LJI Reporter
Tashi Farmilo

At École secondaire Grande-Rivière in Gatineau, a group of high school students took the
initiative to form a robotics team that has quickly made a name for itself in the competitive world
of VEX Robotics. The team, composed of Noemie Gagnon, Raphael Belanger, Reegan St.
Aubin, and Xavier Boyon, was coached by Genevieve Proulx-Graveline and mentored by
Eduardo Perez and Luis Candelaria, family friends from Puerto Rico with a passion for robotics.

Gagnon, the team leader, explained their involvement in VEX Robotics competitions, where
students designed, built, and programmed robots to compete in various challenges. “We
competed in the VEX Robotics competition,” she said. This competition is a global event, with
regional competitions leading up to the world championship. The team from École secondaire
Grande-Rivière performed admirably, reaching the semifinals in their provincial championship.
The journey to the competition was not without its challenges. The team faced a lack of
monetary support from their school and had to engage in extensive fundraising efforts to finance
their project. “We did about 15 to 20 fundraisers,” Gagnon recalled. From bottle drives to
participating in Christmas markets, the team demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and
determination.

Beyond the technical skills acquired through the competition, the experience has imparted
important life lessons to the team members. Gagnon reflected on the personal growth they
experienced: “We learned a lot of life lessons that I believe kids our age didn’t learn or wouldn’t
learn with the school system right now.” The team has learned the value of time management,
perseverance, and the importance of learning from mistakes.

However, the team’s ambitions extended beyond their success in competitions. They aimed to
establish a lasting robotics program at their school to inspire and engage future students. “We
wanted to compete, of course. But it was really about leaving a legacy for the kids who felt like
we didn’t really fit in,” Gagnon stated. The team’s efforts are starting to bear fruit, with teachers
expressing interest in incorporating robotics into the curriculum.

The team, known as Cyclones Robotics, embraced their status as underdogs in the
competitions. Their robot, named Adam, symbolized their journey, as they competed against
well-funded teams from private schools. “We competed against kids who had all the money and
accessibility,” Gagnon said, highlighting the challenges they faced.

As the team members prepare to graduate and move on to new endeavors, they hope that their
legacy will continue to inspire and empower future students at École secondaire Grande-
Rivière. Through their dedication and hard work, Cyclones Robotics has not only achieved
success in robotics competitions but has also paved the way for a new generation of students to
explore their passions in science and technology.​

Genevieve Proulx-Graveline, coach and mother of Noemie Gagnon, expressed her gratitude to
the local community for their support: “We want to thank the little Aylmer businesses that
believed in us even if they didn’t fund a lot. They loved the idea and encouraged us in monetary
donations or article donations or free services. Big companies didn’t help; it was the small ones
that believed. They gave in ways they could, and that was not passed without acknowledgment.
They deserve a huge thanks: E-Cycliste, Construction Greg Culley, Bastien & Co, Jimmy
Arsenault Courtier immobilier, SiOuiPromotion, ascensionphoto.net. And a big thanks also to all
of the people of this Aylmer community who supported us in all the numerous fundraisers we
did.”

Photo: At École secondaire Grande-Rivière in Gatineau, a group of high school students,
consisting of Noemie Gagnon, Raphael Belanger, Reegan St. Aubin, and Xavier Boyon, and
coached by Genevieve Proulx-Graveline, took the initiative to form a robotics team that has
quickly made a name for itself in the competitive world of VEX Robotics. (TF) Photo courtesy of
Genevieve Proulx-Graveline