Empowering STEAM education across Canada: a year in review

The GHD Foundation is passionate about opening the world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) to all students, empowering them to reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

In 2024 the GHD Foundation, via MakeWay Foundation’s GHD Foundation STEAM Horizons Fund, awarded $50,000 to each of the following exceptional organizations across Canada, as part of our STEAM grants program.

These grants are designed to create lasting impacts by:

• Reaching underrepresented communities: providing vital resources to remote, Indigenous and economically constrained areas.
• Fostering resilience: building robust networks of support and mentorship.
• Celebrating cultural heritage: integrating inclusive, culturally relevant programming into education.
• Strengthening educator capacity: offering high-quality professional development.

Each organization we’ve partnered with exemplifies leadership in inclusive programming, student engagement and educational innovation. Here are the grant recipients and their remarkable initiatives enabled by our grants program this year:

1. Actua – Black Youth in STEM Program (National)

• Supporting pathways for Black youth to excel in STEM fields through tailored mentorship and learning opportunities.

2. Connected North – Expanding Access to STEAM Education in K-12 Schools (National)

• Increasing access to STEAM learning for students in remote and indigenous communities. Program of Taking IT Global.

3. Ethọ́s Lab – Bridge Program (Pilot) to engage youth in STEAM (British Columbia)

• Piloting a dynamic initiative to engage youth in black culture-infused STEAM education and foster creativity.

4. Jump Math – Preschool math for underserved and Indigenous communities (Ontario)

• Enhancing foundational math skills for young learners in underserved regions.

5. Let’s Talk Science – Building STEAM Skills for ALL Youth in Canada (National)

• Empowering youth with critical STEAM skills through engaging and accessible programming.

6. Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST) – Increasing Access to STEM Exploration for Canadian Educators & Students (British Columbia, Ontario)

• Promoting STEM opportunities for girls and young women, inspiring the next generation of leaders in science and technology.

7. Prof Dino – Scientific workshops for disadvantaged students (Quebec)

• Delivering hands-on science workshops to spark curiosity in students from underserved communities, particularly in rural Quebec, in both official languages

8. Youth Science Canada / Sciences jeunesse Canada – mySTEMspace Adventure (National)

• Creating an engaging online platform to inspire students in STEAM exploration.

Reflecting on 2024’s accomplishments, there is a sense of gratitude for advancing STEAM education in Canada. The journey continues in the coming year, with updates on the incredible progress these programs will make.