April 16, 2025 – Twenty-four youth projects from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have been named as regional winners in the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Ingenious+ challenge. Each receives $1,000 and advances to the national level of the challenge–vying for up to $10,000 in additional funding along with prestigious learning and networking opportunities. This cross-country search for exceptional young innovators aims to discover youth-led projects that are creating change at a local level. The RHF provides funding and resources to help them scale their innovations.
“The Prairie provinces face unique issues and the regional winners in this year’s challenge are addressing them head on,” says Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the RHF. “Ingenious+ received many incredible innovations from youth tackling environmental and health topics. These youth are going to make a big impact in their provinces and beyond.”
Regional winners from the Canadian Prairies include an organization that diverts plastic waste from landfills to produce 3D printed toys for disadvantaged kids, a wave energy-powered desalination device converts seawater into freshwater, a drone that detects hotspots where forest fires could erupt, and a low-cost braille communication platform for deafblind people.
These projects are only a few of the many exceptional 2025 Ingenious+ challenge submissions in the Prairie provinces and across Canada. Regional winners from B.C., the Yukon, and Atlantic Canada have already been announced at IngeniousPlus.ca. The RHF will be announcing a new batch of regional winners each week, culminating in the national awards ceremony in Ottawa during Canadian Innovation Week, May 26-30, 2025.
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: https://rhf–frh.ca/
CardioTrack: AI-Driven Cardiac Monitoring and Prediction
Owen Kuang, Calgary – Alberta
CardioTrack is a machine learning-powered watch app that monitors heart signals in real time, enabling early detection of cardiac issues.
HeartHear: A Wearable System for Cardiac and Circulatory Disease and Event Diagnosis and Prediction for Women
Saras Agrawal and Rateb Ajamieh, Edmonton – Alberta
HeartHear is a compact system that uses head-based sensors and a chest ECG to monitor vital signals and detect early signs of cardiac events with machine learning.
LeafCutter
Atharva Rao, Calgary – Alberta
This low-cost, 3D-printed robot arm uses camera vision and sensors to automatically destem leaves for more efficient cooking and food prep.
MedWay
Aishat Azeez and Amtul Aleem, Edmonton – Alberta
MedWay is a student-led group creating pre-med chapters in Alberta high schools, offering mentorship, leadership training, and hands-on learning to support students.
Mind-Controlled Drone
Inayat Kang, Calgary – Alberta
This hands-free drone powered by brain signals and motion sensors is designed to increase accessibility for individuals with limited mobility, especially young children.
Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) for Remote Healthcare with Enhanced Efficiency and Trust through Quantum-Based Validation
Meherab Ali, Zehaan Walji, Reyansh Badhwar and Parshva Dave. Calgary – Alberta
The Multi-Agent System (MAS) is designed for remote healthcare officers, providing fast, reliable emergency guidance using specialized AI agents.
Prints4Play: 3D Printing Waste into Toys
Rateb Ajamieh and Saras Agrawal. Edmonton Alberta
Prints4Play recycles 3D print waste into usable filament, creating toys for underprivileged children both locally and globally.
RoadSense
Aryan Sharma, Calgary – Alberta
RoadSense uses AI to detect and identify impaired drivers in real-time with cameras mounted on bridges, lamp posts, and intersections.
Small Bits of Happiness
Mercedes Korngut and Anastasia Korngut, Calgary – Alberta
Small Bits of Happiness designs products that support teachers in fostering classroom connections and promoting student well-being.
Spectra
Kai Azim, Calgary – Alberta
Spectra is a real-time camera app that improves accessibility for people with colour blindness, using filters to enhance colour perception.
SunChaser
Aryan Patel, Edmonton – Alberta
SunChaser is an affordable, eco-friendly, and solar-powered car designed to cut pollution and reduce costs.
The Fairtrade Camrose Initiative
Asseel Sigha, Camrose – Alberta
This initiative helps local faith groups and businesses become Fairtrade-certified, promoting ethical trade, local economy and sustainability.
The Youth Serenity
Adriana Valverde, Lethbridge – Alberta
Youth Serenity is an online community that supports youth mental health and wellness, providing a safe space to share stories, connect with others, and access professional help when needed.
TM&R Band: Age with Confidence
Shayan Awan, Fort McMurray – Alberta
TM&R (Tremor Monitoring & Reduction) Band is a wearable device that suppresses hand tremors using TENS technology.
Voice Activated Robotic Hand – Sign Language Gestures for the Impaired Hearing
Kimaya Satavalekar, Calgary – Alberta
This project bridges communication barriers with hearing-impaired individuals, through the creation of a robotic hand that translate voice commands into American Sign Language.
Waste to Wound Care: Novel Fatty Acid-Based Approach to Healing
Nishka Rai, Fort McMurray – Alberta
Waste to Wound Care repurposes chicken fat waste into a medicinal oil rich in Omega-3, Omega-6, and other healing fatty acids to support wound healing.
Wave to the Future: Sustainable Wave Powered Desalination
Aaron Dias and Esam Taher, Edmonton – Alberta
This sustainable device desalinates seawater into fresh drinking water using the renewable energy of ocean waves.
Exchange Met School Wind Tunnel
Adam Peters, Winnipeg – Manitoba
A wind tunnel providing students with hands-on learning in automotive design, aerospace technology, and sports equipment optimization.
Game Changer: Using Machine Learning to Improve Basketball in Canada
Antawn Omerez, Winnipeg – Manitoba
Game Changer uses machine learning to provide data-driven insights for Winnipeg’s basketball community, supporting local teams with accessible data-driven tools.
StemForFem
Prisha Sedha, Winnipeg – Manitoba
A FemTech app that centralizes key aspects of women’s health through an AI-driven research database that also connects users with professionals for personalized support.
Where There’s SMOKE There’s Drones
Jack Ralph and Ash Bruneau, Winnipeg – Manitoba
This project prototypes a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) to detect forest fire hotspots, with the goal of helping prevent the wildfires that threaten Canada’s forests and air quality.
CUBI – Optimizing Cube Satellite Attitude Determination
Afia Sehrish, Saskatoon – Saskatchewan
CUBI uses AI and camera footage to track how CubeSats move and rotate in space. By combining visuals with GPS data, it offers a low-cost, accurate way to support space research.
Flo-Oral Hygiene Network Inc.
Adaugo Alison-Ukonu, Regina – Saskatchewan
Flo-Oral is a youth-led initiative focused on ending menstrual and oral hygiene poverty by providing essential items to underserved communities.
TouchTalk: Comprehensive Braille Communication Platform
Jotiraditya Gokaraju, Saskatoon – Saskatchewan
TouchTalk is an affordable braille communication device. Using a Streamlit app with GoogleSpeech and custom functions, it converts speech to braille and vice versa.
