On Saturday, July 27, over 250 people made their way to Carleton University campus to celebrate Virtual Ventures’ 25th anniversary. From ambitious yet humble beginnings in 1994, to its present day status, Virtual Ventures (VV) holds a special place in the hearts of many. Guests gathered for a midday BBQ, some fun in the sun and to reminisce.
“It is remarkable to think that it all began as the brainchild of a handful of motivated Carleton engineering students,” said President and Vice Chancellor of Carleton University, Benoit-Antoine Bacon, who joined in on the festivities and addressed the crowd.
Bacon then took the opportunity to sit and chat with the founders of VV, and thanked them for their passion and commitment to STEM education.
VV’s activities now span across the city and beyond, reaching upwards of 5,000 youths yearly. Most recently, VV has developed the LinkED program with Shopify and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, the InSTEM Land Based camp for Indigenous high school students, and its newest Carleton campus camp offering – She’s Fly drone camp for girls.
The family friendly celebration included a tent devoted to VV’s history, featuring news clippings and 20 year old t-shirts from the earlier years of camp. There was a make-your-own beeswax wrap station and a beginner coding station, along with carnival snacks and bouncy castles.
It was a special day of reflection for VV Program Director Christine Riddell, who took the lead on organizing the day’s event. She also organized the 20th anniversary event five years earlier.
“I count myself lucky to have had the special opportunity to take a look back at VV over the years, to explore the history, connect with past instructors and founders, and reflect on our many milestone achievements,” she said.
Riddell spoke to the crowd, and thanked partners and sponsors for their support in helping to deliver new and diverse programming. Representatives from Actua, Shopify, Carleton’s Faculty of Engineering and Design and Nokia received a warm round of applause.
“I’d like to think we’re here today to celebrate more than just our milestone 25th anniversary,” said Riddell. “We’re here because VV has made an impact on our lives, and because we share a belief in the importance and impact of STEM programming and barrier-free digital literacy for youth in our communities.”
Take a look at the image gallery below. All photos by Josh Hotz.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 in Events, General, News, Virtual Ventures, Youth Outreach
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