Growing a passion project by competing at the national level

Competing in the Canadian Engineering Competition was not on my bingo card for 2025. However, it was monumental in shaping this year and my goals. 

Back in 2022, we were approached with a project from the Department of Biomedical Engineering: redesigning the television remote for individuals with dementia. The television is critical for families supporting individuals with dementia. For caregivers, it offers moments of respite, time to cook, rest, or connect with others. For the individuals themselves, it allows them to engage with the world, supporting memory and cognition. But a key problem exists: current television systems are difficult to navigate, and caregivers struggle to program remotes tailored to senior care. A solution was needed. 

Working on this project alongside members from the Biomedical Engineering Research and Innovation Team (BMERIT), we got started on developing a solution. Assembling a team with backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering was the first step as the project encompassed these domains of engineering. Through problem discovery by consulting with stakeholders and applying for funding, we gathered information to begin prototyping. What followed from here was a period of iterative development, from creating a proof-of-concept, getting feedback and reiterating, and eventually creating a final prototype. We went through the whole design process. Finally, a Universal Remote for Individuals with Dementia was developed which could interface with TV systems, as well as an accompanying software to support programming remotes for caregivers. We were ready to take our work to the next level. To bring awareness to our work, we competed firstly in the Schulich Engineering Competition in the Innovative Design stream. By presenting our work and a business case, we secured first place, advancing to the regional competition, the Western Engineering Competition, held in Saskatoon. Here, we competed against teams from across Western Canada and presented to a panel of industry judges to show the importance of the problem and the strength of our application. Through a rigorous day of judging, we heard our names called to the stage on the second day of the competition; we were going to nationals.  

Competing at the Canadian Engineering Competition in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a blast. Presenting our work against the top teams from across Canada was exhilarating, and through continuous practice and all-nighters, we showcased our work to a panel of judges from various industries and backgrounds. Placing fifth, we were pleased with the outcome and understood that what we had was impactful and that we wanted to discover its application going forward. Beyond this, the competition provided opportunities to network with like-minded students across Canada, professionals in the field, and to explore the beauty of Halifax as well. I’m still in touch with people I met there and look forward to exploring future collaborations. 

The support received from the Scholars Academy Career and Professional Development Award was instrumental in making this opportunity possible. The travel costs and delegate fees associated with the Canadian Engineering Competition were significant and the award lessened the burden. Moreover, there were also stresses associated with making up this difference and having this support alleviated much of it. I sincerely want to thank the Scholars Academy for making this experience possible.