Preparations underway for 23rd Annual Bridge Building Contest

April 5, 2016

Whitehorse – 343 bridge builders have registered for the 23rd Annual Bridge Building contest to be held this Saturday April 9, at the Porter Creek Secondary School gym. This is up from 222 builders last year and is the highest number in the past decade.

The event, organised by Science Adventures at Yukon College and the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, will feature a total of 165 bridges created by students from 14 Yukon schools, home educators, plus adults in the All-Can category.

The organizing committee relaxed the rules in the All-Can category this year, although they are attributing the jump in competitors to three schools re-joining the contest this year - Hidden Valley and Takhini Elementary in Whitehorse, and Tantalus Community School in Carmacks. The All-Can category has seven entries registered.

Takhini Elementary is leading the way by submitting 22 bridges for testing; Whitehorse Elementary and Christ the King Elementary are next, each submitting 16 bridges. Each bridge is made only from wooden coffee stir sticks, white glue and dental floss.  The challenge is to build the lightest bridge that can hold the most weight. The excitement is seeing how big a load these bridges can endure before they break.

Yukon Minister of Education, Doug Graham, will be the guest speaker opening the event. Contestants can drop off their bridges at Porter Creek Secondary between 2-6 p.m. on Friday April 8. Submissions are available for viewing 12-1 p.m. on Saturday April 9, followed by the actual contest as the strength of each bridge is tested. A large slow motion replay screen will be there and a public concession stand will keep everyone fueled up for the action.

In preparation for this event, members of the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon have been making school presentations in French and English about bridge building techniques, as well as other fascinating engineering topics. Schools in Carmacks, Faro and Whitehorse have taken advantage of this program.

Each competitor receives a certificate that includes a photo of their bridge and a participation prize. Prizes will also be awarded in each age category and there are special prizes for best narrative, best looking, strongest, and lightest bridges.

Visit scienceadventures.ca for details on the competition.