Research programs

A 10-week research and mentorship program where students create and contribute to a citizen science project guided by an undergraduate student mentor. Students develop research skills, collect real data, and present findings.

The standard way to show quantitative rigour on an application to an American university, and the qualifying route to the AIME and the olympiad path beyond it. Twenty-five questions in 75 minutes on advanced algebra, geometry, number theory and combinatorics. For 2026/27 the A versions run November 5, 2026 and the B versions November 13, 2026. October 15, 2026 is the final registration deadline for a school that has never hosted before, so if no school near you offers it, ask a math teacher to sign up as a competition manager well ahead of that.

The largest hackathon in the world, built entirely on open NASA and partner space agency data. Teams spend a weekend on a real challenge written by NASA experts, spanning software, data science, hardware, design and science storytelling. Alberta hubs ran in both Calgary and Edmonton in 2025. The 2026 edition runs November 14 to 15 with registration opening August 26, 2026, so check the site for the confirmed Alberta locations.

An online research incubator where you pick a problem that matters, get matched with a mentor and produce a real piece of work over the cohort, in anything from policy and economics to computer science and biology. It runs in three tiers: Research Foundations gives a certificate and community access, Research Fellows adds mentorship and project grants, and Research Scholars adds custom mentorship and a $10,000 scholarship. Applications for the next cohort open in November 2026, with a priority deadline of December 15, 2026 and a final deadline of January 4, 2027. Widely circulated figures about a $500 acceptance award and $30,000 in seed funding are not on the Non-Trivial site as of August 2026, so treat the tiers above as the published offer.

The CEMC entry point to competitive mathematics before Euclid, with a separate contest for each of grades 9, 10 and 11. Twenty-five multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, graded in three parts of increasing difficulty. A good first contest and the standard way Alberta students build toward Euclid and the Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge. Canadian schools order by February 9, 2027 for the February 23–24, 2027 contests.

Canada's best-known senior high school mathematics contest, written each year by more than 25,000 students worldwide. Ten questions in 2.5 hours, mixing final-answer and full-solution problems. Results carry real weight in University of Waterloo admissions and scholarship decisions. Ask a math teacher to register the school. The ordering deadline is March 11, 2027 for the April 6, 2027 contest.

Alberta-based mentorship and experiential learning for students underrepresented in STEM.

Alberta-exclusive project-based STEM innovation program where student teams tackle real-world problems using emerging technologies. Teams receive mentorship and may advance to MindFuel's national Tech Futures Challenge.

Free conservation research and leadership program connecting youth 15–18 with nature through hands-on environmental research and conservation projects. Active programming available in Edmonton and Calgary areas.

National citizen science initiatives accessible through Alberta high schools. Space Lab and Tomatosphere allow students to collect and analyze real environmental and spatial data, contributing to actual ongoing scientific research.

International organization supporting health science students (no separate Canadian entity). Students conduct deep research to compete in events spanning biomedical laboratory science, epidemiology, and medical law. Canadian students can form local chapters at their own high schools and compete at HOSA international levels.

Rigorous engineering challenge where high school teams design, program, and build industrial-size robots in a 6-week build season. Requires applied research in mechanics, CAD, and control systems. Many Alberta teams compete in the Canadian Rockies regional event.

Senior-level 4-H streams involve rigorous, independent, multi-month research projects in veterinary science, agribusiness, and environmental stewardship. Projects culminate in regional and provincial presentations judged by industry professionals.

Specialized bootcamps, workshops, and AI literacy programs from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute. Students explore machine learning and data science research through hands-on projects. Reach extends province-wide via virtual programming.

Project-based, collaborative coding and web development programs where teens work in teams to design, research, and deploy digital solutions with real community impact. Topics include HTML/CSS, Python, data, and AI fundamentals.

Virtual research academy matching high school students with PhD mentors for a 10-week independent research project in any discipline. Projects result in a finalized research paper, podcast, or technical prototype. Strong portfolio-building program.

Challenges like Decoding Carbon and Energy Revealed prompt students to research local energy consumption or climate policy, then design and implement a data-backed emissions reduction strategy for their school or municipality.

Applied engineering challenge where student teams research, design, build, and program autonomous and driver-controlled robots to compete in game-based tournaments. Highly accessible with events hosted locally across Alberta's regional school districts.

Distinct from the larger FRC, FTC teams design, build, and program smaller-scale robots using Java and Android-based technology. Requires applied research into control systems and computer vision. More accessible entry point than FRC with lower build costs.

Provides paid IT, hardware, and network configuration work experience for older high school students and recent graduates. Students refurbish and deploy computer equipment while building real-world technical skills.

Delivered through Alberta school boards, allowing students to research network vulnerabilities and earn industry-recognized certifications in cybersecurity, networking, and IT fundamentals directly through their high school.

Virtual platform with active Canadian school partnerships providing mentorship and micro-credentials in artificial intelligence, web development, and cloud computing. Students earn IBM-recognized badges upon completion.

National hackathons and virtual coding clubs where young women build their first web and software projects. No coding experience required.

Volunteer placements in AHS regional hospitals and clinics offering direct exposure to clinical environments, health administration, and medical technology. South Zone placements available for students in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and surrounding communities.

Calgary and Edmonton RASC chapters offer high school students direct access to telescopes, observatories, and astrophysical research mentorship. Students participate in observation nights, star parties, and research workshops alongside amateur and professional astronomers.

Paid internships that place high school students with Alberta employers in skilled trades, ICT, health, agriculture, forestry and energy. Students earn high school credits while working and can roll a placement into a Registered Apprenticeship. Free to students; start dates vary across the province.

Be a full-time student and a registered apprentice at the same time. Students split their week between school and an approved work site, earning one high school credit for every 25 hours on the job (up to 41 credits), while those hours also count toward journeyperson certification. Free application through Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

Earn high school credits and a post-secondary credential or workplace certification at the same time, across more than 20 options: skilled trades (welding, carpentry, pipe trades, automotive, heavy equipment), software and web development, IT, health care, aviation, business, culinary and construction. Offered at no direct tuition cost. Students enrol through their high school.

JA Southern Alberta's flagship program: a student-led, mentor-supported team builds and runs a real company over 20 weeks, covering market research, financial planning, sales and a year-end tradeshow. Participants also get executive and sales training plus events like World of Choices. Runs in class or as an after-school activity at multiple Calgary locations.

Financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness programming for northern Alberta students, including the after-school Company Program where a student team builds and runs a real business. Delivered in partnership with schools; self-directed options are also available.

The provincial association for school-based speech and debate in Alberta, running junior and senior tournaments in English and French across Language Arts, Drama, Social Studies and Science. Builds research, argument construction and public speaking skills, and sends qualifiers to national and international competitions. Students take part through a club at their school.

A non-competitive award earned by logging hours in four areas: physical recreation, a skill, voluntary service and an adventurous journey, with a residential project added at Gold. It is the standard way to get formal, internationally recognized credit for the sport, clubs and volunteering you are already doing, and it is recognized in more than 130 countries. Over 4,000 young Albertans are enrolled. Bronze is presented by a community leader, Silver by the Lieutenant Governor and Gold by the Governor General or a member of the Royal Family.

The largest youth startup accelerator in Canada, a national charity founded by Hootsuite founder Ryan Holmes. Launch It is a free self-paced course for getting an idea off the ground. Labs is the flagship 12-week virtual accelerator, with workshops, mentors, AMA sessions and a cohort of other young founders. Boost is a 12-month program for founders further along. All three are free and take no equity, and the deposits are returned on completion. Applications for the fall 2026 Labs cohort opened in July 2026.

Paid 6-week summer research placement in health sciences. Work alongside UofA researchers. ~20 spots from ~175 applicants.

Paid summer research in biomedical and health sciences at UCalgary. Cohort programming, guest lectures, poster symposium.

Paid summer health research at ULethbridge. Guest lectures, panel discussions, poster showcase on Aug 13.

6-week paid STEM research internship. ~40 spots. Lab or field work with UofA researchers. Running since 1984.

7-month mentorship pairing high school students with UofA engineering students. Info sessions and social events included.

Paid STEM research internship creating experiential learning opportunities for Black youth in science and innovation.

Month-long STEAM program on a Canadian university campus. Solve real-world problems in teams. Network with like-minded peers.

A one-week program where Indigenous high school students conduct research in science and engineering alongside university professors and graduate students. Students explore STEM fields and university life at the U of A campus.

Canada's largest annual youth STEM event where ~400 top students present original independent research projects across all science disciplines. Alberta students qualify through their regional science fair and compete for awards, scholarships, and international placements.

The world's premier synthetic biology competition for students. Teams design, build, and test an original biological engineering project over several months, presenting at the annual Grand Jamboree. Alberta has had teams from Edmonton and Calgary.

Teams conduct original open-data and AI research on a real-world theme, producing a peer-reviewed manuscript and presenting at a national conference with a finale in Calgary. Builds research writing, data analysis, and academic communication skills.

National innovation challenge where youth teams design and prototype STEM solutions to real-world problems. Teams receive access to industry mentors, workshops, and MindFuel's Connect2Innovate platform. 13+ years running with 5,000+ alumni.

Typically for undergraduates, but high-achieving graduating Grade 12 students (85%+ average) may apply for a paid summer health research position at UCalgary before starting university. Competitive and highly selective.

Typically for undergraduates, but high-achieving graduating Grade 12 students (85%+ average) may apply for a paid summer research position at UAlberta before starting university. Competitive and highly selective.

Intensive 5-day spring break research experience hosted in University of Alberta labs. Students are introduced to university-level research methods and academic culture. Distinct from the STEM Fellowship Big Data & AI Challenge.

Free program connecting high school students with UAlberta engineering students for virtual mentorship. Project materials are shipped to participants' homes for hands-on engineering projects guided remotely.

Suite of specialized summer engineering and science workshops at UAlberta featuring project-based research, prototyping, and hands-on lab experience. Includes multiple programs for various interests and demographics.

Highly competitive 2-week fully funded summer school at Perimeter Institute for exceptional Grade 11/12 physics students. Features lectures by world-leading theoretical physicists and hands-on research exposure.

Intensive week-long dive into quantum information science and cryptography at IQC, University of Waterloo (formerly known as QCSYS, now rebranded QSYS). Combines lectures, hands-on labs, and direct interaction with quantum computing researchers.

Free summer program with year-long engagement for Black high school students in grades 10–11. Builds engineering and applied research skills through mentorship by UofT faculty and senior students.

Four-week virtual modules exploring medical research, diagnostics, and human anatomy. Hosted by UofT and available online to students across Canada including Albertans.

Regional neuroscience knowledge competitions for high school students in Calgary and Edmonton. Winners advance to the national Brain Bee where competitors analyze brain tissue and patient diagnoses. Top finishers represent Canada internationally.

Online academic program where students work directly with university tutors to research and draft a university-level paper. Research tracks available in medicine, computer science, engineering, and more. Builds academic writing and independent research skills.

Annual national physics exam where top regional performers earn recognition and networking opportunities with university physics labs. Preparation involves deep independent physics research. Top Alberta students often receive connections to university physics programs.

Global tech education program where teams of young women identify a community problem, conduct user research, and build a mobile app or AI solution. Alberta participants can work remotely or through local hubs. Teams pitch to a panel of tech industry judges.

International physics competition where high school teams research and propose an original particle physics experiment. Winning teams receive a fully-funded trip to CERN or DESY to actually run their experiment alongside professional physicists.

International innovation competition where student teams research and develop science and technology solutions for global issues in Aerospace, Cyber-Technology, Health, and Energy categories. Fully virtual, making it highly accessible to Alberta students.

Global science and math research competition. Students research a complex concept in life sciences, physics, or mathematics and translate that research into an engaging explanatory video (max 3 min). Grand prize includes a $250,000 scholarship.

Fully funded scholarships for high school students to join scientific expeditions to the Arctic or Antarctic. Students conduct hands-on environmental and climate field research alongside polar scientists, Indigenous knowledge holders, and global youth peers.

Specialized summer math camps, research workshops, and advanced problem-solving seminars hosted in partnership with UAlberta and UCalgary. Exposes students to university-level mathematical research and connects them with professional mathematicians.

Province-wide engineering and geoscience competition: high school teams solve timed, hands-on STEM challenges built around physics and engineering principles. Regional events feed the provincial finals.

Fully-funded regional summits covering themes like Energy, Water, and Agriculture. High school teams attend expert workshops, conduct environmental field research, and develop action plans to implement back in their local communities.

Canada's national cybersecurity education initiative. Teams are placed in simulated, real-time cyber defense scenarios where they research vulnerabilities, secure operating systems, and defend networks against attacks. Alberta teams regularly compete at nationals.

Premier Canadian programming and algorithm design challenge hosted by the University of Waterloo. Students apply advanced computer science and algorithmic research to solve complex problems. Top scorers are invited to the Canadian Computing Olympiad (CCO).

Premier biology competition for Canadian high schoolers requiring university-level reading, physiological data analysis, and laboratory knowledge. Top-scoring students are selected to represent Canada at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO).

Students submit independent STEM research for a chance to join Team Canada at the world's largest pre-college science competition. Distinct from the regional science fair track; the ISEF selection process is highly competitive and evaluates original, publication-quality research.

Prestigious fully virtual global program. Accepted students join an international peer network and are mentored by STEM professionals to research and design solutions for real global challenges over a 10-week sprint. Certificate awarded upon completion.

Rigorous virtual research institute for high school students. Accepted students work one-on-one with university professors across disciplines, from neuroscience to computer science, to produce a peer-reviewed research paper over 8 weeks.

Full-day immersive experience in university health science labs and clinical settings. Students attend workshops and interact directly with health researchers at UAlberta or UCalgary, exploring careers in medicine and the health sciences.

Environmental research and proposal competition. Students research a local watershed issue, write a detailed solution proposal, and compete for funding to implement their project in their community. Top Alberta entries advance to regional and national judging.

Dual credit program allowing Grade 11/12 students in Southeastern Alberta to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school. Provides early access to college labs, technical equipment, and applied research in fields ranging from kinesiology to IT.

Intensive 10-month innovation program where high school students research emerging technologies (AI, genomics, quantum computing), write technical review articles, and build portfolio projects mentored by industry experts. Tuition fee applies; financial aid available.

Globally recognized virtual program introducing high school students to quantum mechanics and quantum programming. Students conduct simulated quantum research and run code on real quantum computers via cloud access. Need-based scholarships available.

Participating school districts allow high school teams to design real microgravity experiments. Winning proposals are flown to the International Space Station and conducted by astronauts. Requires a school district to opt into the program.

Complex physics exam hosted by the University of Waterloo. The open-ended, challenging problems encourage months of independent study into advanced mechanics and theoretical physics. Top Alberta scorers are recognized nationally.

Students research global food security, agricultural technology, and sustainability, then pitch solutions to real agricultural problems with input from industry mentors.

Students dig into primary and secondary sources on a topic in Canadian history, culture, or sociology, then present a project or short documentary at regional heritage fairs. Top projects advance nationally.

Multidisciplinary engineering competition where teams use CAD and CAM software to research aerodynamics, design, and race miniature compressed-air powered F1 cars. Alberta teams actively compete at national championships. Builds skills in design, manufacturing, and project management.

Canada's largest hackathon hosted by the University of Waterloo. High school developers, designers, and innovators research a problem and build a functional tech product or web platform in 36 hours. Travel grants available. Highly competitive national application.

Ethical hacking competition where teams research network vulnerabilities, cryptography, and server security, then compete in simulated real-time Capture the Flag (CTF) events. Regional and national levels with Alberta participation.

Prestigious enrichment program taught by PhD candidates. High schoolers from across Canada dive into advanced university-level research topics including artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and biomedical engineering. Need-based bursaries available.

Rigorous global entrepreneurship program where high schoolers form teams to conduct deep market research, prototype a digital or physical tech product, and pitch a fully functioning startup to a panel of investors. MIT-affiliated curriculum.

High-level volunteer and research program where high school students work with STEM educators and museum curators to co-design, research, and test new tech-focused programming and exhibits for the public at TELUS Spark Science Centre.

Premier global coding competition where high school app developers design, research, and submit an original Swift playground or iOS app. Winners receive exclusive Apple development tools, WWDC access, and global recognition.

Global competition challenging students aged 13–18 to research and apply AI to solve real-world environmental or social issues. Teams submit a one-page concept poster. Winners receive Microsoft mentorship and global recognition.

Specialized enrichment bootcamps run by UAlberta's Computing Science department focusing on applying machine learning algorithms to game design and logic. Students explore AI concepts through hands-on programming projects.

Focused enrichment programs held on the MHC campus utilizing college labs for applied science and technology projects. Provides hands-on access to equipment not typically available in high schools.

The official regional science fair qualifier hosted at Medicine Hat College for Southeast Alberta. Top projects advance to the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF). Distinct from the CWSF national event already in the directory.

Hands-on lab programs involving biomechanics, exercise physiology, and sports science metrics. Students analyze metabolic data, heart rate variability, and recovery metrics in university facilities alongside kinesiology faculty.

Exposure to Olympic-level sports science, biometric tracking, and physiological recovery research at state-of-the-art testing facilities used by Canada's national athletes. Students learn how elite performance data is collected and analyzed.

Canada's premier high school math competition. Top Alberta scorers receive university networking opportunities and invitations to the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO) and exclusive summer math research camps.

Highly prestigious 6-week summer research experience at Canada's particle accelerator centre. Students work alongside physicists on cutting-edge nuclear and particle physics research. Located in BC but accepts highly competitive Alberta applications.

High-level, day-long symposiums run by UAlberta and UCalgary LTS chapters on niche topics like stem cell research, space exploration, and AI ethics. Distinct from the Space Lab/Tomatosphere citizen science programs; these are lecture and lab-based days for high schoolers.

Open to Albertans interested in data science and the environment. Students analyze massive open-source data sets relating to marine biology, ocean chemistry, and climate from ONC's global sensor network. Virtual participation accessible from anywhere in Canada.

Edmonton-based enrichment camps focusing on applied chemistry, biology, and physics in university lab environments. Students use professional equipment and are mentored by MacEwan faculty and graduate students.

Specialized science lab programs and dual-credit IT and business courses for high schoolers at the Concordia University of Edmonton campus. Provides early university experience and transferable post-secondary credits.

Calgary-based intensive design and digital media bootcamps for high schoolers building portfolios in UI/UX design, graphic design, and digital arts. Taught by AUArts faculty in professional studio environments.

Bootcamps and dual-credit courses focusing on the intersection of agriculture, drone telemetry, precision farming, and data science. Students use Olds College's smart farm and tech facilities.

Program where Alberta students travel to Ottawa to research and simulate federal public policy and international trade negotiations. Students visit Parliament Hill, meet with MPs and diplomats, and participate in legislative debates.

Funded program supporting groups of Alberta youth to travel and research the cultural, historical, and environmental dynamics of different Canadian communities. Builds cross-cultural research skills and national perspective.

Hands-on competition across more than 40 trade and technology areas, including welding, carpentry, electrical, culinary, baking, web and graphic design, robotics, animation, photography and hairstyling. Regional and qualifying rounds feed the Provincial Skills Canada Competition (May 5–6, 2027), and the highest scorers are invited to join Team Alberta at nationals. Registration usually opens in January.

The route to Team Canada at the International Physics Olympiad. Students qualify by writing the CAP High School Prize Exam (usually mid-April), and top scorers are invited to the national training camp at UBC in May, where the team is selected. High scorers who miss the May camp can join the online Canadian Junior Physics Olympiad camp in August. Talk to your physics teacher, since schools are notified each spring.

National geography competition and Canada's route to the International Geography Olympiad. Levels 1 and 2 run through classroom and school rounds. Level 3 is the senior stream: a multimedia test open to everyone who signs up, narrowing to the top 20 for a written test, the top 10 for a fieldwork test, then six interviews and four Team Canada spots. Free to join, and a guardian can supervise if your school does not take part.

Four-week summer institute of lectures, labs and field trips at the Schulich School of Engineering, for students entering UCalgary engineering from a high school biology background. Runs daily through late July and August. Students pay a $50 fee and the university covers the rest.

The longest standing Model UN conference for high school students in Alberta, run by the UCalgary political science department. Delegates represent countries across UN and NATO committees for two days, researching a national position, negotiating with blocs and drafting resolutions under formal debate rules. Good preparation for political science, law and international relations programs. The registration link goes live once the department announces the next conference date, so check the page in the fall.

The longest continuously operating youth parliament in Canada, formed in 1920 and still sitting inside the Alberta Legislature between December 26 and 31. Members write their own resolutions and debate them under Westminster rules, with a government side, an opposition and a Speaker moderating. Strong practice for parliamentary procedure, impromptu speaking and public policy. Now known as the Alberta Youth Parliament. The website was still being rebuilt in August 2026, so watch abyp.ca for the next session dates.

The provincial math contest written only by Alberta and NWT students, which makes the field far smaller than the national contests. Part I is 16 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes, normally the morning of the third Tuesday of November. Part II is five full-solution proof problems over three hours, normally the first Wednesday of February, and fellowships are awarded on those results. No calculators. Ask a math teacher to enter the school. The 2025/26 rounds were November 18 and February 4; the board publishes exact dates each fall.

A one-hour, 30 question physics contest that opened to the rest of Canada in 2026, when OAPT extended its invitation beyond Ontario schools. Questions run from easy to difficult and reward physical intuition rather than formula memorization, which makes it a useful bridge between Physics 20 and the far harder CAP Prize Exam. Free to enter and non-programmable calculators are allowed. The 2026 contest ran May 20; a teacher can register the school up to a week before contest day.

An international physics exam written by more than 10,000 students, split into Division I for first-year physics and Division II for second-year. Forty multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes across mechanics, thermodynamics, waves and electromagnetism, scored individually and by school team. The pace is the real difficulty. Ask a science teacher to register the school. The 2026 contest closed February 23 and was written between March 18 and April 3, and AAPT posts the next cycle over the winter.

Running since 1951, this brings over 150 senior high school students from across Canada to Ottawa for four days. The program normally includes a presentation by the Speaker of the House of Commons and a visit to the Chamber, a special sitting of a Citizenship Court, meetings with political leaders and senior officials, and a visit to the Canadian War Museum. Alumni include Adrienne Clarkson, Joe Clark and Ed Broadbent. Participants may also apply for three $1,000 post-secondary scholarships from the Young Citizens Foundation. The 2026 intake has closed, so ask your local Rotary club about 2027.

A fully funded, bilingual parliamentary simulation on Parliament Hill run by CIVIX, the civic education charity behind Student Vote. Delegates take part in legislative debate, committee work and question period. The inaugural session ran November 6 to 10, 2025 with 75 delegates, the first youth parliament on the Hill in more than four decades. CIVIX had not announced a second session as of August 2026, so email [email protected] before counting on it. This is a new program and is unrelated to the 1980s parliament of the same name, which no longer runs.

Alberta's own youth business program: four days of hands-on training, then you actually run the business over the summer with weekly coaching. Started by Community Futures Capital Region in 2015 and now delivered by four Community Futures offices, serving communities around Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Devon, Drayton Valley, Drumheller, Lac La Biche and the Lakeland region. Participants get $500 in startup funding and can earn another $500 for hitting their milestones, and some school divisions grant high school credit for it.

The provincial student leadership conference, run since 1988 by a volunteer association of student council advisors and hosted by a different Alberta school every year. Three days of keynote speakers, around 14 breakout sessions, a service project and a dance, built around meeting student leaders from across the province. Useful for building a community leadership record rather than a competitive one. ASLC 2026 ran May 1 to 3 at École Olds High School; the 2027 host had not been announced as of August 2026. Ask your student council advisor to enter a delegation.

A global talent program that names 100 Global Winners a year and backs them for life. Winners get a four-year post-secondary scholarship covering tuition and a living stipend, awarded on need and only where other financial aid does not already cover it, plus a fully funded residential summit, a laptop or tablet, and the ability to apply for funding for their own projects later on. It suits students who already run something that serves other people rather than students with a strong report card alone. Check the status before you plan around it: the most recent cohort announced on the Rise site is 2024, and as of August 2026 the apply subdomain redirects to the homepage with no open cycle posted.

A federally funded French immersion program that sends you to another part of Canada for about five weeks of classes, workshops and cultural activities, living in residence or with a host family. The bursary covers tuition, meals, lodging and activities; you pay a non-refundable registration fee, your travel and your spending money. Useful groundwork if you are aiming at federal public service, diplomacy or the House of Commons Page Program, all of which test spoken French. Application portals open September 14, 2026 for the 2027 sessions. The site does not publish a dollar value for the bursary, so ignore the figures quoted second-hand elsewhere.

Forty students are chosen from across Canada each year to work on the floor of the House of Commons while doing their first year of university in Ottawa. Pages carry documents and messages during sittings, work directly around Members of Parliament and see federal legislation as it happens, which is experience almost nothing else at that age can match. Recruitment runs on a long cycle: applications for the 2027 to 2028 cohort open in September 2026 and close in November 2026, selections finish in March 2027 and offers go out at the end of April 2027. You apply in your Grade 12 year, so the timing lines up with university applications.

An official civic agency, not a simulation. Members research and write policy proposals that go to City Council, run events on local youth issues and advise on decisions that affect young Edmontonians, which makes it verifiable government experience rather than a mock exercise. Meetings are open to the public if you want to sit in before applying. Other Alberta municipalities run comparable youth councils or advisory committees, so if you are outside Edmonton, check your own city or town's civic agency listings for the local equivalent.

A fully funded week in Belgium and France studying Canada's role in the First World War on the ground, visiting battlefields, cemeteries and museums with a national cohort of students. It rewards community service and historical interest rather than marks, and it carries real weight on a scholarship application later. The 2026 journey ran April 3 to 11 and its application window was October 21 to November 25, 2025. The next cycle had not been posted as of August 2026, so watch the page from mid-October.