Free family STEM event coming to Conestoga Mall

In celebration of Women’s History Month this October, the City of Waterloo Museum, in partnership with Conestoga Mall, will host STEM Starts Here: Celebrating Waterloo Innovators, a free, interactive family event at Conestoga Mall’s Winners Court on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The one-day, drop-in event is presented in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition. It will highlight local innovation and leadership while introducing the next generation to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

STEM Starts Here connects the community with local research, organizations and people working in STEM fields. Families and youth can take part in hands-on activities, learn about different areas of science and technology and explore potential career paths.

Visitors can take part in a variety of hands-on activities, interactive puzzles and technology demonstrations from local organizations, including:

• Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC), University of Waterloo: Creative mathematical problem-solving activities for youth.
• INTEGRAL Student Success and Inclusion: Explore Euler’s polyhedral formula by counting the vertices, edges and faces of 3D objects.
• Women in Mathematics (WiM), University of Waterloo: Take on the Faculty of Mathematics’ Square the Square puzzle.
• Waterloo Engineering Outreach, University of Waterloo: Try Dr. Mohan’s Mars Mission, inspired by aerospace engineer Dr. Swati Mohan. Participants will code an Ozobot rover to navigate a Mars-inspired exploration course.
• Anne Innis Dagg Foundation: Explore a giraffe-themed station featuring an educational banner quiz, a paper craft walking giraffe and physical challenges inspired by how giraffes walk and drink. The first 30 participants to complete the quiz will receive a custom 3D-printed giraffe keychain.
• Waterloo RoboHub, University of Waterloo: Try an interactive maze-solving TurtleBot controlled by hand signals and meet a small humanoid tabletop robot that shares fun facts about women in STEM.
• Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), University of Waterloo: Explore quantum science and learn how the universe behaves at the atomic level, with activities involving information and light.
• Laurier Faculty of Education and the Laurier Centre for Integrative Cardiometabolic Health: Take part in interactive demonstrations led by teacher candidates exploring the cardiovascular system, with a focus on women’s health research.
• Perimeter Institute: Explore the nature of science through hands-on physics activities led by researcher volunteers, including Inquiry Cubes and Mystery Cylinders.

The City of Waterloo Museum will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for visitors to view the current exhibit, Iron Willed: Women in STEM. 

Whether you’re looking to spark a child’s curiosity or learn more about STEM research happening in Waterloo Region, STEM Starts Here offers an opportunity to explore, learn and get involved. No registration is required for this free public event.

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Media contact:
Shirley Luu
Communications Consultant
Corporate Communications
City of Waterloo
Shirley.luu@waterloo.ca

About the City of Waterloo Museum
The City of Waterloo Museum is a place to discover, learn about and celebrate the diverse history and stories that continue to shape Waterloo’s identity.  Located at Conestoga Mall, the museum offers free admission and changing exhibitions that explore the city’s unique heritage.
Museum hours are normally Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours in July and August. Admission is always free.