Grande-Rivière Robotics Team made semifinals in robotics competition

Tashi Farmilo

At École secondaire Grande-Rivière in Gatineau, a group of high school students took the initiative to form a robotics team that has quickly made a name for itself in the competitive world of VEX Robotics. The team, composed of Noemie Gagnon, Raphael Belanger, Reegan St. Aubin, and Xavier Boyon, was coached by Genevieve Proulx-Graveline and mentored by Eduardo Perez and Luis Candelaria, family friends from Puerto Rico with a passion for robotics.

Gagnon, the team leader, explained their involvement in VEX Robotics competitions, where students designed, built, and programmed robots to compete in various challenges. "We competed in the VEX Robotics competition," she said. This competition is a global event, with regional competitions leading up to the world championship. The team from École secondaire Grande-Rivière performed admirably, reaching the semifinals in their provincial championship.

The journey to the competition was not without its challenges. The team faced a lack of monetary support from their school and had to engage in extensive fundraising efforts to finance their project. "We did about 15 to 20 fundraisers," Gagnon recalled. From bottle drives to participating in Christmas markets, the team demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and determination.

Beyond the technical skills acquired through the competition, the experience has imparted important life lessons to the team members. Gagnon reflected on the personal growth they experienced: "We learned a lot of life lessons that I believe kids our age didn't learn or wouldn't learn with the school system right now." The team has learned the value of time management, perseverance, and the importance of learning from mistakes.

However, the team's ambitions extended beyond their success in competitions. They aimed to establish a lasting robotics program at their school to inspire and engage future students. "We wanted to compete, of course. But it was really about leaving a legacy for the kids who felt like we didn't really fit in," Gagnon stated. The team's efforts are starting to bear fruit, with teachers expressing interest in incorporating robotics into the curriculum.

The team, known as Cyclones Robotics, embraced their status as underdogs in the competitions. Their robot, named Adam, symbolized their journey, as they competed against well-funded teams from private schools. "We competed against kids who had all the money and accessibility," Gagnon said, highlighting the challenges they faced.

As the team members prepare to graduate and move on to new endeavors, they hope that their legacy will continue to inspire and empower future students at École secondaire Grande-Rivière. Through their dedication and hard work, Cyclones Robotics has not only achieved success in robotics competitions but has also paved the way for a new generation of students to explore their passions in science and technology.

Genevieve Proulx-Graveline, coach and mother of Noemie Gagnon, expressed her gratitude to the local community for their support: "We want to thank the little Aylmer businesses that believed in us even if they didn’t fund a lot. They loved the idea and encouraged us in monetary donations or article donations or free services. Big companies didn’t help; it was the small ones that believed. They gave in ways they could, and that was not passed without acknowledgment. They deserve a huge thanks: E-Cycliste, Construction Greg Culley, Bastien & Co, Jimmy Arsenault Courtier immobilier, SiOuiPromotion, ascensionphoto.net. And a big thanks also to all of the people of this Aylmer community who supported us in all the numerous fundraisers we did."

Photo caption: At École secondaire Grande-Rivière in Gatineau, a group of high school students, consisting of Noemie Gagnon, Raphael Belanger, Reegan St. Aubin, and Xavier Boyon, and coached by Genevieve Proulx-Graveline, took the initiative to form a robotics team that has quickly made a name for itself in the competitive world of VEX Robotics. 

Photo credit: Courtesy of Genevieve Proulx-Graveline