Overview

The number of finalists your region can send to the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is determined by a formula based on your region's grade 7–12 student population. The number of delegates required to accompany your finalists is then based on how many finalists you're sending.

Your current allotment is recorded in the YSC Portal under your region's fair information. If you believe it needs to be updated, see Requesting an Allotment Update below.

Finalist Allotments

Allotments are based on the total number of eligible grade 7–12 (or equivalent) students in your region, including students in public, private, separate, and home schools.

• At least 1,000 eligible students are required for a region to affiliate and send finalists to CWSF.
• Regions with 1,000 to 3,499 eligible students are allotted 3 finalists.
• One additional finalist is allotted for every 8,600 additional eligible students (or any part thereof) above 3,499.

For the full allotment table, see the CWSF Affiliation and Allotments policy on the YSC Policy Portal.

Réseau Technoscience (Québec)

Most regions in Quebec operate under a separate agreement between Youth Science Canada and Réseau Technoscience, which allows the provincial organization to pool its regions' eligible finalists and send a specified number to CWSF from the provincial Super Expo-sciences.

Delegate Allotments

Each region must send a minimum number of adult delegates to CWSF to supervise their finalists. There is also a maximum number of delegates permitted, based on the same finalist count. The full delegate allotment table is in the CWSF Affiliation and Allotments policy.

Guests at CWSF

Regions are not permitted to bring guests to CWSF except where a medical or cultural need of a finalist requires an additional adult (a "Support Adult"). Regions that require a Support Adult must apply to Youth Science Canada for approval before the CWSF registration deadline. If approved, the Support Adult registers as a full CWSF participant and is in addition to the regular delegate allotment.

Requesting an Allotment Update

If your region's student population has grown since your allotment was last set, you can request a review. Youth Science Canada processes these on request, typically a few times per year.

To request an update:

1. Gather independent evidence of your region's current grade 7–12 student population. This is typically provincial or school division/board enrolment data that is publicly posted by an official government or school authority.
2. Submit a support request to Youth Science Canada with the supporting data.

Youth Science Canada will apply the formula to the updated population figure. If an adjustment is warranted, your allotment will be updated in the YSC Portal.

Reference: This article is based on Youth Science Canada's CWSF Affiliation and Allotments policy, available on the YSC Policy Portal.