Robotic dreams take flight

West Broadway

A drone program at an inner city school just got a significant lift.

Gordon Bell High School is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech for Tomorrow, which is aimed at providing increased technological opportunities to classrooms across the country. Only 12 such grants were given across Canada.

“Giving back to our communities is at the heart of what we do,” said Karen Arsenault, head of social impact and sustainability for Best Buy Canada. “The Teen Tech for Tomorrow program … allows us to help level the playing field for Canadian teens, opening doors to new opportunities and helping to ensure every student has the chance to reach their full potential. We are always inspired by the applications we receive and proud to support the journeys of the students.”

“It was a great moment … to share the news with students and have a small cheque presentation,” said George Pearce, STEM and applied technology teacher at Gordon Bell High School. Pearce said the grant will be used by the school’s new electronics program. “Within this program there will be some robotics happening in the future, but currently it will be used to continue to build the drone programming happening in the building.”

Gordon Bell’s drone program was developed a few years ago by Pearce, who won a Prime Minister’s Award in education in 2024.

“Drones are cool, drones are part of the future. I find them fascinating. With new battery technology, there will be a tipping point,” Pearce said at the time.

Since then, the program, which falls within the provincial electronics curriculum, teaches students the basics of drone operation, from building circuits and propellers for small drones to operating (slightly) larger commercially available drones, such as the DJI Neos and Neo 2s.

“Those are lower mid-range (drones), but they have capabilities to connect to the app and also to satellites,” Pearce said. “We’ll fly those indoors, through the hallways and stairwells and cafeteria. They’ll really learn a lot about the capabilities of drones. Once it’s nicer outside, we’ll dive into safety stuff, the regulations through NavCanada, and what you can and cannot do — the general ethics of it all.”

In its first year, the program had 10 students. This year, the course is full at 24.

“We got the grant for the school because we believe in their futures,” Pearce said. “And it’s not just us as teachers, but the community, that believes in (them).”

The funds from the Teen Tech grant will go towards equipment for the program, such as 3D printers to build components and new drones.

“Everything is a calculated spend, trying to be frugal. This money will definitely be invested in the drone side of things. I want this drone program to be really fun for kids,” Pearce said. “People see the value in this. If I can showcase and share it, then the funding will come. I’m hoping this grant will help that.”

Long-term, Pearce would like to see the program develop into a full-on vocational program, with built in career opportunities for students to pursue.

“I would absolutely love to have students build a portfolio, polish those skills, and go out into the workforce while applying those skills. That is my ultimate goal, since Day 1. I want to keep kids here. I want to serve the kids who will be here regardless, while also helping to grown the school,” he said.

“Gordon Bell is a school to watch,” Pearce added. “It’s somewhere that has had a brand put on it, a reputation, and I think it’s going to change in the next couple years. We are building programs inside the building that are really exciting to better serve our learning community. We’re moving in a direction that’s pretty powerful and unique.”