Canada’s First REC Global AI Drone Youth Competition (ADC) & Future Education & Smart Tech Carnival

November 24, 2025

The launch event and preliminary rounds of Canada’s first REC Global AI Drone Youth Competition (ADC) & Future Education & Smart Tech Carnival were grandly held in the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia. The event was jointly organized by the REC Foundation and AIGEM, and co-hosted by Vancouver Integem and HOHA Creative.

The competition brought together youth teams from across Canada and beyond. The finals will be held in Vancouver this December, featuring dozens of teams, hundreds of families, and numerous exhibitors. The event aims to combine AI, drone technology, and youth education, inspiring the next generation to explore intelligent technologies while promoting STEM education and innovation.

Event Schedule Overview

Finals & Carnival

Finals: December 6, 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM
Awards Ceremony: December 6, 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Carnival:

December 5 (Fri), 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
December 6 (Sat), 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Venue: City Square, 1st Floor Atrium
Address: 555 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC
Parking: Free parking on Dec 6; attendees must register tickets at the organizer’s check-in station

Registration: REC Events Official Website

Key Speeches

Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver sent congratulatory remarks.

Letter from Mr. Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver

Amanda, CEO of Vancouver Integem, highlighted this as Canada’s first national youth drone competition, aiming to bring drones, AI programming, and future tech education to Vancouver and across Canada. She emphasized the event as an opportunity for youth to engage with cutting-edge technology.

Speech by Ms. Amanda, CEO of Vancouver Integem, representing the organizers

Wang Baijin, Burnaby City Councillor, congratulated the organizers and participants, noting the competition showcases both educational achievements and youth leadership.

Speech by Mr. Wang Baijin, Burnaby City Councillor

Alfred Chien, Vancouver School Board Education Commissioner, praised the event for inspiring youth innovation and leadership and expressed hopes to expand the competition to other cities and provinces in Canada.

Speech by Mr. Alfred Chien, Vancouver School Board Education Commissioner

Jin Fan, Founder & CEO of ClearLED, expressed excitement about the youth’s energy and creativity, highlighting the alignment between the competition’s mission and ClearLED’s spirit of innovation. She congratulated participants and families in advance and wished the event great success.

Speech by Ms. Jin Fan, Founder of ClearLED, representing the sponsors

Grant Murray, Senior VP of Concord Pacific Barnaby Center, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of innovation, showcasing the center’s advanced technologies including smart housing, EV charging, and flood protection systems.

Speech by Mr. Grant Murray, Senior Vice President of Concord Pacific Barnaby Center, representing the co-hosts

Terry Guo, Youth Representative, shared the experience of designing code and testing drones, emphasizing teamwork and the practical learning gained in STEM and drone technology.

Speech by Terry Guo, Youth Representative

Amy Yu, Chair of Sunshine Foundation New Media Club, hosted the event.

Event Highlights

First of its kind in Canada, winners advance directly to the U.S. finals to compete globally.
Boost for Ivy League applications, demonstrating technical skills and leadership potential.
Focus on AI and unmanned systems, preparing youth for the technology frontier of the next decade.
Extensive participation, creating a carnival that blends education, technology, and community engagement.

December 6 Competition Schedule

10:00–10:45 AM: Venue opens, team check-in, safety inspections, logbook submission, and maintenance setup
10:45–11:15 AM: Opening ceremony, sponsor speeches (Google & DSEC), introduction of judges and volunteers, safety briefing, group photo
11:15 AM–1:30 PM: Qualifying rounds
- Team Collaboration Challenge (90s)
- Flight Skills Challenge (60s)
- Autonomous Flight Task (60s)
- Communication & Presentation Interviews
1:30–2:15 PM: Lunch and sponsor exhibition time
2:15–4:00 PM: Finals and judging
- Performance Awards: Flight Skills, Autonomous Control, Team Collaboration
- Judging Awards: Design, Communication, Innovation
- Excellence Award: Best Overall Team, advancing to the next stage
4:00–4:45 PM: Demonstrations & interactive sessions (AI drone showcases, parent-student flight challenges, mini AI workshops)
4:45–5:30 PM: Awards ceremony and closing remarks

Organizers & Sponsors

Global Organizer: REC Foundation
Co-Organizer (Canada): AIGEM
Global STEM Partners: Amazon, Tesla, Dell Technologies, VEX Robotics, DSEC, U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA, Google
Sponsors: NVIDIA, Unitree Robotics, ClearLED
Co-Hosts: Vancouver Integem, HOHA Creative, Unicorn Foundation, Concord Pacific, City Square
Supporters: Bodwell High School, Canadian Mandarin Promotion Center, St. Lawrence School, Sunshine Foundation, TUEX, Greater Vancouver Chinese Cultural Center, Little Frog Volunteer Alliance
Media Partners: AM1320 Chinese Radio, ChinaNet, Phoenix News, Canadian Chinese TV & Radio, VanPeople, SinoMedia, etc.

ClearLED is proud to support this exciting initiative that inspires youth to engage in STEM, AI, and drone technology, aligning perfectly with our mission of innovation and education.

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