From wearable medical tech devices to converting disposable vaping devices into usable charging devices, the 2026 Ford Innovation Showcase brought students to centre stage with innovative ideas for cash prizes.
Ten groups of students took part in the sixth annual Ford Innovation Showcase, representing dozens of programs at St. Clair College.
"This event represents one of the best things we do as a College," said St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi. "It brings together industry leaders, community partners, generous sponsors, knowledgeable judges, and student innovators in one room — not simply to admire ideas, but to test them, question them, and imagine what they might become in the real world."
One by one, the groups took the stage to pitch a panel of six industry judges on the merits of their idea, followed by a question-and-answer period.
"To our students — the reason we are all here — this is your moment. You are not just presenting projects. You are demonstrating your readiness to contribute," President Silvaggi said. "You are showing potential employers, partners and mentors how you think, how you adapt and how you respond to challenges."
"The Ford Innovation Showcase reminds us why colleges matter. We are places where learning is active, where innovation is practical, and where creativity is guided by purpose," Silvaggi added.
Keynote speaker – The Man of Steel
The day was headlined by a keynote address from Executive Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, Barry Zekelman, who after a short speech, hosted a town-hall style question and answer period.
Hundreds of people came to the Student Life Centre at Main Windsor Campus to hear Zekelman speak and watch the student presentations.
Zekelman spoke candidly with the audience, sharing insights from his personal life and career in the steel industry.
"The single biggest problem that I have today is hiring the skilled trades, hiring people who know how to take things apart and put them back together. We're clamouring for them," he said. "The most valuable asset we have is the people, not the equipment."
Zekelman praised colleges for teaching necessary skills which are in demand.
"To see a school like this that provides all of those opportunities, we need more of it and it's remarkable," he said. "And I think we need to look at people who do this with a whole different lens. People who work with their hands and have that skillset should be revered. I think for too long, we looked down upon that."
"Barry is someone who understands innovation not as a buzzword, but as a responsibility," said President Silvaggi. "As a leader of one of Canada's most significant manufacturing enterprises, and as a long-time supporter of St. Clair College, he understands that innovation requires investment — in people, in skills and in education."
Zekelman harkened back to his early days at Atlas Tube, where he would walk the shop floor and tinker with the equipment.
"There was nothing better to me than smelling the grease, being on the shop floor, feeling the machines," Zekelman said. "Working with your hands, building something, having that skillset can propel you to tremendous heights."
Students took turns asking Zekelman questions during the Q&A, looking for advice on everything from launching innovations to how to achieve personal happiness.
"It depends on where you want to take your dream… It's limitless," said Zekelman. "It is all dependent on how much you want to do and how much you want to strive for it and what you want to accomplish."
"You are the single most valuable thing we have. Technology is great, but someone's got to use it. Someone's got to maintain it. Someone's got to dream of it. Someone's got to create it. And that comes from all of you," he said. "Your brains, your dreams, your solution-finding, your MacGyvering. That's the value."
"So don't think you're boxed into a corner just because you're a skilled trade, or a robotic technician or a PLC programmer," he said. "The expression ‘the world is your oyster' is so true. I'm living proof."
"Take the bull by the horns. Dream big, and when you think you've dreamed big enough, dream bigger."
The Winners
Thanks to the generosity of event partners, students not only got to showcase their innovations, but they were also awarded cash prizes for their efforts.
The Ford Prize in Innovation – valued at $5,000 – was awarded to Team Atlas, consisting of Peyton Phillips, Hiba Takech and Olivia Heavens for their idea, Sole Sister.
"The Sole Sister is a wearable, assistive device for people with neuropathy or anyone that can't feel their feet, and it's basically letting them feel the floor again," said Heavens, whose group hails from the Biomedical Engineering Technology – Equipment and Devices program. "Because people with neuropathy are numb in the feet, it helps with every single footstep they take, giving them instant feedback."
The idea was inspired by Heavens' grandmother, who not only has neuropathy, but is also blind. The device has injury detection and auditory signals to suggest medical attention when required. Heavens' grandmother was in the audience for the presentation.
"She was very excited, very proud. I didn't tell her she'd get a shout out on stage, so she was she was blushing," Heavens added.
"We spent 15 weeks working on this project, and I feel really proud," said Takech. "Three years ago, if you told me, I was going to invent a medical device completely from scratch, I wouldn't have believed you."
"Our teachers did a really good job with this program to prepare us to actually go into the real world and be prepared and be proud of who we are, and I'm so proud of them too," Takech added.
The St. Clair College Prize in Innovation – valued at $3,000 – was awarded to ReCharge for their idea, Phoenix Pack.
The multi-disciplinary group, consisting of John Beverly, Sarah Raymond, Ayden Reaume and Rain Marek, pitched their idea to repurpose the lithium cells from disposable vaping devices into portable charging systems powerful enough to charge a mobile phone twice.
The group is travelling to the Enactus National competition to showcase the ideas on a national stage.
"Our impact goes beyond waste reduction… our vision is the future where lithium batteries are not discarded, they're repurposed… and where small devices can power meaningful change," the group said during their presentation.
The Saints Prize in Innovation – valued at $2,000 – was awarded to OpenAxis, pitched by Simarpreet Singh of the Robotics program, for his idea, Saphira.
The Atlas Tube Crowd Choice award, as voted upon by hundreds of audience members, selected Interior Design student Lilly Bondy for her project, WellNest. She took home $1,500 for the award.
