Nearly 50 students from across LPS elementary and secondary schools took home awards this year, including all 6 CWSF winners who will now head to Edmonton next month to compete in the national science fair.

Thank you as always to the incredible staff and volunteers who make the Northwestern Ontario Regional Science Fair such a success every year!

The winners are:

Best Beginner’s

“Does AI Improve with more training Data?” – Kendry Htet, Woodcrest “One Dollar Insulation War” – Maddie Huneault and Lucia Campbell, Elsie MacGill “Mozart vs Metallica: Does listening to music affect math and reading test results?” – Claire Exley, Elsie MacGill

Peer Judging Award-Beginner

“Does AI Improve with more training Data?” – Kendry Htet, Woodcrest

Elementary School Participation Award

Kakabeka Falls

Water Environmental Award

“Magnetic Forces” – Jack Calderon and Max Calderon, Elsie MacGill

Future Scientist Award

“Battery Temperature Shutdown” – Ethan Reimer, Five Mile

CWSF

“The relationship between time spent using the Happy Days Mental Heath app and heart rate” – Freya Mannisto, Superior “Drought on Stomatal Aperture” – Brody Horihan, Superior “Ion Pumps Compensatory Role: Do ion Pumps Counter Quantum Tunnelling and Membrane Leakage in VGICs?” – Celeste Marcon, Westgate “Seed Oil Biofuel” – Abigayle Nelson and Avery Kydd, Kakabeka Falls

Best in Fair

“Crushin’ it With Pascal” – Matthew Gourley, Kakabeka Falls

Best Intermediate/Senior

“The relationship between time spent using the Happy Days Mental Heath app and heart rate” – Freya Mannisto, Superior

Intermediate/Senior Award of Excellence

“Drought on Stomatal Aperture” – Brody Horihan, Superior “Lift Generation from Various Aerofoils at Different Airspeeds” – Amaiah Holmlund Superior

Intermediate/Senior Peer Judging Award

“Lift Generation from Various Aerofoils at Different Airspeeds” – Amaiah Holmlund Superior

Best Junior

“Crushin’ it With Pascal” – Matthew Gourley, Kakabeka Falls

Junior Award of Excellence

“Seed Oil Biofuel” – Abigayle Nelson and Avery Kydd, Kakabeka Falls

Junior Peer Judging Award

“Crushin’ it With Pascal” – Matthew Gourley, Kakabeka Falls

Coding Award

“Ion Pumps Compensatory Role: Do ion Pumps Counter Quantum Tunnelling and Membrane Leakage in VGICs?” – Celeste Marcon, Westgate

Innovation for Well-Being Award

“The relationship between time spent using the Happy Days Mental Heath app and heart rate” – Freya Mannisto, Superior

Indigenous Studies Award

“What’s the Best Track Length for Snowmobiling in Thunder Bay?” – Nathan Daze, Kakabeka Falls

Elsie MacGill Engineering Design Award

“Seed Oil Biofuel” – Abigayle Nelson and Avery Kydd, Kakabeka Falls

Health Research Award

“The relationship between time spent using the Happy Days Mental Heath app and heart rate” – Freya Mannisto, Superior

OPP Renewable Energy Award

“Seed Oil Biofuel” – Abigayle Nelson and Avery Kydd, Kakabeka Falls

Innovation in Physics Award

“Crushin’ it With Pascal” – Matthew Gourley, Kakabeka Falls

H202G0 Clean Water Champion Award

“Is Snow Safe to Eat?” – Rhazanne Mohamedelhassan, Woodcrest

Math and Statistics Award

“Ion Pumps Compensatory Role: Do ion Pumps Counter Quantum Tunnelling and Membrane Leakage in VGICs?” – Celeste Marcon, Westgate

NWO Regional Science Fair Horticultural Award

“Drought on Stomatal Aperture” – Brody Horihan, Superior

Lakehead University Faculty of Natura Resource Management Award

“Drought on Stomatal Aperture” – Brody Horihan, Superior

LUSU Engager Award

“The relationship between time spent using the Happy Days Mental Heath app and heart rate” – Freya Mannisto, Superior

Lakehead University Entrance Scholarship Award

“The Relationship Between the Protein Content in Flour and the Rise of a Cupcake” – Clara McCartney, Superior

Innovation in Chemistry Award

“Ion Pumps Compensatory Role: Do ion Pumps Counter Quantum Tunnelling and Membrane Leakage in VGICs?” – Celeste Marcon, Westgate

Junior LU Bookstore Award

“Seed Oil Biofuel” – Abigayle Nelson and Avery Kydd, Kakabeka Falls “DNA EXTRACTION” – Blakeley Dixon, Five Mile

Intermediate/Senior LU Bookstore Award

“The Effect of Aerobic Exercise Duration on Vital Lung Capacity and Ventilatory Carbon Dioxide Output“ – Aina Deschenes, Superior

“How Do Different Instruction Formats Affect Drawing Accuracy?” – Iyanna Parker, Superior

Sustainable Future Award

“Drought on Stomatal Aperture” – Brody Horihan, Superior

Junior Shad Award

“Power in the Blades: Which Propeller Makes the Most Energy?” – Aiza Saad, Woodcrest

Intermediate/Senior Shad Award

“Lift Generation from Various Aerofoils at Different Airspeeds” – Amaiah Holmlund, Superior

“Microplastics in the Kitchen: An Investigation of Cutting Board Particle

Release” – Delilah Dodd-Smith, Superior

“How Do Different Instruction Formats Affect Drawing Accuracy?” – Iyanna Parker Superior

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We want to thank the Thunder Bay Police Service for their dedication and thank our school community for their patience and understanding during this time.

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When: Saturday May 2nd, 2026

Where: Knights of Columbus Centre (301 May St S)

Cost: $65 per person $480 for a table of 8

Dinner, Cash Bar, Trivia!

Register by April 24^th.

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The following rural schools are closed today: Crestview, Five Mile, Gorham and Ware, Kakabeka Falls, McKenzie, Nor’wester View, Valley Central, and Whitefish Valley.

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United Way was joined by Mayor Ken Boshcoff, members of city council, and local partner organizations to officially sign the Declaration of Support, reaffirming their commitment to youth wellbeing in the community. Signatories of the Declaration include:

• United Way of Thunder Bay
• City of Thunder Bay
• Thunder Bay and District Health Unit
• Lakehead University
• Matawa Education and Care Centre
• Lakehead Public School Board
• Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
• CSDC des Aurores boréales

“This signing ceremony marks a public launch of the movement and a chance for key foundational partners to affirm their support, but perhaps more importantly, it affirms that youth wellbeing is a collective responsibility,” says United Way of Thunder Bay CEO, Albert Brulé. “Thunder Bay is joining several other Canadian communities working to adapt this model in their local context. Together, we’re building a shared culture of prevention across the country and working collaboratively as a multi-sector unified team within our community to invest in young people.”

Planet Youth is inspired by the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) which focuses on changing the wider social factors preventing youth from living happy, healthy lives, while ensuring that its principles are adapted thoughtfully and collaboratively to reflect the unique cultural, social, and environmental realities of Thunder Bay.

“By signing on to advance Planet Youth, Thunder Bay is reaffirming our commitment to prevention and partnership,” says City of Thunder Bay Mayor, Ken Boshcoff. “Youth wellbeing is a collective responsibility, and this initiative brings together schools, families, service providers, and community leaders to take coordinated, data-informed action. Working together, we can create the conditions for young people in Thunder Bay to thrive.”

The Declaration of Support lists the following commitments:

1. Exploration & Collaboration – Engaging in open discussions and working together across sectors to identify evidence-informed prevention strategies that are relevant and effective for Thunder Bay.
2. Awareness & Education – Sharing knowledge and resources to help promote an understanding of prevention approaches, including those of the Planet Youth model, within our networks.
3. Cultural & Community Responsiveness – Ensuring that diverse perspectives, especially Indigenous voices, are at the center of discussions about how prevention strategies are shaped and implemented in our community.

“Planet Youth is a community-wide, evidence-based, primary prevention approach to creating healthier environments for young people”, says Dr. Janet DeMille, Medical Officer of Health, Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “By investing upstream and strengthening protective factors early in life, we’re not only improving outcomes for youth — we’re building a healthier, more resilient community for everyone.”

For more information on Planet Youth Thunder Bay, visit .

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The following rural schools are closed today: Crestview, Five Mile, Gorham and Ware, Kakabeka Falls, McKenzie, Nor’wester View, Valley Central, and Whitefish Valley.

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We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please know that the health and safety of our entire school communities remain our top priority at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

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