A Celebration of Creativity, Community, and Future-Focused Thinking

On May 1, 2025, Truro Middle School came alive with curiosity, collaboration, and creative problem-solving as students, educators, and community partners gathered for the Brilliant Labs' Nova Scotia Innovation Fair 2025. The event was a joyful celebration of learning, showcasing the ideas of young innovators from across the province.

This year’s Innovation Fair invited students to explore the theme “Communities of the Future,” guided by a central question: What IF innovations from the past inspired fun, safe, and sustainable transportation and systems for the communities we will one day inherit? By looking back at historical breakthroughs, students were encouraged to imagine forward-thinking solutions that support accessibility, sustainability, and community well-being.

Projects from accross the province were exhibited throughout the day, representing elementary, middle, and high schools, along with community and co-op partners from across Nova Scotia. Together, these projects reflected a strong STEAM approach, blending science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in thoughtful and often surprising ways.

Several projects stood out for showing how innovation can directly improve daily life. Students explored sustainable housing and energy solutions, including eco-home designs and wind-powered systems that reimagined how communities might reduce environmental impact while remaining affordable and resilient. Others focused on transportation and movement, building gliders, hovercraft prototypes, and engineering challenges that examined safety, efficiency, and design.

Accessibility and health were also central themes. Projects such as water-quality testing, bacteria analysis, and investigations into everyday products encouraged students to think critically about public health and environmental responsibility. Hands-on engineering and design projects, including 3D printing, robotics, and animation, demonstrated how digital tools can be used creatively to solve real-world problems and communicate ideas.

The Innovation Fair was not just about finished products. It was about process, confidence, and conversation. Throughout the day, students proudly explained their thinking, tested ideas, and learned from one another. The atmosphere was energetic and supportive, with learners stepping into the role of innovators and changemakers.

The success of the Nova Scotia Innovation Fair 2025 was made possible through strong collaboration. A sincere thank you to Truro Middle School for hosting the event and welcoming participants with such enthusiasm. We are grateful to the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for its ongoing commitment to experiential, inquiry-based learning, and to the participating school districts, educators, and administrators who supported students every step of the way.

Above all, we thank the students, whose curiosity, creativity, and willingness to explore big ideas made this day so memorable.

Brilliant Labs also acknowledges the support of CanCode 4.0, whose investment in digital skills and innovation helps ensure that opportunities like the Innovation Fair remain accessible to learners across Nova Scotia. Through this support, students are empowered to build confidence with technology and imagine bold solutions for the future.

The Nova Scotia Innovation Fair 2025 was a reminder that the communities of tomorrow are already being shaped by the ideas of young people today, when they are given space to ask What if? and the tools to explore the answers.