OTTAWA, May 27, 2025 – Young Canadian innovators take centre stage tomorrow as part of Canadian Innovation Week. The honourees, aged 14 to 18, are national winners and finalists of the Rideau Hall Foundation’s (RHF) Ingenious+ youth innovation challenge, which provides young innovators with the opportunity to advance their projects through financial support, learning opportunities, and mentorship.
“Now more than ever, we need homegrown solutions to everything from climate disasters to healthcare,” says Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the RHF.
“Ingenious+ is all about empowering today’s young changemakers through wrap-around support that will help them grow their innovations and create positive impact in their communities. We are thrilled to be celebrating these outstanding young people during Canadian Innovation Week.”
The RHF will distribute awards to five national winners and eleven national finalists, all of whom moved on to the second stage of the challenge after winning regional awards. The national winners were chosen as the top entry in each of the five Ingenious+ categories: Community and Civic Engagement, Climate Change and the Environment, Equity and Inclusion, Health and Well-being, and Technology and Entrepreneurship. The national finalists were selected as the top entry in their province, regardless of category.
This year’s top projects range from point-of-care skin cancer detection software to banana-peel-powered batteries, to a predictive tool for wildfire outbreaks. Together, they receive over $70,000 in funding, in addition to learning and ongoing mentorship opportunities from industry experts. The award ceremony takes place at Carleton University and will be livestreamed at Ingeniousplus.ca on Wednesday, May 28 beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
For interview requests and further information:
Mélanie Béchard
Senior Communications Officer
Rideau Hall Foundation
613-914-0651
melanie.bechard@rhf-frh.ca
About the Rideau Hall Foundation
The Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) is a non–partisan national charity that brings together ideas, people and resources to celebrate what is best about Canada while working with partners to meaningfully improve the lives of Canadians. The RHF celebrates excellence while creating opportunities and connecting communities, all towards the shared purpose of a better Canada. Learn more: www.rhf-frh.ca
