For many young people, the future can feel hard to picture.
A career in science, technology, engineering, math, or the skilled trades may seem exciting, but also distant. It may feel like something for someone else. Someone who has already met an engineer. Someone who has visited a lab.
Someone who knows what questions to ask, what path to take, and where to begin.
BIG on STEM exists to change that.
Created through a partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Cenovus Energy, BIG on STEM connects youth with hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, STEM professionals, and real-world career pathways. The goal is simple and powerful: help young people see that their future can be bigger than they imagined.
In 2025, 242 youth across Canada participated in BIG on STEM. Through local events delivered by Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, youth explored science, technology, engineering, math, and skilled trades in ways that were interactive, approachable, and rooted in real life.
They coded robots. Built bridges. Tested water filtration systems. Explored engineering buildings, science centres, college campuses, and training spaces. They met professionals who use STEM in their work every day. They asked questions. They tried new things. They discovered that STEM is not just something learned in a textbook. It is something they can touch, build, test, explore, and imagine themselves being part of.
One youth put it simply: “I didn’t know STEM could look like this. I want to learn more.”
That moment matters.
Because when a young person sees a career differently, they may begin to see themselves differently too.
"I didn’t know STEM could look like this. I want to learn more." -BIG on STEM Youth Participant
Turning curiosity into confidence
Planning for the future can be overwhelming for youth. It can be especially difficult when they have not had access to the people, places, and experiences that make future pathways feel real.
BIG on STEM helps remove that distance.
Through the support of mentors, agency staff, Cenovus employees, and local STEM professionals, youth were able to explore careers in a welcoming environment where questions were encouraged and trying something new was part of the experience.
The results show the impact:
- 98% of participants found BIG on STEM to be a positive and worthwhile experience
- 98% felt inspired to explore more opportunities related to STEM
- 97% felt supported in exploring STEM education and career pathways
- 97% would recommend participating in BIG on STEM
These numbers tell one part of the story. The youth tell the rest.
One mentee shared, “I had so much fun today. I got to try things I never even knew existed. I built stuff, coded a robot, and when I got home, I even tried making a volcano because I didn’t want the day to end. It just made me feel really happy and creative. I didn’t think I’d be good at STEM, but I actually think I can!”
That shift, from “I don’t think I can” to “I actually think I can,” is the heart of BIG on STEM.
Learning from real people, in real places
One of the most powerful parts of BIG on STEM is that youth are not only learning about STEM. They are meeting people who work in STEM.
In 2025, 63 STEM professionals supported local BIG on STEM events, including 32 Cenovus staff. Their participation helped youth connect classroom concepts to real career paths, real workplaces, and real stories.
In Lloydminster, youth visited Cenovus Place and moved through hands-on stations led by Cenovus professionals, learning how STEM appears in daily work. In Wood Buffalo, youth explored computer science, drone technology, 3D printing, robotics, pipefitting, welding, and esports technology through a partnership with Keyano College. In Eastern Newfoundland, youth visited the Marine Institute and explored ocean technology, fisheries, maritime studies, and the acoustic tank, with Cenovus employees sharing their own career journeys.
Across the country, the message was consistent: STEM is not one path. It is many paths. It can lead to engineering, environmental science, skilled trades, technology, energy, innovation, and careers youth may not have known existed.
A mentor shared, “This program gave my mentee so much confidence. They were nervous about STEM at first, but after trying the activities and meeting real professionals, they talked about it for days. As a mentor, seeing them step into challenges, make new friends, and feel proud of themselves was incredible.”
A partnership opening doors
BIG on STEM is made possible through Cenovus Energy’s generous support and shared belief in helping young people prepare for their futures.
Together, BBBSC and Cenovus are helping youth explore career pathways, build confidence, and discover how STEM and skilled trades can connect to the world around them. For some youth, the experience may spark a new interest. For others, it may confirm a dream they were already beginning to imagine. For many, it may be the first time they feel that a future in STEM is within reach.
That is the power of mentorship.
It helps young people ask bigger questions. It helps them feel supported as they explore what comes next. It helps them see that they belong in spaces they may have once thought were not for them.
One youth said it best: “This was one of the best days ever. I got to see real STEM classrooms, do hands-on activities, and work with people who explained everything in a way that made sense. It was fun and interesting and made me think about jobs I didn’t even know were possible. I feel inspired and excited for the future.”
BIG on STEM is more than a program. It is a doorway.
And because of Cenovus Energy, more young people are walking through it.
We want to thank all our partners like Cenovus Energy who help reach youth who need us most.
Help create more opportunities like BIG on STEM. Learn how mentorship opens doors for youth across Canada.
