The Future City Experience

Creating positive engineering experiences for students across Canada

Future City is a free project-based learning program where Canadian students in grades 6, 7, and 8 imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future. Each year students are presented with a different theme. The Future City Experience is an adaptation of the Future City Competition and allows participation from both in-class and online learning models.

How it works

Working in teams and guided by an educator and a volunteer engineering mentor, students build a physical model, or multiple model segments, of their city.

We’re with you every step of the way!

To support you and your students, Engineers Canada has partnered with Engineers of Tomorrow and Ontario Tech University to provide participating Canadian classrooms, home schools, and Girl Guides and Scout units with the following:

  • Virtual engineering mentor: We strive to provide every participating group with a mentor. When this is not possible, they are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  • Live Q&As!  Every year as part of the Future City kick-off event in early February, we offer English and French virtual panel discussions featuring engineers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. They will share their story and discuss how their work applies in the context of this year’s Future City theme.
  • Student and educator resources: access to past projects, teacher lessons, and rubrics. These resources are available in English and French.
  • Future City Showcase: Every year we wrap up the program with a large virtual showcase where students get the opportunity to present their cities to a panel of engineers who provide live feedback on their designs. The event includes keynotes and online activities related to the theme.

Important dates

  • Registration opens: December 1
  • Live Q&As: first two weeks of February
  • Final showcase: first week of May

Learn more about this year’s Future City Experience, and access resources and recordings from past themes:

For more information

  • For general information, registration, and educator resource questions please contact Kim Bouffard, Manager, Belonging and Engagement at Engineers Canada Kim.bouffard@engineerscanada.ca
  • For information on virtual mentors please contact Rebecca White, Executive Director of Engineers of Tomorrow rebeccawhite@engineersoftomorrow.ca