Blanche River Health Foundation Celebrates Innovation and Youth at KLDCS Grade 9 Science Fair
Where Innovation Meets Education: Celebrating Young Minds at KLDCS.
Blanche River Health Foundation (BRHF) proudly sponsored the first annual Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) Grade 9 Science Fair, held on January 17th. The event took place in the school’s lobby and its innovative greenhouse space, drawing over 800 attendees and showcasing the creativity of students from Kirkland Lake and surrounding communities.
Sheri Ferguson, Blanche River Health (BRH) Clinical Scholar, and Cassandra James, BRHF Executive Coordinator, attended the event and awarded the Innovation in Healthcare Award to Grade 9 student Connor Aitchison for his outstanding project examining the effects of rhythm on heart rate. This project stood out to Cassandra and Sheri for its focus on practical, health-related research and application and its engaging presentation.
Cassandra shared her thoughts on the event: "We were thrilled to sponsor the Science Fair and see so much talent and creativity from our local youth. Supporting events like this reflects our commitment to promoting health education in our community. Connor’s project exemplified the meaningful connections between science and healthcare."
Dan Kurz, Department Head: KLDCS Math, Science and Computer Studies, emphasized the importance of the fair and the unique environment it provides: "The goal of the fair was to create a performance opportunity for students to showcase their learning and creativity. Our students presented a wide variety of innovative ideas and experiments. The greenhouse has evolved into a space where students can collaborate and explore technology-rich solutions, making it a perfect venue for the fair. I’m grateful to Blanche River Health Foundation for their support and look forward to future collaborations."
This inaugural event not only highlighted the students’ achievements but also underscored the value of community partnerships in fostering education and innovation.
For photos and more information about the event, visit KLDCS’s Facebook Page or check out their Science Fair Highlights 2025 video on the KLDCS YouTube page or below.
About Kirkland Lake District Composite School
Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) is a public Elementary and Secondary school in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. KLDCS proudly serves students and families from Grades 7 to 12 and is part of District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1).
KLDCS was established in 2006 to replace both Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute and King George Public School. KLDCS was the first Composite School in DSB1.
KLDCS is home to the Greenhouse, a vibrant hub for peer-to-peer, technology-rich, hands-on learning. Located near the school’s front entrance, this innovative space features equipment for making clothing, 3D printers, a recording studio, a robotics lab, and newly installed state-of-the-art computers. Developed and managed by Dan Kurz, and supported by the Greenhouse Scholar and teams of passionate student leaders, the Greenhouse provides an inclusive and inspiring environment for creativity and collaboration.
About Blanche River Health Foundation
The Blanche River Health Foundation raises funds for equipment and capital projects at the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites. With limited government funding for these needs, the hospital relies on community donations to modernize facilities and equipment. As a registered charity governed by a volunteer board of directors, the Foundation depends on people’s generosity to support essential improvements, enhance patient care and support the hospital’s mission to make healthcare work for you.
To continue supporting BRH, please consider donating to the BRH Foundation via:
- Cheque to Blanche River Health Foundation
145 Government Road East, Kirkland Lake, Ontario P2N 3P4 - Your estate planner through planned giving in your will
- Buying lottery tickets at splitthepot.ca
- Or online at brhfoundation.ca
Visit brhfoundation.ca to learn more or to donate.
Pictured:
Photo 1: Blanche River Health and Blanche River Health Foundation representatives pose with Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) Grade 9 Science Fair award winner. Left to right: Cassandra James BRHF Executive Coordinator, Connor Aitchison KLDCS student, Sheri Ferguson BRH Clinical Scholar and Barbara Effenberger BRH Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer.
Photo 2: Sheri Ferguson BRH Clinical Scholar and Connor Aitchison KLDCS student.
Photo 3: KLDCS students and Sheri Ferguson BRH Clinical Scholar.