St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, was recently honoured with the Education Partner Excellence Award from FIRST Robotics Canada for its decade of support for youth science and technology programs. The award was presented on April 9, 2026, during the 11th annual Windsor Essex Great Lakes competition, recognizing the college’s long-standing commitment to local students and the regional robotics community.
The college has impacted more than 15,000 students across the province over the past ten years. Its involvement has grown steadily since hosting its first event for younger students a decade ago, expanding to include machine shop access for high school competitors in 2014 and hosting additional technical qualifiers starting in 2022. During the most recent March Break, several local teams including Tidal Shift, Amazon Warriors, and Sandwich Sabre Bytes utilized the college’s facilities, spending up to 60 hours refining their robots and practicing for regional contests.
Al Douglas, the program coordinator for Electromechanical Engineering Technology – Robotics at St. Clair College, accepted the award on behalf of the institution. Beyond providing workspace, the college offers a $1,000 sponsorship to every local robotics team and maintains a scholarship program for students who participated in these activities during high school. These initiatives aim to provide a clear pathway for students interested in pursuing professional robotics careers.
This support aligns with the college’s ongoing investment in technical education, including a $2.2 million expansion of its robotics lab. For families in the region, these resources provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop skills in engineering and technology before transitioning to post-secondary education.
