ICE Challenges

What is an ICE Challenge?

Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Challenges (ICE) are hands-on one day workshops that connect your business with senior high school students interested in your industry. You’ll engage with future talent, showcase your business as a career path and receive creative, youth-driven solutions to real challenges. These youth have to complete this workshop as part of their high school curriculum in the Specialist High Skills Major Program.

Your Business Front and Centre Position your business as a forward-thinking leader and employer of choice.

Build Meaningful Connections Host students on-site, introduce your team, give students a tour, and let them feel what makes your company unique.

Access Emerging Talent Connect with a diverse group of motivated students exploring careers in your field.

Expression of interest form

Are you a business or local organization?

How it works

We work with local employers and community organizations in all sectors to create a challenge that is relevant to your company.

ICE Challenge participants are guided through a design thinking (problem solving) methodology that they apply to your challenge. Through this process they learn about the nature of your challenge, your company and generate fresh ideas and solutions.

What you get

Position your business as a forward-thinking leader and employer of choice
Host students on-site, introduce your team, give students a tour, and let them feel what makes your company unique
Connect with a diverse group of motivated students exploring careers in your sector
Receive a marketing package post-event with testimonials and a recap of your impact

9 am - 10 am: Company Presentation and/or Tour
10 am - 12 pm: Students Digesting the Problem and Brainstorming Solutions
12 pm - 12:30 pm: Lunch
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Students Prototype Solutions
1:30 pm - 2 pm: Presentations

Expression of interest form

Case Studies

RIA Case Study

They strengthened their talent pipeline by connecting with youth passionate about meaningful work in senior care.

Download case study

GRT Case Study

Leveraged their ICE Challenge to explore e-bike solutions. The winning idea led to a pilot project with a cost-effective upgrade.

Download case study

Are you an Educator?

ICE Challenges give students the opportunity to work in teams to solve a real-world challenge presented by a local industry partner, fulfilling the requirements for the SHSM Sector Partnered Experience (SPE). The BEP is a preferred facilitator by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board & Waterloo Region District School Board with over 20 years of experience delivering high-impact youth programming.

The BEP:

Finds you an engaging sector partner
Facilitates the entire event
Provides lunch

Students engage with professionals, learn about sector-specific careers, and develop transferable skills like collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

After participating

93% of students feel more aware of challenges facing real companies
90% of students feel more prepared to problem solve real challenges companies
97% of students have a better understanding of their skills and how they can be developed

For more details and to express your interest in an upcoming ICE Challenge, complete the request form below. We'll follow up to discuss what you're looking for before confirming your participation.

Request an ICE challenge

I wouldn’t have passed up this experience for anything. After engaging with the incredible talent, I found myself with an interview at my now wonderful workplace.

—Student

I feel more highly of myself I guess...this challenge made me have to think outside of the box and take initiative over things and I found it very helpful doing this.

—StudentSt. Mary’s CSS (@ Waterloo Region Small Business Centre)

This event taught me how to communicate with others in order to effectively solve an existing problem for a real life business. I learned that though companies may have successes, in order to maintain this success they constantly need new ideas.

—StudentSt. David’s (@ THEMUSEUM)

The students said they felt valued. They commented that they felt as they could actually make a contribution to real problems and challenges the tech companies are dealing with and that what they've learned in school could be put into action and "tested out" with real problems. The day both inspired and opened students' eyes to careers and the types of creative opportunities they might like to pursue.

—Educator

For me, participating confirmed my interest in computer science. Being able to work directly with a company provided me with the knowledge of the skill sets that startups are looking for.

—Student

I think it’s a great opportunity for students to come together and work through a real life problem while providing the organizations with a different viewpoint on challenges they might be facing.

—Employer

This event helped me discover new strengths I did not know I had.

—StudentResurrection CSS (@Communitech)