FIRST Canada and Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics are proud to celebrate 10 years of the Windsor-Essex Great Lakes Event, a milestone moment for STEM education, innovation, and workforce development in the region. Taking place March 28-29 at the St. Denis Athletic & Community Centre, this free event is open to the public, welcoming 29 high school teams from across Ontario to compete in REEFSCAPE, presented by Haas.

“Over the past decade, this event has grown into more than just a competition—it’s a launchpad for future engineers, skilled trades professionals, programmers, and entrepreneurs,” said Vice President of Process & Technology Development at CenterLine (Windsor) Ltd. and Chair of Windsor-Essex FIRST Robotics, Larry Koscielski. “Our alumni are now working at leading regional companies, including right here at CenterLine.”

Since bringing the event to Windsor in 2014, the regional FIRST community has flourished, thanks to the commitment of regional academic institutions, educators, mentors, industry leaders, companies, and regional economic development organizations. This year, Rocket Innovation Studio joins as a new Gold Sponsor, alongside longstanding partners St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and CenterLine (Platinum Sponsor). These partnerships provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, scholarships, and pathways to careers in STEM.

“As a company focused on pushing the boundaries of technology, we see FIRST Robotics as a perfect training ground for the innovators of tomorrow,” said Jasen Sams, Vice President at Rocket Innovation Studio. “The problem-solving, teamwork, and technical expertise these students gain through FIRST will shape the future of industries like ours.”

“When we first launched this event, we knew it had the potential to transform our region’s talent pipeline,” said Yvonne Pilon, President & CEO of WEtech Alliance. “Seeing it evolve over the last decade—connecting students to scholarships, careers, and even entrepreneurship—proves just how powerful this program (community) truly is.”

The impact of FIRST extends well beyond the competition floor. Many Windsor-Essex FIRST alumni are now employees of regional companies, contributing their technical skills and problem-solving mindset to industries ranging from automotive to emerging technologies. Some, like Scott Fairley, Founder & CEO of Optimotive, have even founded their own companies.

“FIRST played a pivotal role in shaping my career,” said Scott Fairley, Founder & CEO of Optimotive and FIRST alumnus. “The hands-on experience, teamwork, and problem-solving I developed as a student have directly influenced how we build and grow Optimotive. It also impacts how we hire—many of our employees have FIRST experience because we know they come in with the skills and mindset to innovate from day one.”

Beyond the competition, this free, family-friendly event offers interactive experiences, including performances by Stilt Guy, a DJ, a photo booth, and a limited-edition event sticker designed by local artist Jeff Denomme of Haunted Zoo while supplies last.

Location: St. Denis Athletic & Community Centre (2555 College Ave, Windsor, ON)

Dates & Times: Friday, March 28: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM & Saturday, March 29: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Parking will be available at the Human Kinetics and Stadium lots (parking map here).

A full list of participating teams can be found here.