#ChangeTheNow

This is where changemakers are developed and meaningful ideas come to life. A changemaker is someone who sees the opportunity for something better in the world, a gap or void or need and a different way of thinking and doing. They don’t just see opportunities. They take action. They learn that they have the ability to make that change happen.

The Georgian College FIRST Robotics Canada Event Shirt was a hit and sold out by the morning of Day One! Designed by Social Innovation at Georgian College designer Adam Dagenais, the artwork is meant to honour the Indigenous history of our region and recognizes Barrie as the gateway to cottage country and Northern Ontario, all while reflecting the spirit of the 2026 #Rebuilt season. For anyone who is interested in purchasing a limited edition Georgian 2026 Event shirt - you are in luck! Available in military green and in sizes small - 3XL. https://lnkd.in/eNtEPhdy #FIRSTrobotics #GeorgianCollege #GeorgianFRCevent #GrizzlyGears #9580 #FRCeventshirt #ExperienceGeorgian

The Grizzly Gears attended Skilled Trades Night at Innisdale Secondary School in #Barrie, promoting Team #9580, the FIRST Robotics Canada community and opportunities to get involved as a high school student or mentor as a Georgian College student. The great thing is that the event also gave our team members an opportunity to network with industry professionals, learn about skilled trades and apprenticeship opportunities while building their confidence in public speaking and showcasing their skills. The Grizzly Gears focus on developing skills in our team members to create community builders, changemakers and future leaders of tomorrow. #robotics #skilledtrades #apprenticeship #FIRSTrobotics #ExperienceGeorgian #ExperieniceMORE #handsonlearning #ExperientialLearning #Learnbydoing

Georgian College and FIRST Robotics Canada are recruiting HUMAN volunteers to help at the 2026 Georgian College FIRST Robotics competition event, hosted at the #Barrie Campus this year! As a volunteer, you'll get to participate in the action and exhilarating vibes the weekend has to offer! You'll also be compensated with FREE food, a FREE shirt and a chance to work with an amazing network of professionals. Students, employees, alumni, parents, community are all welcome to get involved! To sign up, visit: https://lnkd.in/ggk4Rm4W For more information, email: Mark Gatenby, Volunteer Coordinator: mark.gatenby@georgiancollege.ca https://lnkd.in/g2-2-NN8 #volunteers #humansneeded #ExperienceGeorgian #ResumeExperience #communitybuilding #changemakerGC

What happens when a robotics team sells cookies? 🍪⚙️ - 123 boxes sold. - Over $700 raised. - Two top sellers (20 boxes each 👏) Last night we distributed our Terra Cotta Foods Ltd. Cookie orders and couldn’t help but smile knowing so many families were heading home with a ready to bake treat — all while supporting youth innovation. Huge thank you to Mariana Lima, @Michelle Wright, Zainul Abideen Kamili, and @Peyton for leading distribution, and to every team member who hustled to make this fundraiser a success! These funds are already being put to work — polycarbonate, filament, plywood — and next up: team shirts, tools, and materials as we continue building for the FIRST Robotics Canada Rebuilt season with the Grizzly Gears - Team #9580. Community support fuels innovation. 💛 #Robotics #YouthLeadership #STEM #Teamwork #FundraiserSuccess #FIRST #ExperienceGeorgian #ChangemakerGC

#ChangeTheNow programming is designed to give participants the opportunity to practice changemaking. A changemaker is someone who sees the potential for something better in the world — and takes action to make it happen. Through this work, we focus on empathy, shared leadership, and collaboration. So how does empathy strengthen leadership? Empathy helps us better understand our teams and uncover opportunities for growth and development. When we lead with empathy, we begin to see challenges from new perspectives. This opens the door to more innovative thinking, stronger collaboration, and more inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and supported. When people feel a true sense of belonging, they are more engaged, confident, and motivated to contribute. Recently, our FIRST Robotics Team #9580 — The Grizzly Gears — put empathy into action by exploring team member personas through empathy mapping. In small groups, students and mentors reflected on experiences such as joining the team as a new member, stepping into a mentorship role, and navigating the team with a quieter or more reserved personality. As a full team, we also explored an important question: Why do robots fail? This sparked meaningful discussion about how we can better support each other, strengthen our collaboration, and show up differently as we prepare for competition. We’re proud to share that the session sparked many “aha” moments and energized creative thinking across the team. We also enjoyed lunch generously sponsored by Dino’s 2-for-1 Pizza in Barrie — keeping our changemakers fueled for an afternoon of designing, building, coding, and strengthening the camaraderie that makes this team so special. Not a bad way to spend a cold winter day — building robots, building skills, and building community. #FIRSTRobotics #STEMLeaders #ChangeamakerGC #ExperienceGeorgian #Empathy #Leadership #Collaboration

💙 Support Local. Build Community. Create Impact. 🍕 We’re proud to share that we’ve secured new sponsorship for FIRST Robotics Canada team - the Grizzly Gears Team #9580, through generous in-kind donations from Dino's 2 For 1 Pizza, on Bayfield Street at Wellington in #Barrie. Our friend Tony will be helping fuel future team meet-ups by providing #pizza for our #robotics team — feeding hungry students who are doing incredible work: building robots, developing #leadership, #collaboration, and #changemaking skills, and growing into the future leaders of our region. When you support #local, you’re not just supporting a business — you’re investing in people who matter and in impact you can see (and food you can taste!) What we love about Dino's 2 for 1 Pizza, is their thin, crispy crust, the prices you can't beat and the variety of deals - there's definitely something for everyone! Check out their menu at www.dinos241pizza.com Our team is a #diverse group of students from across Barrie and #SimcoeCounty. When you support a #smallbusiness, you support families. When you support a local team with food that brings people together, you also support families. And when you help fill bellies, you support #foodsecurity, #belonging, and the energy to keep going — especially for hungry teens and young adults who are showing up, learning, and building something bigger than themselves. 👉 Are you a local business or community partner looking to make a real, tangible impact? We’re always excited to connect with local sponsors who want to support youth, innovation, and community-building — whether through in-kind donations, services, or financial support. If you believe in investing locally and supporting the next generation of changemakers, we’d love to hear from you. Shout out to Georgian College students Debbie Russelo O'Neill, and @Callum Keeling for closing the deal and to high school students Peyton and Hayden for initiating the outreach. THANK YOU to Tony at Dino’s 2 for 1 Pizza, for believing in our youth, our team, and our community. 🍕🤖💙 #SupportLocal #CommunityImpact #InvestInYouth #FoodBringsUsTogether #Barrie #SimcoeCounty #Robotics #Changemakers #LocalSponsors #UNSDG2 #ZeroHunger #ExperienceGeorgian

Georgian College is excited to host the District Event FIRST Robotics Competition on March 27–29, with this year’s game theme REBUILT presented by Haas. At the highest level of high school robotics, students team up with some of the world’s leading technology companies to build 5-foot-tall, 140-pound robots from scratch. These robots compete in high-intensity, pro-sports-style challenges, with bragging rights on the line for both schools and supporting companies. It’s fast, exciting, and showcases real-world STEM in action. We’re inviting students, staff, and faculty to volunteer and help bring this event to life. Why volunteer? - Support hands-on STEM learning and mentorship - See engineering and design in action - Connect with colleagues, students, and industry partners - Students earn volunteer hours toward their co-curricular record and receive free food - Staff and faculty contribute to outreach and future talent development Curious about what volunteering looks like or where you might fit best? We’re happy to chat. 📩 Questions or interested in getting involved? Contact Mark Gatenby, CET, BA mark.gatenby@georgiancollege.ca FIRST Robotics Canada Gene Haas Foundation

We may be a day past Bell Let’s Talk day, but the conversation around mental health — especially for youth — deserves space every day. The Grizzly Gears would like to introduce Mapacho, our FIRST Robotics Canada Team #9580, Chief Morale Officer, French Bulldog pup who occasionally joins team meet-ups and reminds us of something simple but powerful - connection and belonging matters. Whether it’s a quick pet, a moment of #play, or a quiet snuggle, Mapacho brings #calm, #laughter, and grounding to the room. In fast-paced, problem-solving environments, these moments support self-regulation, reduce stress, and help create a sense of belonging. Mental health isn’t just about responding to crisis — it’s about intentionally building environments that are #inclusive, human-centred, and #supportive, where people (especially youth) feel safe to be themselves. These small acts of care align with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being, reminding us that #wellbeing is shaped by everyday experiences, relationships, and community. Sometimes, leadership looks like making room for joy — and a dog on the floor. 🐾 #BellLetsTalk #MentalHealthAwareness #YouthMentalHealth #GoodHealthAndWellBeing #InclusiveSpaces #Belonging #SDG3 #TeamWellbeing #FirstRobotics #GrizzlyGears #ExperienceGeorgian