Canadian Innovation Contests · Leadership 2027
Canadian Innovation Computing Contest
Explore how well-designed rules and processes can help a group solve problems. Use patterns, logic and step-by-step reasoning to organise information and test solutions; prior coding experience is optional.
2027 theme · Leadership
Algorithms for Positive Change
A plan can look sensible until someone is left out or a small change makes it fail. Algorithms for Positive Change explores how clear, carefully tested processes can help people work together. Students use computational thinking to organise information, break complex problems into steps and examine how rules affect the people who follow them. Leadership means considering who a solution serves and checking that it works beyond the easiest example.
What the contest develops
Develop logical reasoning and computational thinking through decomposition, patterns, abstraction, algorithms and evaluation.
Find the right level
Eligibility and entry levels
Grades 3–10
Enter the category for your current school grade. Contact CKSTEM if your grade falls outside the published levels or you need help choosing a category. The contest instructions will confirm placement and any accommodations before entry.
What students do
Contest format
60-minute online test · 20 problems
Four levels cover Grades 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10. The online test has 10 multiple-choice and 10 written-answer problems in 60 minutes, covering computational thinking. Prior programming knowledge is optional.
Supervision and equipment
School entries are supervised by teachers. The previous individual-entry arrangement used a test device and a second device for Zoom; CKSTEM will confirm the 2027 requirements before registration.
For school entries, teachers supervise the sitting. Students writing the same grade’s contest in a school should complete it on the same day within the contest window.
Curriculum connection
Aligned with science & technology goals.
Several Canadian Curriculums for Science and Technology outline the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to use those skills responsibly. CICC aligns with these goals and focuses on computational thinking.
Computational thinking includes: decomposition (break a problem into smaller steps), pattern recognition (recognize trends in data), abstraction (extract relevant information), modelling & simulation (imitate processes), algorithms (instruction sets to solve problems), and evaluation (determine effectiveness).
CICC questions focus on age-appropriate problems to meet curriculum expectations.
Help your child prepare
Explore the theme, practise the skills
Try logic puzzles and explain the steps aloud. Test a rule with a different example, look for a case where it fails and discuss how it could be improved.
Preparation idea
Preparation idea: several classes need to share one set of sports equipment. Devise a turn-taking rule, test it with different class sizes and check whether any group keeps missing out. This is a practice problem, not an official contest task or a coding assignment.
For teachers
Introduce the theme through sorting, scheduling and logic activities. Let students test and compare their own approaches, then supervise the computational-thinking contest.
The themes below describe the 2027 creative direction. Exact questions, grade-specific prompts, speech topics, artwork requirements and judging rubrics will be provided in the contest instructions. The preparation examples are ideas to explore, not official contest tasks.
Previous contest guide & practice resources (2026) · Explore CKSTEM’s learning resources
Achievement and participation
Awards and results
CIC awards and participation certificates recognise achievement. Current 2027 award details will be announced separately.
The published CIC award framework includes Gold, Silver, Bronze and Honors recognition by contest level, with a participation certificate for each participant. Medal delivery and any Greater Toronto Area award-ceremony arrangements are communicated separately; CKSTEM does not cover international award shipping.
| Recognition | Placing |
|---|---|
| Gold | Top 1% |
| Silver | Top 2–3% |
| Bronze | Top 4–6% |
| Honors | Top 7–10% |
For families and school coordinators
Registration and fees
2027 registration details and any individual-entry fees to be announced. Schools can contact CKSTEM to coordinate a group.
School entry
A coordinator can register a group, confirm categories and organise the supervised sitting or submission process. Contact CKSTEM with the participating grades and approximate student count.
Individual entry
Ask CKSTEM for the current individual registration route, fee and supervision instructions before entry.
Email info@ckstem.org or send a contest enquiry. Dates and registration deadlines are listed below.
Contest advisory board
Ansh Agarwal, CICC Advisory Board.
Ansh Agarwal has contributed expertise in math problem solving and computational thinking. He is a bronze medalist in the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (CMO) and the Asian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) in 2025. Ansh serves on the CICC Advisory Board, contributing his expertise in programming and problem solving to ensure the contest challenges students at every level.
Plan your year
CICC · Computing dates & deadlines
Dates below are for CKSTEM’s Canadian entries. ET means Toronto time; PT means Vancouver time. Use “Other time zones” for your location.
1 calendar entries
| Contest & round | Date & start time | Duration / format | Register by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computing · Contest windowOpen entry | Apr 1, 2027 – Apr 16, 2027 Choose one supervised sitting | 60 minutes | Mar 15, 2027 |
No contests match both filters. Choose another format or reset the filters.
For a fixed-date contest, registration closes three weeks before the sitting. For a submission or sitting window, registration closes two weeks before it begins, except Math, Science, Computing and Writing: their confirmed deadline is March 15, 2027. Finals require qualification and a separate invitation or registration.
Download contest calendar (CSV) · Academic calendar and class schedule