to announce the return of Job Shadow Day Vancouver on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Job Shadow Day is a complimentary, day-long program, featuring interactive workshops, networking and mentoring sessions, presentations profiling professionals with diverse careers in finance, and an afternoon of job shadowing with a mentor who works in the industry. Get a first-hand view of what a career in finance can look like. This program is open to young women and non-binary senior high school students. Students can register here. Spots are available on a first come, first served basis (up to 4 students per school) and the required waiver form must be submitted for registration to be fully confirmed. |
| UBC Science Alive - Examining AI Tools | EduTech: Examining AI Tools (UBC VANCOUVER) The debate continues—is AI helping or harming young learners? At EduTech, we’ll explore the benefits and limitations of AI in STEM education by comparing AI-generated outputs with human-created work. We’ll put AI to the test for efficiency, accuracy, and relevance, and discover where it succeeds—and where it falls short. Then, you’ll design your own AI-powered learning tool tailored to your needs while exploring responsible and critical uses of AI in education. NOTE: This event will have a separate morning session, 9 am - noon (grades 7-9) and afternoon session, 1-4 pm (grades 10-12) with the same content. Saturday, November 14th | Cost: $10 |
| UBC Geering Up - Engineering Design Competition for High School students | Engineering Design Competition: Fall 2026 (UBC VANCOUVER) The ocean is full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. For thousands of years, humans have engineered vessels to explore our waters, from the earliest boats over 50,000 years ago to today’s advanced ships and submarines. In this engineering design competition, you’ll dive into the world of marine engineering and create innovative solutions for exploring and navigating the seas. As you design an ocean-going vessel, you’ll also discover that great engineering goes beyond performance. Marine engineers must consider how their designs affect the hydrosphere and the ecosystems that depend on it. Can you engineer a vessel that is both innovative and environmentally responsible? Saturday, November 21st | 10:00AM – 3:00PM | Cost: $10 |
| Pathway to Science | Join Pathways to Science, a free online program designed to help high school students explore career pathways and strengthen foundational scientific skills. Held once a month between September 2026 – June 2027, you will hear directly from researchers and health professionals working in science and medicine. You will explore how scientific discoveries are made, learn about different education and career pathways, and gain insight into what it’s really like to work in research and healthcare. Whether you are already considering a career in health sciences or simply curious, this series is designed to help you explore your interests and better understand the opportunities and foundational skills needed in STEM. Sessions run Mondays, once a month (September 2026 - June 2027), 5-6 pm. Sign up anytime, but enrolment is limited to the first 1,000 students who register.*If you attend 7 out of 10 webinars, you are eligible to receive a certificate. |
| Thrift & Thrive - Future Leaders Internship Program by Low Entropy | A free 8-week program for youth ages 16–24 that combines hands-on workplace experience, leadership and career readiness training, mentorship, and anti-hate education. Apply by September 20th to be considered for the fall cohort which runs for 8 weeks from October through November. Participants must be available the following four Saturdays: Oct 3, Oct 27, Nov 7, and Nov 28. Participants complete weekly volunteer shifts at Low Entropy's Thrift & Fund store (552 Clarke Rd, Coquitlam), gaining practical experience in retail, customer service, teamwork, and communication. Through interactive workshops, youth also build leadership skills, learn about financial literacy and career readiness, and develop practical skills to recognize and respond to discrimination and help create more inclusive communities. Participants will also receive mentorship from a caring adult volunteer and create a youth-led community awareness project promoting inclusion, belonging, and respect. |
| SFU Science Alive: Hour ++ of Code | |
| TRY/CATCH 2026 | Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | Grades 8-12 Try/CATCH (Computing and Technology Conference for Her) is an exciting outreach project organized by the Women in Computing Science (WiCS), a student-led group at Simon Fraser University. WiCS aims to empower women in computer science by providing opportunities to build lasting connections with other women in tech and by supporting each other as they progress through SFU! Try/CATCH is a free one-day event at SFU Burnaby for girls and non-binary students in grades 8-12. Through hands-on workshops, panels, and mentorship, participants explore computing, engineering, and technology while connecting with peers and industry role models. This is a call for interest. Sign up so you'll be first to know when registration is open and to let WiCS know what you want to see this year! |
| MoreSports Leadership Program | Do you like sports, recreation, events or kids? Train to be a MoreSports BC Youth Leader and volunteer to be a "Key Player" to help kids have fun at After-School Programs, Summer/Spring Break Camps! The MoreSports Youth Leadership program trains youth in grade 8-12 through a process of leadership identification, engagement and development that supports youth as leaders within their community. Through their school, parks and community partnerships they are able to offer a variety of training experiences with recognized credentials at low or no cost, i.e. Canucks Autism Training, coaching credentials, High 5 certificate. Youth leaders come from diverse backgrounds and sport experience, but they all share a passion for working with and helping kids. Volunteer hours and activities are tracked and recorded so each participant is provided with the necessary documentation and references required for future opportunities. Programs usually run at local elementary schools or in community parks. Read more about the program and sign up to get involved on the MoreSports website. Intake is ongoing. |
| Earth Rangers - Environmental Action Program | Are you 13-18 years old and live in Canada? Help protect wildlife, fight climate change, and lead real change for a cleaner, greener future! Ways to get involved:
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