Representatives from Bombardier, CAE, Bureau en Gros, PCO Innovation, Kiewit Construction and a number of other companies came to meet the students they sponsor. For the occasion, several Polytechnique technical societies, including Esteban, Archimède, Formule SAE, Mini-Baja and Canoë de béton, exhibited their prototypes of the year. This gathering, which undoubtedly will become an annual tradition, also offered an opportunity for these sponsors to learn more about the projects they support.

Laurence Lebel, Director of the Esteban project and the event's initiator, was delighted with the evening's result. "The sponsors are at the heart of every project's success," she said. "Each year, they hear our requests and process them without having a chance to meet the members of the team they are supporting or to realize the impact of their contribution. An event like this lets us thank the partners and express to them our full recognition. It is also an opportunity for them to seek candidates among passionate and capable students to fill internships or jobs within their organizations. In short, we can say there was something for everyone."

Mini-Baja 2011 is heading to Pittsburgh

Eight members of the Mini-Baja team will travel to Pittsburgh to take on other university students as part of a competition that take place May 26 to 29. Their goals involve both static and dynamic tests. After taking part in the friendly Épreuve du Nord competition last winter, the team is confident in their vehicle's dynamic performance. They are hoping to do well in the acceleration, hauling and manoeuvrability tests and, of course, in the endurance race. In the static competition, the Mini-Baja members must present and justify the vehicle's design to a jury. This test requires solid preparation and an excellent knowledge of the car. This is the test that team members have focused their efforts on this year.

The vehicle finished seventh in the final ranking among nearly 100 teams in a competition two years ago.

Polytechnique is hoping the 2011 model can also finish in the top 10! Good luck to the entire team!