Dr. Norman Bethune C.I.'s all-girls robotics team, BearBella, has returned to Canada with a remarkable showing at the prestigious FIRST Global Challenge (FGC) in Athens, Greece, held from September 23 to 29. Competing against teams from 190 nations, BearBella proudly placed 46th and earned both a Social Media Award and a Storytelling Award, a reflection of their technical skills and compelling narrative on the importance of women in STEM.
This year’s FGC theme, “Feeding the Future,” focused on using technology to address global food shortages. Throughout the competition, BearBella demonstrated exceptional strategic and collaborative skills in a complex game involving energy and water management, food sourcing, and cross-nation teamwork.
One competition highlight was when Canada teamed up with Greece and Brazil to go up against some of the top-ranking countries: China, Albania, and Seychelles. Near the end of this match, cooperation amongst all the teams made it possible for all the robots to balance on the ramp, resulting in achieving the highest possible amount of “coopertition” points. It was an immense accomplishment for all the teams competing in the match and greatly increased Canada’s overall rankings. It was also undeniably one of the most tense and exciting points in the competition that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
BearBella’s journey extended beyond just scoring points. Their spirit of collaboration shone brightly as they provided critical assistance to Team Afghanistan, whose members faced significant travel challenges. With only one member and a disassembled robot making it to Athens, Team Afghanistan received hands-on support from BearBella, who exemplified the true meaning of international cooperation and gracious professionalism.
The team’s achievements culminated with one of the highest scoring matches, where they scored 140 points with Estonia and Bosnia against Finland, Kiribati, and Saint Lucia, securing their position in the top 25% of teams at the event.
Reflecting on their experience, Team Captain Judy Chen shared, “Representing Canada at FGC was a dream come true, and it strengthened our belief that young women in STEM can create real impact. Our team not only advanced our technical skills but made friendships and memories we’ll carry for a lifetime.”
Throughout their journey, BearBella connected with peers from across the globe, including members from Australia, the Cayman Islands, and China, building lasting relationships and embodying their values both on and off the field.
Though the team has safely returned, their robot remains abroad, currently held at Heathrow Airport. Despite this small setback, the team is eager to continue sharing their experience and extending their mission to inspire young women in STEM.
BearBella extends their gratitude to the community, sponsors, mentors, and school administrators who supported their journey to the world stage. Their successes in Athens mark a meaningful chapter as they head into the FIRST Tech Challenge season with renewed commitment to STEM education and outreach.