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Vancouver Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
What to expect at KDays 2025: A look inside Edmonton's biggest summer celebration
KDays is back for 2025, promising 10 days of summer excitement in Edmonton. The official media launch, held Thursday morning at Klondike Park, offered the first look at what's ahead for one of Alberta's most iconic festivals. Hosted by Explore Edmonton, this year's event brings together tradition and innovation, featuring new attractions, major partnerships, enhanced safety measures, and a growing focus on local and Indigenous communities. As one of the oldest and largest fairs in Canada, dating back to 1879, KDays continues to evolve with Edmonton. Last year's event drew more than 740,000 visitors and generated $70 million in economic impact. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But organizers say its value extends far beyond numbers. It's about fostering connections, supporting community spirit and creating multi-generational memories. 'KDays is the second largest gathering in Alberta and the fourth largest fair in Canada. Aren't we proud we have the two largest events in the country or in Alberta,' said Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of business development at Explore Edmonton. 'KDays continues to be a celebration of Edmonton's vibrant and diverse spirit. We've deepened our partnerships with Indigenous communities and are welcoming more local performers, artists and grassroots organizations than ever before.' Gomes said this year marks the fourth year of Explore Edmonton's reimagined strategy for KDays, focused on reflecting the community through partnerships and event design. This includes hosting two international competitions, which are the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and a Head-to-Head Obstacle World Series, alongside traditional festival attractions. Attendees can also expect expanded cultural programming at the kiyânaw Indigenous Experience, and a new Eat, Play, Laugh Pass in collaboration with Taste of Edmonton and the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. 'I think it's a magical time to be in Edmonton in the summer, and KDays is really a large part of that annually. So we're excited about this year,' he said. KDays 2025 is backed by both provincial and municipal governments with funding, attendance, and public support playing a significant role in the festival's continued growth. Alberta Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton spoke at the event on behalf of Minister Tanya Fir, highlighting the province's $1 million investment in KDays through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Status of Women. 'Alberta's government is proud to support events that lift community spirit, support local economies and help build an even stronger Alberta,' Turton said. 'This investment helps ensure that Edmonton's largest summer fair can continue to bring Albertans and out-of-province visitors together to support summer in the absolutely best way.' The true value of KDays goes far beyond fun, said Turton, as it's about the lasting social impact it has on families and communities, 'whether it's a child's first ride on the carousel,' or 'a family laughing together over a new food discovery.' 'For over 130 years, KDays has been a fun, family-friendly event for people of all ages, creating a space where culture, commerce and community can thrive,' he said. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi echoed the importance of the festival's impact on local tourism and the economy. 'Last year, this iconic event generated $24.7 million in total economic impact, supporting over 600 jobs and boosting our tourism and hospitality sectors. Big cities lead big festivals,' he said. 'If we want to continue to attract the talent, investment and visitors, we need bold, unforgettable events that put Edmonton on the map.' Several new and returning partnerships were announced during the launch, including a new title sponsorship with North Central Co-op and the expansion of a second music stage in collaboration with CKUA Radio Network. 'On behalf of everyone at North Central Co Op, I am thrilled to officially kick off our partnership as the title sponsor of KDays,' said Samantha Dunn, vice-president of marketing and community relations. 'KDays has been a summer tradition that brings families, friends, neighbours and visitors together. It's a celebration of community connection and the vibrant spirit of this city we all call home.' Marc Carnes, CEO of CKUA and board member of Explore Edmonton, said music fans are in for a treat at this year's festival with a main stage packed with big-name headliners, fan favourites, and high-energy performances that will 'light up the night,' as well as the launch of a second stage — the CKUA Radio Stage — which he described as 'a perfect complement to the main stage.' 'KDays is back and this year we're turning the volume way up,' Carnes said. 'You'll get to discover some of Alberta's most exciting emerging talent, from country to blues, to everything in between, homegrown sounds, intimate sets, and the kind of musical discoveries that make you say, 'I saw them before they blew up.'' With safety often a concern at large public events, organizers say several measures have been added to ensure a secure environment for attendees. 'We've introduced a code of conduct policy that helps our team, along with EPS, ensure that behaviour on our site is up to standard,' said Gomes. 'We partner with the police services, have our own security teams on site, and implement all security screening at the gates.' He added that ensuring families feel safe is Explore Edmonton's top priority. 'That's the Number 1 thing we pay attention to, and we're monitoring it all the time.' cnguyen@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun
Calgary Herald
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
What to expect at KDays 2025: A look inside Edmonton's biggest summer celebration
KDays is back for 2025, promising 10 days of summer excitement in Edmonton. The official media launch, held Thursday morning at Klondike Park, offered the first look at what's ahead for one of Alberta's most iconic festivals. Article content Hosted by Explore Edmonton, this year's event brings together tradition and innovation, featuring new attractions, major partnerships, enhanced safety measures, and a growing focus on local and Indigenous communities. Article content Article content As one of the oldest and largest fairs in Canada, dating back to 1879, KDays continues to evolve with Edmonton. Last year's event drew more than 740,000 visitors and generated $70 million in economic impact. Article content Article content Article content But organizers say its value extends far beyond numbers. It's about fostering connections, supporting community spirit and creating multi-generational memories. Article content 'KDays is the second largest gathering in Alberta and the fourth largest fair in Canada. Aren't we proud we have the two largest events in the country or in Alberta,' said Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of business development at Explore Edmonton. 'KDays continues to be a celebration of Edmonton's vibrant and diverse spirit. We've deepened our partnerships with Indigenous communities and are welcoming more local performers, artists and grassroots organizations than ever before.' Article content Article content What's new in 2025 Article content Gomes said this year marks the fourth year of Explore Edmonton's reimagined strategy for KDays, focused on reflecting the community through partnerships and event design. This includes hosting two international competitions, which are the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and a Head-to-Head Obstacle World Series, alongside traditional festival attractions. Article content Article content Attendees can also expect expanded cultural programming at the kiyânaw Indigenous Experience, and a new Eat, Play, Laugh Pass in collaboration with Taste of Edmonton and the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. Article content 'I think it's a magical time to be in Edmonton in the summer, and KDays is really a large part of that annually. So we're excited about this year,' he said.
Edmonton Journal
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
What to expect at KDays 2025: A look inside Edmonton's biggest summer celebration
KDays is back for 2025, promising 10 days of summer excitement in Edmonton. The official media launch, held Thursday morning at Klondike Park, offered the first look at what's ahead for one of Alberta's most iconic festivals. Article content Hosted by Explore Edmonton, this year's event brings together tradition and innovation, featuring new attractions, major partnerships, enhanced safety measures, and a growing focus on local and Indigenous communities. Article content Article content As one of the oldest and largest fairs in Canada, dating back to 1879, KDays continues to evolve with Edmonton. Last year's event drew more than 740,000 visitors and generated $70 million in economic impact. Article content Article content 'KDays is the second largest gathering in Alberta and the fourth largest fair in Canada. Aren't we proud we have the two largest events in the country or in Alberta,' said Arlindo Gomes, vice-president of business development at Explore Edmonton. 'KDays continues to be a celebration of Edmonton's vibrant and diverse spirit. We've deepened our partnerships with Indigenous communities and are welcoming more local performers, artists and grassroots organizations than ever before.' Article content Article content What's new in 2025 Article content Gomes said this year marks the fourth year of Explore Edmonton's reimagined strategy for KDays, focused on reflecting the community through partnerships and event design. This includes hosting two international competitions, which are the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and a Head-to-Head Obstacle World Series, alongside traditional festival attractions. Article content Attendees can also expect expanded cultural programming at the kiyânaw Indigenous Experience, and a new Eat, Play, Laugh Pass in collaboration with Taste of Edmonton and the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival. Article content 'I think it's a magical time to be in Edmonton in the summer, and KDays is really a large part of that annually. So we're excited about this year,' he said.
CBC
15-04-2025
- Science
- CBC
Sudbury robotics team makes Canadian history with double qualification for world championships
For the first time ever, a Canadian team has qualified for both the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) world championships in the same year. About 30 students from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in Sudbury are now in Houston, Texas, to compete in the world championships. "I never really saw myself that much in robotics until I came to Lo-Ellen," said Grade 12 student Maija Nener. FTC involves smaller robots and smaller team sizes, which student Kate Brett said makes it "easier for under-resourced teams and younger students" to get started before moving on to FRC. The FRC robots are much larger — about 120 pounds. "It's different every year, but the main trend is they have an object they need to pick up and place on another object, while having to compete against other teams," explained fellow student Lane Boyuk. The games This year's game is water-themed, called Reefscape. The robotics teams are awarded points based off the tasks their robot completes. "So they pick up little pipes called coral, and they can place them on a reef," explained Brett. Then there's also balls on the reef called the algae and they can take those off the reef and score them in a net high up." It took the team about two months to design and create the robot they're taking to Houston. Brett said the team's qualification for the championships is special because they earned an engineering inspiration award for teaching other schools about FTC and FRC, helping to build STEM and robotics knowledge in northern Ontario. All three students said they plan to pursue mechanical or general engineering after graduation, crediting their school's robotics program with sparking their interest. "There's no money, but there's definitely honour and a bunch of awards we can win that will help us keep our program running in future years, and just the experience of competing on the world stage," said Boyuk. The championships wrap up this weekend with results expected next week.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mouser Electronics Empowers Next Generation of Engineers as Registration Sponsor of 2025 FIRST Robotics Championship
DALLAS & FORT WORTH, Texas, April 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader™ empowering innovation, is excited to continue its sponsorship of the FIRST® Robotics Competition, which inspires innovation and fosters well-rounded life capabilities in tens of thousands of young people every year. Mouser will be the registration sponsor at the upcoming FIRST Championship, April 16-19, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. At the Championship, Mouser will exhibit at the Innovation Faire, where a special appearance will be given by the Mouser-sponsored BattleBots Team HUGE and their heavyweight 250-pound robot. "Since Mouser's humble beginnings, education has played a key role in our mission," said Kevin Hess, Mouser's Senior Vice President of Marketing. "We are very excited to be a strong supporter of the FIRST Robotics Competition since 2014. The organization gives students a platform for innovation, a chance to learn valuable engineering skills, and an opportunity to build character and self-esteem." For over a decade, Mouser has been a major supporter of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through hands-on robotics programs that teach problem-solving, teamwork and more. Mouser was a major sponsor of the FIRST in Texas District Championship in early April while also proudly supporting FIRST teams in its local community, providing grants for high school teams across Tarrant County, Texas. The FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sports with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules and limited time and resources, student teams are challenged to build industrial-sized robots to play difficult field games in alliance with other teams while also fundraising to meet their goals, designing a team brand and advancing respect and appreciation for STEM within the local community. To learn more about the FIRST Robotics Competition, visit As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the widest selection of the newest semiconductors, electronic components and industrial automation products. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers' designs, Mouser's website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information. Engineers can stay abreast of today's exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser's complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser's email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at About Mouser Electronics Mouser Electronics is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor's website, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 28 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit Trademarks Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on Contacts For further information, contact:Kevin Hess, Mouser ElectronicsSenior Vice President of Marketing+1 (817) For press inquiries, contact:Kelly DeGarmo, Mouser ElectronicsManager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations+1 (817) Sign in to access your portfolio
