Expanding STEM Opportunities for Youth Across Canada

For more than twenty years, Visions of Science has been expanding what’s possible for youth from underrepresented communities in the Greater Toronto Area. Through hands-on STEM programming, community partnerships, and long-term mentoring, the organization has helped thousands of young people build skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging in science and technology. Now, with support from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada Initiative, Visions of Science is exploring how to bring this impact to youth nationwide.

Building a National Pathway for STEM Access

Visions of Science’s STEM Pathways National Expansion is an exploratory initiative designed to understand how their proven community-based STEM model can be adapted to different regions across Canada. The project includes research, partnership development, and small-scale testing to ensure future programming reflects the unique needs of youth in urban, rural, and remote communities.

A key component of this phase is a national data-gathering effort. Visions of Science is conducting two surveys, one with STEM organizations and another with youth-serving organizations, to understand how equitable access to STEM learning is currently being supported across the country. These findings will inform a national report and shape new tools, resources, and potential partnerships that help underrepresented youth navigate and thrive in STEM pathways.

Meeting National Needs Through Community-Driven STEM Learning

Across Canada, many youth, particularly Black, newcomer, Indigenous, and low-income learners, continue to face barriers to STEM engagement, including limited exposure to role models, lack of hands-on programming, and under-resourced schools.

Visions of Science has seen the transformative results of high-quality, community-rooted STEM programming in the GTA: increased confidence, stronger academic engagement, and clear pathways into STEM careers. The national expansion initiative seeks to replicate this impact by bringing culturally relevant, locally grounded STEM opportunities to youth who have historically been excluded from these fields.

Advancing STEM Equity with Support from the Rideau Hall Foundation

Through the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada Initiative, Visions of Science is receiving the seed support needed to explore a thoughtful, community-first expansion of its STEM programming. Catapult funding allows the organization to research new models, build relationships, and begin testing approaches that can respond to the diverse needs of communities nationwide.

Beyond funding, Catapult connects Visions of Science to a national network of organizations committed to breaking down barriers to learning. Together, they are working to ensure that all young people can access meaningful pathways into STEM education and future careers.