Engineering Outreach announces $250k in funding from Actua

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Today, Engineering Outreach at Western University announced $248,500 in funding from Actua, one of Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach organizations. As part of Actua’s national network, Western Engineering Outreach engages youth through STEM workshops, camps, clubs and special events. Part of this funding comes from a significant investment in the Actua network through the Government of Canada’s Strategic Science Fund, totalling $38.4 million over five years.

The Actua network includes over 40 colleges and universities across the country providing STEM learning opportunities for youth while breaking down barriers to access. Western Engineering Outreach has been a member of the Actua network since 1993.

Through specialized programming, Western Engineering Outreach engages diverse youth, including Indigenous youth, girls and young women, Black youth, youth facing socio-economic challenges and youth from other equity-deserving communities in programming that builds essential employability skills and confidence. In addition to the Government of Canada, Actua deeply values its esteemed industry partners whose long-term investment has been and continues to be essential in our collective mission to equip and inspire youth to lead Canada’s future science and innovation economy.

“Each year, the Actua network engages 375,000 youth in 600 communities across the country. Engineering Outreach at Western University is an integral part of this national impact and together, we will continue to relentlessly remove barriers so that all youth can be engaged in STEM," said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua. 

“Western Engineering Outreach is incredibly thankful for this support and is proud to be a network member of Actua,” said Lauren Hollis, manager of Western Engineering Outreach.

“This support will allow us to continue to offer, as well as to expand, meaningful opportunities for children and youth underrepresented in STEM to build key skills through hands-on activities and learning experiences.” 

Funding is only one part of the support provided to Western Engineering Outreach from Actua. In addition to significant investments such as the one announced today, Actua provides day-to-day support, training, professional development and best-practice resources in STEM outreach. Additionally, Actua is the national voice representing the local network to advance STEM engagement, diversity and inclusion within science culture in Canada.

Actua is a leading Canadian science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach organization. Each year, the Actua network engages over 375,000 youth in 600 communities across Canada in transformative STEM learning experiences that build critical skills and confidence. Actua focuses on engaging equity-deserving youth through specialized programs for Indigenous youth, girls and young women, Black youth, youth facing economic barriers and youth living in Northern and remote communities. Its major funding partners include the Government of Canada, RBC Foundation, Suncor Energy Foundation, TD Bank Group, Google.org, Toyota Canada Foundation, Enbridge, Cenovus, CIBC Foundation, Coveo, Scotiabank, Mastercard and Imperial.