More than two dozen student projects from across Canada took centre stage this weekend as MindFuel hosted its Tech Futures Challenge Innovation Showcase. The Saturday event celebrated students from British Columbia through to the Maritimes, as they presented projects on a range of topics, such as how to create community ice rinks more efficiently and how to use a robot dog to generate 3D maps of forests.
One notable project was Bark Watch, a robot dog designed to manoeuvre over forest floors to gather information on tree growth, generate 3D maps, and assist in forestry practices. Its creators from the University of British Columbia are Caleb Reynard, Will Grellier, Reid Ong, and Riley Crymbel, who showcased their work at the event held in Calgary on May 30, 2026.
Expert advice and inspiration
The students also heard presentations from a variety of innovation and business experts, serving up advice and inspiration. John Froh, president and CEO of STARS, told students that through failures, they will find resilience. Embracing what they find uncomfortable can lead to important growth, he said. Melissa Power, project geologist at Canadian Natural, advised students to try new things, noting this can lead them down paths that align with new passions. Grant Sanden, founder and CEO of GeologicAI, said that new ideas and innovations can often arise by looking at what annoys you. If something annoys you, it means you see a problem and you see an issue that you care about; and, that can be an ideal area to apply your talents.
Guy Levesque, executive director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, noted that being adventurous and curious can lead to innovation. Determine what intrigues you and see where it leads you, he said. Jim Gray, community leader and energy sector legend, reminded students that it is up to them to address the challenges and opportunities they see in the world. “What are you going to do about it,” Gray said, citing a phrase he has used and shared for decades.
Student projects on display
Neomi Renert, Vittoria Di Stefano, and Suri Gohill are part of a 22-student team from Renert School in Calgary working on a project that would lead to community rinks being able to use more moderate temperatures to make ice, thus saving energy and costs. Davis Juell of Lethbridge, a Queen's student and co-founder of NeuroEthica, discussed his project involving the intersection of neuroscience and bioethics.
MindFuel's goal, through a variety of programs, is to amplify the country's capacity for innovation by assisting students in building skills and helping them move their ideas towards reality. The event was held at the University of Calgary's Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking.
