Congratulations to the first ever winners of Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech Grants and Teen Tech Teams! Fifteen secondary schools and robotics teams across Canada have been selected to receive over $110,000 in tech funding. These grant initiatives are designed to bridge the gap in access to technology in schools all over the country. They provide the resources students need to engage in STEM learning, ensuring they have the tools to explore and excel using the latest technology.
Inaugural Teen Tech Grants and Teen Tech Team winners
Best Buy Canada Teen Tech Grants provide selected secondary schools with up to $10,000 in funding to enhance their STEM programs. They can use the grant to upgrade classroom technology and support libraries. On the other hand, the Teen Tech Teams awards robotics teams with $5,000 to purchase equipment and materials to help students compete in robotics competitions. The winning teams also receive an Alienware gaming laptop.
8 Teen Tech Grants winners:
- Windermere Secondary School – Vancouver, British Columbia
- McNally High School – Edmonton, Alberta
- Portage Collegiate Institute – Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
- Jarvis Collegiate Institute – Toronto, Ontario
- St. Joseph Secondary School – Windsor, Ontario
- Polyvalente Montignac – Lac Mégantic, Quebec
- École Gabriel-Le Courtois – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec
- Prince of Wales Collegiate – St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador
7 Teen Tech Teams winners:
- North Surrey Secondary – Surrey, British Columbia
- Mount Boucherie Secondary School – Kelowna, British Columbia
- BGC South East – Kingston, Ontario
- Humberview Secondary School – Bolton, Ontario
- St. Oscar Romero Catholic Secondary School – Toronto, Ontario
- St. Mary Catholic Secondary School – Hamilton, Ontario
- St. Mary’s High School – Owen Sound, Ontario
Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech for Tomorrow
The Teen Tech Grants and Teen Tech Teams are part of Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech for Tomorrow program introduced in 2024. With four initiatives, the program aims to empower Canadian secondary students by bringing cutting-edge technology into their schools. Apart from funding, the program also provides training, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities through Teen Tech Centre and Teen Tech Network.
With the Teen Tech Centre opened in British Columbia in 2021, students can enjoy a safe after-school space equipped with professional-level technology. There they can learn new skills and experience hands-on learning, while building positive relationships with peers and mentors. The Teen Tech Network allows students to be part of a national community of grant recipients who can collaborate on projects and compete for more prizes. This years’ Teen Tech Grants winners are automatically part of Teen Tech Network.
Building brighter futures for Canadian students
Best Buy Canada is committed to empower young students through technology. Since 2018, the company has donated $4 million to over 300 schools across the country. The goal is to provide schools easier access to new technology to help motivate students with their learning and set them up for success.
“Access to technology is critical for today’s youth, yet many classrooms across Canada still face significant gaps in resources,” says Karen Arsenault, Best Buy Canada’s Head of Social Impact. “For some students, this funding will create opportunities that level the playing field, and for others, it will open doors to dynamic and innovative learning experiences that can shape their futures.”
Any publicly funded secondary schools in Canada or schools with students primarily in grade 8 to 12, in need with new tech to help with student learning can apply to the Teen Tech Grants. Any robotics team consisting of grade 9 to 12 students can apply to Teen Tech Teams. In addition, Best Buy also offers grants to elementary school students through Best Buy School Tech Grants. Note that all programs have closed their application intake for this cycle.
Visit Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech for Tomorrow for more information about the program. Plus, join our mailing list to receive email notifications regarding updates on our programs, including application deadlines.
