Events

We’re excited to let you know that Ideathon is now open for Winter 2026, a fast-paced, creativity-first challenge designed for students who love brainstorming, problem-solving, and building ideas that matter. It’s an opportunity to work on a real urban challenge in Waterloo Region.

Earn a $325 honorarium, as well as a certificate of completion.

This Ideathon focuses on adaptive reuse, where student teams will reimagine vacant commercial, industrial, and heritage spaces into sustainable, community-centred solutions.

You’ll collaborate with students from different programs, apply creative and analytical thinking, and explore how design, sustainability, and economic feasibility come together in the real world.

The Ideathon will run from January 22-29th, and has a time commitment of 16 hours. On the final day, you will pitch your solution to a panel of judges. Mandatory sessions include the virtual kickoff, and the final day of presentations. 

All years and level of study are invited to apply. 

Apply now: https://uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26u6xf1UGUHmXhc 

The Experience Ventures program, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, empowers college and university students to make a meaningful impact alongside real-world innovators.

Join us for the i-Capstone Symposium sometime in March 2026. This annual event showcases the innovative work of fourth-year students from diverse disciplines as they tackle real-world urban challenges in collaboration with industry and community partners.

Explore interdisciplinary projects, engage with students, and witness the future of cities come to life through innovative research and design. Whether you're a student, industry professional, faculty member, or community partner, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the next generation of change-makers.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ready to make a real impact in the future of cities and communities? Join the Future Cities Institute and Velocity for the second Future Cities Innovation Challenge, sometime in March 2026. Collaborate with fellow students to tackle real-world problems in accelerating housing development, harnessing AI for smarter urban transformation, building sustainable infrastructure and advancing sustainable mobility.