2 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 3 Canada will not achieve its full innovation its full innovation Canada will not achieve of without the full participation potential these groups. members, with our network together, Working agencies government partners, our corporate moving are we groups, and other like-minded and economic future the dial on Canada’s and prosperity. social competitiveness Actua is a national leader in breaking down down leader in breaking is a national Actua of Canada’s many prevent the barriers that STEM transformational accessing from youth studies in STEM and participating experiences inclusivity programs Our national and careers. engage girls and young to customized are Canadians, new Indigenous youth, women, and youth youth, disadvantaged economically communities. living in remote Who We Are We Who engineering and mathematics technology, leading science, is Canada’s Actua members located network Our 35 organization. outreach education (STEM) with our Outreach Canada, coupled across and colleges universities at Our nationwide. in 500 communities youth engage 250,000 annually Team, with the skills they model equips youth delivery program for-youth-by-youth fulfil their critical them to It inspires of innovation. drivers be the future need to social and Canada’s to and contributing problems solving real-world role prosperity. economic Message from the Chair

This year, Canada’s 150th anniversary, is the perfect time for us to reflect as an organization on Actua’s many contributions to Canada’s innovation ecosystem while we collectively chart how to continue in the path of inclusivity and reconciliation.

Actua has been advancing diversity and inclusiveness in STEM for two decades, knowing that this is essential for the economic and social prosperity of the country and will continue to be a necessary priority for all of us. As an organization we recognize that empowering ALL underrepresented populations with skills and knowledge will strengthen our workforce, our institutions and, ultimately, our country.

I was reminded of how Actua puts these principles into practice when I was last in for our annual meeting of our Board of Directors and had the wonderful privilege of spending an afternoon with this year’s 15 bright young instructors on our Outreach Team. Between March and August, these impressive instructors engage almost 5,000 Indigenous youth in STEM, travelling to 29 communities in Nunavut, Northern Ontario and Quebec.

Actua’s ‘for-youth-by-youth’ model offers young Indigenous participants the chance to meet older Indigenous youth role models and mentors who can share first-hand experiences on how they overcame barriers to success. This is empowerment in action.

We also continue to be extremely proud to support and represent our 35 network members located at Canada’s leading universities and colleges. We are happy to welcome our newest members at Northwest Community College in Terrace, BC, Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario. As Canada celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary, the Board looks forward to continuing its work in supporting Actua’s role in contributing to reconciliation and to working toward creating a truly inclusive 21st century workforce.

Paul Ledwell Chair, Actua Board of Directors

4 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 5

Kris Smith (Director) President, Vice Executive and Marketing, Refining Energy Suncor (Director) Kabloona Karen Deputy Minister, Associate Quality of Life, of Nunavut Government Jan O’Donnell (Director) (CFO) Independent Contract Trevor Cuddy (Director) Trevor Professional Continuing Director, of Faculty Development, of University Medicine,

Province of New Brunswick of New Province Flanagan (Secretary) Jennifer Actua CEO, (Director) Kim Warburton Communications Vice-President, GE Canada and Public Affairs, Paul Ledwell (Chair) Ledwell Paul & Policy Deputy Minister, Council Priorities, Executive P.E.I. of Government Office, Susan Holt (Vice-Chair) Relationships Business Chief, Office) Council (Executive Board of Directors Board Message from the CEO

As we celebrate Canada’s milestone This represents nearly anniversary of 150 years of confederation, 2 million face-to-face there is a lot to be excited about. At Actua, hours of programming or we’re thrilled to play a role in Canada’s 150th an average of 7.5 hours per child! celebration through a signature initiative grant 2017 also marked the third year of our from Canadian Heritage called Innovation150. national Codemakers program supported by This initiative includes Actua’s Maker Mobile — Google Canada. So far we’ve engaged over a maker space on wheels travelling from coast 80,000 youth in hands-on opportunities to to coast to coast throughout 2017 delivering innovate with technology and we are hearing inspiring hands-on workshops that connect from parents and teachers how important this youth with Canada’s innovation history while work is. Moving forward, our reach and impact inspiring future innovation. will continue to grow while we continue to act We also had a successful year advocating as a strong voice for the critical importance of the federal government to support access digital literacy for youth. for Canada’s most underserved and Finally, our ongoing focus on underrepresented youth to experiential underrepresented youth continues to be learning in STEM. In March 2017 the federal incredibly relevant and important. In the government announced a $50 million spirit of reconciliation, we are making huge CanCode fund and recognized Actua in the advancements in the work we do with Minister of Finance’s federal budget speech of Indigenous communities. We are extremely the exemplary work we do in engaging youth grateful to all of our partners and the many in STEM and digital skills. We look forward community organizations who work with us to to applying to this competitive fund and deliver locally and culturally relevant STEM- increasing access to STEM programming for based learning experiences for Indigenous all Canadian youth. youth. We are also proud to build on our Over the past year we continued to work with models of successful engagement of girls, and our university and college-based network other youth facing significant socio-economic members, our leading corporate funders, all challenges in STEM.

levels of government, as well as other leading Jennifer Flanagan science and youth-serving organizations to Actua President and CEO

engage and inspire 263,000 youth in 520 Follow my blog http://actua.ca/en/blog communities nationwide. Twitter @ActuaCEO

6 Network Members

Actua supports 35 university and college based network members. These network members share Actua’s commitment to engaging all young Canadians in hands-on STEM and to breaking barriers to youth participation in STEM studies and careers. Network members offer a wide variety of on and off campus programming including significant outreach work within their local communities and beyond. This outreach is what contributes to Actua’s collective impact of reaching 500 communities covering every province and territory each year.

British Columbia Manitoba , Ottawa, Thompson Rivers University, University of , ON – Virtual Ventures , BC – EUReKA! Winnipeg, MB – Adventure Western University, London, Science Program Kids ON – Western Engineering University of British , Brandon, Outreach Programs Columbia, , BC – MB – Mini University Quebec Geering Up , , Winnipeg, MB – WISE Kid- École Polytechnique de Burnaby, BC – Science AL!VE Netic Energy Montréal, Montréal, QC – Folie Technique Northwest Community College, Prince Rupert, BC – Nunavut Université du Quebec à Science Innovators Program Nunavut Research Institute, Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC – Génitrucs , , NU – Simply Science Victoria, BC – Science Centre d’interprétation des Venture Ontario Biosciences, Laval, QC – Musée Armand Frappier , Yukon Ottawa, ON – Adventures in New Brunswick Yukon College, , Engineering and Science YK – Science Adventures Queen’s University, Kingston, University of New Brunswick, ON – ASUS Summer Camps , NB – Worlds UNBound Alberta University of , Guelph, University of , ON – Creative Encounters Nova Scotia Lethbridge, AB – Destination , Exploration , Halifax, Toronto, ON – Engineering NS – SuperNOVA , Outreach , AB – DiscoverE St. Francis Xavier University, , Antigonish, NS – X-Chem University of , Waterloo, ON – Engineering Outreach Program Calgary, AB – Minds in Science Quest

Motion ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT Nipissing University, Newfoundland and Labrador , Red Deer, North Bay, ON – NUScience Memorial University, St AB – Red Hot Science at Explorations John’s, NL - Memorial RDC Queen’s University, Kingston, Engineering Outreach ON – Queen’s Engineering Saskatchewan Outreach University of Regina, Regina, , Toronto, ON – SK – EYES Science Engagement First Nations University of , Canada, Regina, SK – FNU , ON – Superior Health and Science camp Science University of Saskatchewan, McMaster University, , SK – SCI-FI Hamilton, ON – Venture Science Camps Engineering and Science 7 Martin Lipman

What’s new at Actua

Actua’s Youth Advisory “Being a member of Actua’s Youth Council Council has been such a nourishing Actua’s Youth Advisory Council is comprised and door-opening opportunity. of a diverse group of youth leaders aged Whether it be by meeting other 14-19 within the Ottawa area who share an passionate youth or by sharing my interest in helping Actua achieve its mission ideas as well as my perspective by sharing their perspectives on STEM and with government and industry STEM education. The Council offers a valued leaders, this experience has left youth voice that contributes to the diversity me inspired and evermore excited of perspectives that Actua considers when to innovate as an active member of shaping the experiential learning opportunities the STEM community.” it provides for youth across Canada. —Mathilde Papillon, Grade 12 student at École secondaire publique De La Salle A new, innovative workplace We are growing and with that growth comes the need for new space. Actua’s new office at 111 Murray Street in Ottawa is more than a place for our behind the scenes work. It is an incubation space where 3D printers work round the clock and various gadgets buzz and click as our content creation team works to innovate new ways to inspire youth with digital skills in STEM. Our storefront collaboration space is where we train instructors, test activities, and host parent workshops as we test our resources for influencers of youth. If you are in town — we welcome a visit! Come see innovation in action. 8 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 9

th Actua’s Maker Mobile — A Canada 150 Signature Project Mobile — A Canada 150 Signature Maker Actua’s be to pleased was and Actua confederation, of 150th anniversary Canada’s marked year This Actua Canadian Heritage called Innovation150. from grant project of a signature the recipient the Canadian Physics, Theoretical for Institute Perimeter partners: Innovation150 is one of five Museums Corporation, and Technology the Canada Science Centres, of Science Association who will be delivering of Waterloo the University at Computing Quantum for and the Institute 150 of Canada’s in celebration 2017 throughout Canada across experiences innovation anniversary. classroom a travelling Mobile which is is a Maker project the signature to contribution Actua’s bring hands-on digital innovation Canada to across is travelling hub that and innovation and territories, all 13 provinces across 100 cities and towns approximately to experiences North. Far including Canada’s youth audiences to engage underrepresented tour is Mobile for the Maker A significant priority challenges. and those with socioeconomic Northern youth including girls, Indigenous youth, meaningful and Canada through across youth will engage 20,000 Mobile tour Maker The experiences. enriching digital and STEM-related Actua’s Program Delivery Model

We mobilize the dynamic enthusiasm and skills of young leaders across Canada who share their passion for STEM with Canada’s youth. LEADERSHIP Board members from the public and private sectors provide strategic leadership. Actua’s national team provides on the ground training, resources and support to our network members. OUTREACH TEAM A team of highly trained instructors from across Canada are equipped to deliver programming in rural and remote areas not yet served by our network members and incubate new programs and growth opportunities for Actua.

NETWORK MEMBERS 35 network members located at universities and colleges across Canada engage 1,000 undergraduate students in science and engineering fields as instructors and 1,400 high schools students as volunteers who serve as incredible role-models for youth.

NATIONAL IMPACT 2 MILLION FACE TO Together, we are engaging and FACE HOURS inspiring 250,000 Canadian Actua’s network delivers 2 youth in 500 communities MILLION across every province and face-to-face hours of high impact evidence based territory! programs each year.

10 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 11 - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Justin - Prime Minister change the world, right now.” change the world, “…young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow, tomorrow, the leaders of just people aren’t “…young they’re the leaders of today. Their voices matter … the … the matter voices Their today. the leaders of they’re impact to a tremendous can have do now things they Network Member Awards

Actua’s 35 network members at universities The Actua Experience Award recognizes and colleges across Canada are the forefront network members’ commitment to engage of Actua’s program delivery model. Actua underrepresented youth in STEM and provide awards provide network members with them with the skills, knowledge and attitudes the opportunity to be recognized for their necessary to succeed in the 21st century. excellence and success. This year, we highlighted network member excellence and successful practices in the The Actua & GE Canada Award for Excellence engagement of underserved youth with recognizes network members who exemplify The Actua Experience Award — Go Where excellence while delivering on a shared Kids Are program, and the 2016 winner was national mission to provide transformational SuperNOVA at Dalhousie University. experiences in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) so that ALL youth can be inspired to achieve their potential and fulfil their critical role in the world. The 2016 Actua and GE Canada Award for Excellence was awarded to Geering Up, at the University of British Columbia.

12 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 13 Indigenous Works – Kelly Lendsay, President and CEO, and CEO, President Lendsay, – Kelly proud to partner with Actua, partner with Actua, to proud partnerships and proactively partnerships and proactively sharing our knowledge and and sharing our knowledge dial towards developing a world a world developing dial towards model of successful practices in in practices successful model of employability building essential skills among Indigenous the moving to models, is key involving local Elders, local Elders, involving expertise as you have built your built your have you as expertise class Indigenous workforce.” class the engagement of Indigenous Indigenous the engagement of Indigenous community Indigenous community and role Indigenous instructors youth in STEM. Actua’s work in in work Actua’s in STEM. youth authentic developing youth, “Indigenous Works has been has been “Indigenous Works between aspects of culture, Traditional Traditional aspects of culture, between Knowledge and modern science, thereby thereby and modern science, Knowledge member institutions, Indigenous leaders and Indigenous leaders and member institutions, intrinsic are elements of STEM that premise the connections in facilitating role a key play their potential as future innovators in STEM. in STEM. innovators as future their potential to Indigenous ways of knowing and day-to- of knowing Indigenous ways to role in the world. world. in the role program (InSTEM) represents a customized a customized represents (InSTEM) program Indigenous organizations such as Indspire, such as Indspire, Indigenous organizations Kanatami and Inuit Tapiriit Indigenous Works successful practices in Indigenous youth in Indigenous youth practices successful achieve their potential and fulfil their critical fulfil their critical and their potential achieve youth in locally and culturally relevant STEM STEM relevant and culturally in locally youth opening the pathway for youth to explore explore to youth for opening the pathway engagement. Our model starts with the with the engagement. Our model starts community-based approach to annually annually to approach community-based Métis, and Inuit Nations, First engage 35,000 them to inspire that experiences education day life of Indigenous peoples. As a result, we we of Indigenous peoples. As a result, life day Indigenous Youth in STEM (InSTEM) in STEM Indigenous Youth We work closely with Indigenous communities, closely with Indigenous communities, work We (ITK), to ensure our model is reflective of of our model is reflective ensure (ITK), to Aboriginal Resource Centres at our network our network at Centres Aboriginal Resource Actua’s national Indigenous Youth in STEM in STEM Indigenous Youth national Actua’s Go Where Kids Are National Girls Program Program We inspire girls to explore their important Actua’s Go Where Kids Are Program is a and unique roles in STEM. We encourage girls highly effective strategy for engaging youth to take risks, invent, and communicate their that would otherwise never come to our learning with others in an all-girl environment, programs. We do this by partnering with inspired by accomplished women role models youth-serving organizations that engage and mentors. at-risk youth, new Canadians, and youth With support from a grant from Status facing other socio-economic challenges. We of Women Canada, Actua is now leading are grateful for the partnerships we have built an innovative three-year project entitled with local Boys and Girls Clubs, YM/YWCA’s, Transformational Computer Science Family Service Centres and community Programming for Girls. The objective of this centres. These organizations project is to develop evidence-based models open their doors to Actua programs each year, of successful practices in building digital making it possible for 30,000 underserved literacy while equipping girls with digital skills youth to access our transformational STEM that prepare them for their future roles as education programming. Network members future innovators and informed, safe, digital are taking this program to a new level with citizens. several innovative strategies for engaging

Syrian refugees and other New Canadians Our National Girls Program plays an important and their families in dynamic hands-on role in building girls’ self-efficacy, resilience, STEM experiences. The key to this success is and future economic independence. Each effective partnering. year, Actua reaches over 10,000 girls annually through our high impact, all-girl initiatives.

14 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 15

– Aaron Brindle, – Aaron

Head of Public Affairs, Google Canada Head of Public Affairs, “Wonder where Canada’s Canada’s where “Wonder or creator inventor, great next might come founder startup no further than Look from? classrooms workshops, Actua’s mobiles. With and maker Codemakers, like programs is inspiring this Actua of generation next country’s builders. Google is technology its support continue to proud important work.” Actua’s of Codemakers Codemakers delivered program is a national Codemakers with Google Canada in partnership Actua, by engage with youth the way transform to years of two In the first science. computer 80,000 over 2015-2017, from the program engaged in digital Canada were across youth them from moving skill building experiences, producers to of technology being consumers to continue thrilled to are We of technology. minds of Canadian Google pair the creative science computer top engineers with Actua’s computer dynamic new and develop thinkers for experiences and technology science hands-on learning, Codemakers With youth. learn computer to Canadians young inspires and future invention to as a pathway science and in new participate to and discovery careers. emerging Actua in the North

Every year, Actua reaches 8,500 youth in 35-40 communities spanning the Yukon Territory, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories. We build sustainable, meaningful relationships with Northern communities to ensure that the STEM content we deliver is reflective of local cultural and economic Through needs. opportunities to role play as scientists, Through direct connections with local researchers, engineers, and more, youth industry, researchers, and education work together to solve simulated real-world institutions, we facilitate exposure to northern challenges, and become better equipped to career opportunities. These connections form Canada’s in-demand skilled workforce. are made possible through partnerships Actua in the North inspires northern youth with institutions like the Canadian High to be Canada’s current and future innovators Arctic Research Station, Ocean Networks and entrepreneurs, guiding economic Canada, the Nunavut Arctic College and the development in the North. Nunavut Research Institute, plus others, that work with us in the development of unique This year we are doing more to deepen the program content and experiential learning impact of our work throughout the school opportunities. year. At a regional professional development conference we provided 40 teachers in We help youth and their families make sense Nunavut with training on effective ways to of the development that is happening around incorporate digital skills through the delivery them and equip youth with the problem of interdisciplinary hands-on activities. As a solving, collaboration and critical thinking result 3,000 students get to build digital skills skills that prepare youth for their future role throughout the year! as informed community leaders and decision makers.

“Our community looks forward to these camps as it is another tool to encourage learning outside of a school setting. The value of these camps may not always be seen right away but the impact on the community can be seen in many different ways. STEM education is much needed not only here in Kugluktuk, but for the entire north. The potential for learning and the direction that the youth can gain from the camps is extremely important. This program gives youth the chance to learn more about STEM and guide them into a future career that will help benefit the community in the future.” - Community Contact, Kugluktuk, NU

16 ACTUA 2016/2017 ANNUAL REPORT 17 Expenses 53% Delivery Program Local 29% Member Services Network 18% and Administration Development Program Revenues - 43% Corporate Government - 38% and federal) territorial (provincial, - 15% Foundation Other - 4% The majority of our resources are directed to program development and implementation. implementation. and development program to directed are of our resources majority The member network of 35 our network by delivered includes supporting the critical services This was our budget In 2016, Canada. across and colleges universities at located organizations members. network budgets of our 35 local operating does not include the $3.82million. This Financial Summary Financial Actua Supporters

Innovator

An agency of the Government of Ontario Un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

Cornerstone

Ambassador

Major Patron

Patron

Contributor

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. The McCain Foundation Richardson Foundation Canada Foundation for Nunavut Department of BC Hydro Innovation Economic Development and Community Foundation of CISCO Transportation Ottawa Kitikmeot Inuit Association Kakivak Association Huawei Canada Nunavut Arctic College Nunatsiavut Government 18

Actua 111 Murray Street Ottawa ON K1N 5M5 t 613 234 4137 f 613 234 4779 actua.ca

@ActuaCanada /ActuaCanada @actua_canada /ActuaCanada Charitable Number 14057 3320 RR0001