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Press Release

Jul 2023 18

Hackergal and RBCx celebrate gender inclusivity in tech with the Inaugural scholarship program

Press Release

The scholarship promotes inclusivity for career opportunities in the STEAM field and targets girls and non-binary learners as early as high school

 

TORONTO, July 18, 2023 – Hackergal, a leading charity focusing on tech education for girls
and non-binary learners across Canada, and this year’s sponsor, RBCx, awarded the first ever
Hackergal Scholarships during an award ceremony held on July 11, 2023.

The Hackergal Scholarship program launched this year, awarding Hackergal Scholars who
exemplify passion and dedication to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry and take action
as catalysts for positive change within their communities. The Scholarship provides $5,000 to
two high school seniors pursuing higher education in a STEAM field.

The inaugural recipients of the Hackergal Scholarship are Aruthy ​​Sriketharan of Mississauga
Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, and Lakshmi Muralidhar of Bramalea Secondary
School in Brampton, Ontario.

The ceremony celebrating this year’s recipients was held in an RBCx office in front of a full room
of guests, including scholarship recipients and their families, Hackergal and RBCx staff, board
members, and supporters.

“We are thrilled to launch our first ever scholarship program and support the education of our
future leaders. This is a monumental milestone for the organization and our partners,
demonstrating progress towards closing Canada’s gender gap in technology,” said Lucy Ho,
Founder and Executive Director of Hackergal. “At Hackergal, we believe that education is a
powerful tool for social change, and we are committed to supporting our learners to achieve
their goals and make a positive impact in their communities. These Scholars have demonstrated
exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement, and we are
honored to be a part of their journey.”

As backers of Canada’s tech ecosystem, program sponsor RBCx is committed to supporting
initiatives that help to break down barriers for a more diverse group of future leaders.

“To power an inclusive space for the next generation of leaders, it’s important that we equip
organizations with support to drive meaningful change forward,” said Nicole Kelly, Head of
Marketing at RBCx. “RBCx is proud to sponsor Hackergal in their mission to foster a more
equitable tech and innovation industry through education that encourages bolder, brighter
ideas.”

To qualify for the scholarship, students must have demonstrated academic achievement,
leadership, and community involvement, and have submitted a completed application, including
a personal statement and letters of recommendation.

For more information about Hackergal, please visit www.hackergal.org.

Aruthy Finaledit colour Hackergal and RBCx celebrate gender inclusivity in tech with the Inaugural scholarship programLakshmi Finaledit colour Hackergal and RBCx celebrate gender inclusivity in tech with the Inaugural scholarship program

About Hackergal
Hackergal was founded in 2015 with the mission to introduce girls across Canada to computer
science through its hackathon program. The charity’s goal is to create a national movement of
girls coding, ultimately closing the gender gap in technology and computer science — by
sparking their interest and confidence at an early age.

About RBCx
RBCx powers bold ideas, founders, and technology companies. We know building great
businesses takes more than just finance, which is why our four pillars – Banking, Capital,
Platform, and Ventures – combine to make us the go-to backer of Canadian innovation. We use
our deep expertise to support businesses of all sizes and stages, and leverage RBC’s extensive
experience, networks, and capital to solve tomorrow’s big problems.

Media Contact:
Ruby Awan
Marketing Manager, Hackergal
ruby@hackergal.org

 

 

Aug 2021 2

HACKERGAL’s 10th NATIONAL HACKATHON CODED THE FUTURE!

Press Release

With Canada’s Only All-Girls Hackathon Closing the Technology Gender Gap Hackergal Brings Girls Together to Code with a Purpose

TORONTO, July 31, 2021 – Hackergal’s national all-girls Hackathon was a huge success with more than 450 girls registered for the event from June 4 to 11, 2021.  Hackergal’s National Hackathon program is designed for girls in grades 6-9 to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among girls across the country.

The theme for the Hackathon was “She Codes The Future.” Participating students worked in groups to imagine what the future could like from their perspective.  As the next generation of technology entrepreneurs, problem solvers, leaders, and change-makers, participants were encouraged to harness their creativity, be bold and dream of what could be possible when their imaginations have no limits!

Some “She Codes The Future” projects from participating students put their creative thinking on display about the issues facing the world.

This was Hackergal’s 10th bi-annual Hackathon, a nationwide event that builds a community of female* coders across Canada. This year the entire event was done virtually for the first time.

“This year’s Hackathon set a precedent! We were blown away with how the girls creatively solved real world problems with their newly-acquired coding and computational thinking skills,” said Kumiko Imai, Director of Education at Hackergal.  “We know how much this event means to the girls who are part of our programs as well as the teachers and parents, and we saw how the community really showed up for one another.”

“When I first joined Hackergal I was really nervous about coding, but now I feel confident. I learned a lot and I love that when I’m coding, I decide what happens next. And some of the most important parts were not even about coding, it was about seeing more women in tech fields. Hackergal influenced my mindset and I learned that just because I am a female, it does not mean I can’t work in tech or in many industries that are mostly males.” said Neina Radhakrishnan, grade 7 Hackathon participant.

“Coding has inspired my 13-year-old daughter to understand that it’s not only for boys. That she too can truly do anything with technology. Coding has also helped to improve her skills in math, creativity and above all her confidence when dealing with technology. Math has always been Neina’s nemesis but since coding she finds it more interesting and is motivated to keep practicing. I’m so grateful to Hackergal for offering an amazing program for girls. Neina’s already planning on joining the next round.” Sonia Walia, Neina Radhakrishnan’s mother.

Hackergal is a charitable organization dedicated to inspiring girls to explore opportunities in computer science. Collaborating with teachers across the country, Hackergal offers a supportive learning experience for both students and educators, providing the tools they need to learn how to code in preparation for Hackergal’s Hackathon.

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About Hackergal
Hackergal was founded in 2015 with the mission to introduce girls across Canada to computer science through its hackathon program. The charity’s goal is to create a national movement of girls coding, ultimately closing the gender gap in technology and computer science — by sparking their interest and confidence at an early age. Hackergal has four programmatic pillars to support its mission:

  • Hackergal Hackathon: The Hackergal Hackathon invites middle school girls across Canada to work in teams to code a project focused on creating social impact change.
  • Hackergal Hub: Hackergal Hub is a free online learning platform that equips girls with the tools to lead their own coding journeys!
  • Scholarships and Ambassador Program: Hackergal is committed to providing ongoing support to girls who have participated in our programs and are keen to pursue their interest in computer science and technology-related fields. Hackergal will provide internships, scholarships, and networking opportunities to pave the way for a more equitable future in technology.
  • Growing Hackergal – Diversity and Inclusion: Hackergal is focused on expanding our reach and impact on girls and facilitators across Canada to support BIPOC communities, building inclusive programs that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Media Contact
Hackergal
Sarah Commbs
scprcanada@gmail.com
(416) 729-8550

Mar 2021 29

Hackergal’s 10th National Hackathon is Back and Better Than Ever!

Press Release

With Canada’s Only All Girls Hackathon Closing the Technology Gender Gap Hackergal Brings Girls Together to Code with a Purpose

TORONTO, March 29, 2021 – Hackergal today announced that their National all-girl’s Hackathon is back June 4 to 11, 2021.  Hackergal’s National Hackathon program is designed for girls in grades 6-9 to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among girls across the country.

This will be Hackergal’s 10th Annual Hackathon, a nation-wide event that builds a community of female coders across Canada. The Hackathon is open to schools, libraries, community and government organizations.  At Hackergal’s last Hackathon in December 2019, more than 4,500 girls from across Canada participated.  This year, girls will connect virtually with their peers to use the coding skills they’ve learned to code an interactive story or game around a social impact theme.

Hackergal has introduced Hackergal Hub, their proprietary, free online learning portal offering interactive computer science education accessible to all girls in Canada available in English and French. It offers coding curriculum through interactive course content, webinars, videos, interviews and blogs featuring Women in Tech role models, and career connections. Hackergal Hub supports schools and community organizations that have pivoted to online learning, offering virtual hackathon coding lessons to students remotely while providing teacher-led lessons via video conferencing.

“Hackergal’s National Hackathon is a way for girls to put their coding skills to work to solve a real-world issue,” said Lucy Ho, Founder & Executive Director, Hackergal.  “COVID-19 has put all of us to the test over the past year which made us even more determined to bring back the annual Hackathon to inspire and connect this growing community of girls who want to pursue technology-related studies in STEM and computer science.  We know how much this event means to the girls who are part of our programs and the importance of giving them a way to let their new skills shine. This unique event provides girls with a safe environment to work together using technology and shape the world we live in.”

Hackergal is a charitable organization inspiring girls to explore opportunities in computer science. Collaborating with teachers across the country, Hackergal offers a supportive learning experience for both students and educators, providing the tools they need to learn how to code in preparation for Hackergal’s Hackathon.

“Being part of Hackergal has opened my eyes to the world of options that I can pursue in school,” said Janat Baig, Hackergal Student Ambassador. “I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to be a part of the Hackergal Hackathon experience. I worked with a team to build an interactive story online to solve a challenge we were given, using the coding concepts that I had already learned. I had so much fun and made new friends who are also interested in computer science.  I am definitely planning for a technology career.”

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About Hackergal
Hackergal was founded in 2015 with the mission to introduce girls across Canada to computer science through its hackathon program. The charity’s goal is to create a national movement of girls coding, ultimately closing the gender gap in technology and computer science — by sparking their interest and confidence at an early age. Hackergal has four programmatic pillars to support its mission:

  • Hackergal Hackathon: The Hackergal Hackathon invites middle school girls across Canada to work in teams to code a project focused on creating social impact change.
  • Hackergal Hub: Hackergal Hub is a free online learning platform that equips girls with the tools to lead their own coding journeys!
  • Scholarships and Ambassador Program: Hackergal is committed to providing ongoing support to girls who have participated in our programs and are keen to pursue their interest in computer science and technology-related fields. Hackergal will provide internships, scholarships, and networking opportunities to pave the way for a more equitable future in technology.
  • Growing Hackergal – Diversity and Inclusion: Hackergal is focused on expanding our reach and impact on girls and facilitators across Canada to support BIPOC communities, building inclusive programs that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

About Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications Inc. is a leading Canadian connectivity company. The Wireline division consists of Consumer and Business Services. Consumer serves residential customers with broadband Internet, Shaw Go WiFi, video, and digital phone. Business provides business customers with Internet, data, WiFi, digital phone, and video services. The Wireless division provides wireless voice and LTE data services through an expanding and improving mobile wireless network infrastructure.

Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, SJR.PR.A, SJR.PR.B, NYSE – SJR, and TSXV – SJR.A). For more information, please visit www.shaw.ca

Media Contact
Hackergal
Sarah Commbs
scprcanada@gmail.com
(416) 729-8550

Mar 2021 8

Hackergal and Shaw Communications Partner to Make STEM, Coding, and Computer Science More Accessible To Girls Across Western Canada

Press Release

New two-year partnership with Shaw to expand National Hackathon program and launch new Hackergal Student Ambassador program in Western Canada

TORONTO, March 8, 2021 – Hackergal today announced the launch of a new Student Ambassador program in Western Canada and the expansion of its National Hackathon program, both designed to raise awareness and generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and computer science education among girls in grades six-through-nine across the country.

With support from Shaw Communications Inc., the Western Canadian Student Ambassador program will build on Hackergal’s existing network by providing girls with ongoing training workshops, industry connections, internships, and scholarship opportunities. Through these activities, Hackergal will pave the way for a more diverse and equitable future in STEM-related industries and organizations.

“The Student Ambassador Program is a community for like-minded girls to be inspired, supported, and connected to industry experts and opportunities as they pursue technology-related studies,” said Lucy Ho, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Hackergal. “These Ambassadors are Canada’s change-makers, storytellers, and future leaders, and we are excited to partner with Shaw to launch this program in Western Canada to support the growing number of girls who wish to further their STEM and computer science education.”

Hackergal was founded with the mission to help bridge the gender gap in technology and computer science fields by introducing female students to code through their Hackathon programs – inspiring and empowering girls to later pursue careers in STEM. Since 2015, over 20,000 girls have been exposed to computer science education through Hackergal’s programs.

As a regional partner, Shaw will also support Hackergal’s national all-girls Hackathon. Hackergal will expand programming to support girls in Western Canada with the goal to provide coding education to more than 3,000 girls over the next two years.

“By providing interesting and engaging material through their Hackathons and Student Ambassador program, Hackergal is inspiring young girls across Canada to pursue careers in science and technology – helping to make the gender gap in these fields a thing of the past,” said Chethan Lakshman, Vice President, External Affairs, Shaw Communications. “Through our partnership, we are excited to help Hackergal expand their programming to educate and inspire young women to feel empowered, to dream big, and challenge the status quo.”

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About Hackergal
Hackergal was founded in 2015 with the mission to introduce girls across Canada to computer science through its hackathon program. The charity’s goal is to create a national movement of girls coding, ultimately closing the gender gap in technology and computer science — by sparking their interest and confidence at an early age. Hackergal has four programmatic pillars to support its mission:

  • Hackergal Hackathon: The Hackergal Hackathon invites middle school girls across Canada to work in teams to code a project focused on creating social impact change.
  • Hackergal Hub: Hackergal Hub is a free online learning platform that equips girls with the tools to lead their own coding journeys!
  • Scholarships and Ambassador Program: Hackergal is committed to providing ongoing support to girls who have participated in our programs and are keen to pursue their interest in computer science and technology-related fields. Hackergal will provide internships, scholarships, and networking opportunities to pave the way for a more equitable future in technology.
  • Growing Hackergal – Diversity and Inclusion: Hackergal is focused on expanding our reach and impact on girls and facilitators across Canada to support BIPOC communities, building inclusive programs that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

About Shaw Communications
Shaw Communications Inc. is a leading Canadian connectivity company. The Wireline division consists of Consumer and Business Services. Consumer serves residential customers with broadband Internet, Shaw Go WiFi, video, and digital phone. Business provides business customers with Internet, data, WiFi, digital phone, and video services. The Wireless division provides wireless voice and LTE data services through an expanding and improving mobile wireless network infrastructure.

Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX – SJR.B, SJR.PR.A, SJR.PR.B, NYSE – SJR, and TSXV – SJR.A). For more information, please visit www.shaw.ca

Media Contact
Hackergal
Sarah Commbs
scprcanada@gmail.com
(416) 729-8550

Shaw Communications Inc.
Chethan Lakshman, VP, External Affairs
chethan.lakshman@sjrb.ca
(403) 930-8448

Dec 2019 11

All Girls Hackathon Codes to Close the Gender Gap

Press Release

Hackergal hosts virtual Hackathon for Computer Science Education Week to bridge the gender gap in technology

December 11, 2019 – TORONTO – On December 11th, at 12 pm Eastern Time, over 4,500 girls will connect virtually with their peers across Canada. From the East Coast to the West, major cities to remote communities, girls grades 6-9 will log in from their classrooms to use the coding skills they’ve learned over the past several months. It’s Hackergal’s 5th Annual Hackathon, a nation-wide event that builds a community of female coders in Canadian schools.

Hackergal is a charitable organization inspiring girls to explore opportunities in computer science. Collaborating with teachers across the country, Hackergal offers a supportive learning experience for both students and educators, providing the tools they need to learn how to code in preparation for Hackergal’s biannual hackathon, a cumulative event where girls apply their digital skills and collaboratively code around a social impact theme.

Reflections on Leadership
This year’s theme “Leaders in Herstory” asks girls to consider the qualities of everyday champions, fictional heroes, and role models. In a time where leadership is at the forefront of our thoughts, the girls will code an interactive story or game as a reflection of the individual’s story or impact, no matter how big or small. They’ll be asked to consider who the leaders in their lives are, what is exceptional about these people, and how can the girls themselves emulate these qualities in their own lives.

The girls in our program are at that crucial age when they form personal narratives about their capabilities while making important decisions about their future. They are learning about problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills as they are challenged to think about technology in new ways and be resilient in a supportive setting. These are the experiences that will set girls up for success and help them grow into Canada’s future tech champions.

— Kumiko Imai, Director of Education, Hackergal

Bridging the Gender Gap
As the tech industry continues to grow annually, there is an increased demand for diverse skills, perspectives, and talent, but women and girls are often left behind. In STEM fields, women make up 22% of the workforce, a number that has only grown by 2 percent in the past thirty years. Women are also vastly underrepresented in leadership roles, with more than 53% of Canadian tech companies reporting to have zero women on their executive teams.

Working in the tech industry, I noticed again and again how tech leadership continues to be dominated by men. It made me think: how can girls aspire to have an impact in this field if they are not exposed to role models that look and sound like them? That’s why it’s important for us to champion girls at a young age and support them through their coding journey so they can see themselves as future leaders and changemakers.

— Lucy Ho, Founder, Hackergal

With a dedication to developing a diverse and inclusive technology industry, Hackergal is hosting an iPad and Swift Playground workshop bringing students together to explore the intersection of creativity and code in Toronto on December 13th.

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About Hackergal
Hackergal is a charitable organization inspiring girls to explore their own potential in computer sciences through the experience of a hackathon. Hackergal works directly with the education system across Canada, providing educators with the tools they need to expose girls to coding lessons in their very own schools! For more information, visit us at www.hackergal.org

Media Contact
Bukunmi Ogunrosoye
Digital Marketing and Communications Coordinator
bukunmi@hackergal.org
(226) 9218209

Sep 2019 19

Hackergal Receives $1M in Government Funding to Reach New Heights with Coding Education for Girls

Press Release

Toronto, September 19, 2019 – Hackergal, a not-for-profit organization that introduces young girls across Canada to coding, has received $1 million from the Government of Canada’s CanCode funding, which has allowed them to launch Hackergal 2.0: Reaching New Heights.

As one of the 21 organizations to receive a collective $12.4 million from the second stream of CanCode funding over the next two years, Hackergal 2.0: Reaching New Heights initiative will deliver training on the basics of coding through workshops and semiannual hackathons in schools from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

It is important we provide opportunities for young girls to see themselves beyond gender stereotypes and see how capable they are as engineers, scientists, and technology leaders starting at an early age. By providing environments where girls can be inspired, be curious, and ask questions, girls will use technology to shape the world we live in for the better. That’s what I see through our hackathons each year.

— Lucy Ho, Co-Founder & Executive Director

The Hackergal 2.0: Reaching New Heights initiative will:

  • Develop an online portal for program delivery to increase Hackergal’s impact through their nationwide in-school hackathons
  • Build its program reach to engage over 17,000 new girls to learn code across Canada
  • Provide training and development opportunities for over 850 educators on digital skills
  • Create customized coding and technology-related educational resources to support provincial and territorial curricula requirements
  • Expand program delivery into Quebec and French-speaking schools across participating provinces and territories

Since Hackergal’s initial launch in late 2015, Hackegal has increased the number of girls engaged in their hackathon education program from 300+ girls in Ontario to over 7,500 girls this past year across all provinces. With the support of CanCode, Hackergal will expand programming to support girls in traditionally underrepresented groups with the goal to bring code education to 50,000+ girls cumulatively over the next three years.

Hackergal has evolved under Lucy’s leadership to become the largest hackathon in Canadian history, as measured by the number of participants. I cannot understate the true innovation from the Hackergal team, the ability to host a national learning event with 100+ schools from Western to Atlantic Canada culminating in a hackathon within which diverse teachers are able to lead girls through the process of learning a programming language. It’s remarkable. Now with the support of the Government of Canada, we are excited to grow Hackergal many times larger. Our ultimate objective is to dramatically change what we believe is the largest gender gap in society today – developers.

— Ray Sharma, Co-Founder & Chair

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About Hackergal
Hackergal was founded in 2015 with the mission to introduce girls across Canada to computer science through its hackathon program. The not-for-profit’s goal is to create a national movement of girls coding — ultimately closing the gender gap in technology and computer science — by sparking their interest and confidence at an early age. To learn more or register your school for Hackergal’s 5th Annual Hackathon this Fall, reach out to the team by emailing hello@hackergal.org.

MEDIA