The Canada-Wide Science Fair is an exhibition and competition that occurs annually in a city somewhere in Canada during the month of May. The Youth Science Foundation is the parent body for this event and oversees the establishment of Science Fair Regions across our nation. These Science Fair Regions host local Science Fairs where they select their best projects to compete at the national level. Every year approximately 400 students in grades 7 to 12 gather with their chaperones for this prestigious event.

Science Fair Regions all have the opportunity to bid for the right to host a Canada-Wide Science Fair. It was through this process that Calgary was selected for the site for the Canada-Wide Science Fair in 2003 (the actual dates will be May 10 to 18).

The largest city in Alberta, Calgary (a.k.a. Cowtown) is located in the southwestern part of the province nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Calgary is home to the world-famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede and was the host for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The City of Calgary has a population of over 850,000 people and is the sixth largest city in Canada. The major industries in Calgary reflect those of the whole province. Oil and gas is the top job-creating industry, followed by agriculture, tourism and technology.

Planning for the CWSF2003 began in 2000 with the establishment of a Host Committee. This group of volunteers chose the University of Calgary as the site for the Fair. The world famous Olympic Oval will house the actual fair and many other facilities at the U of C will be utilized as well. Participants and chaperones will stay in the University’s residences and will take most of their meals at the U of C’s dining center.

During their weeklong stay in Calgary the students and their chaperones will have the opportunity to explore our city and the surrounding countryside. Plans are underway for particpants to visit the Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. This facility is world famous for it’s displays and research on dinosaurs and fossils. As well we will provide opportunities to visit the alpine community of Banff and all its associated wonders. These are only two of the tours that we have planned so far. There will be more!