Waterloo Region & Guelph Innovate Council

September 22, 2026 -  Dr. Suzanne Kearns is being recognized with an “Innovate Challenge Award” for transforming a student-driven question about the future of flight into a partnership-based model for sustainable aviation innovation with local, national and global impact.  A former airplane and helicopter pilot, Suzanne began flying before she was old enough to drive. Her career has been guided by her belief that there are two kinds of people: those who love and are inspired by the innovation of flight - and those who could be, if given the opportunity.  At the University of Waterloo, the spark for her next major contribution came from her students. They loved aviation, but they also wanted to know whether its future could align with the environmental and social values of their generation.  Suzanne recognized that the biggest challenges facing aviation - sustainability, technological change, workforce shortages and the long-term viability of the sector - were too large for any one person, organization or region to solve alone. In response, she founded and leads a research institute called the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, known as WISA. Today, WISA brings together more than 150 professors, along with students, industry, government, flight-training partners and community organizations, to identify practical solutions for the future of aviation.

Through these efforts, Waterloo Region has become a living lab for sustainable aviation. Working with the Region of Waterloo International Airport and the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, WISA has supported electric aircraft research, solar infrastructure, hands-on student learning and new models for pilot training. This work helped contribute to Transport Canada’s approval of electric aircraft for pilot training, opening a pathway for future pilots to learn on quieter, lower-emission aircraft - planes Suzanne memorably describes as able to “fly on sunshine.” Suzanne’s impact also reaches far beyond Waterloo Region. As the author of six aviation education books and currently working on her seventh, Suzanne has helped shape how aviation is taught and understood around the world.  Building on the curriculum she developed through her textbook Fundamentals of International Aviation, she fostered a partnership between ICAO, a United Nations specialized agency, and the University of Waterloo to distribute global aviation e-learning. That work has helped more than 7,000 learners from 141 countries understand aviation as a connected global system. Her textbook is also used in universities internationally, including in multiple translations.  Most recently, Suzanne’s leadership has helped strengthen Waterloo’s place in the global aerospace innovation ecosystem, including through a research partnership between the University of Waterloo and Airbus.  By inspiring students, mobilizing partners, and connecting local innovation to global education, Suzanne Kearns demonstrates how aviation can continue to connect communities while building a cleaner, more resilient and more sustainable future of flight. Her work is helping prepare the aviation and aerospace leaders of tomorrow to meet the challenges of a changing world.  The Waterloo Region & Guelph Innovate Council is proud to recognize Suzanne for the global impact that she has had in shaping the future of aviation.

June 7, 2026 -The Waterloo Region & Guelph Innovate Council presented the Innovate Challenge Award to helping shape the future of transit in Waterloo Region through thoughtful, community-driven innovation. The Grand River Transit has shown leadership in making service easier to use, more responsive to riders, and better aligned with community needs, including fast and frequent service, overnight connections, and strategic expansion. GRT also plays a vital role in moving people through conventional buses, ION light rail, and specialized door-to-door service, supporting accessibility and inclusion across the region.  Its commitment to meeting record demand while continuing to improve service shows a practical and forward-looking approach to public transit. Recognizing Grand River Transit would celebrate an organization that turns ideas into action and delivers meaningful change for the people it serves.

April 24, 2026 - Boundless Accelerator exemplifies the spirit of the Innovate Challenge Award by translating provincial, federal, and regional investment into tangible, community-level innovation outcomes across Ontario. In 2026, Boundless celebrates 15 years of supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, having worked with more than 1,500 businesses and delivered nearly 80,000 hours of advisory support – an established track record that underscores its experience in driving commercialization and growth.  Through the Government of Canada–funded Southern Ontario Environmental Impact Fund (SOEIF), Boundless delivers two complementary program streams – the i.d.e.a. Fund and the Sustainable Impact Program – designed to support ventures as they develop, validate, and scale solutions that reduce environmental impact while strengthening regional economies. Delivered in collaboration with a network of Regional Innovation Centres – Innovate Niagara, Innovation Factory, Launch Lab, TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, and WEtech Alliance – the i.d.e.a. Fund provides coordinated mentorship, business advisory services, and market access support to participating ventures. Recent cohorts have supported companies such as ArcticEdge Technologies (clean-tech hardware), Eden Aeroponics and Sheps Farm (agri-food innovation), and Clean Market Bag and SALT Leisure Wear (circular products), enabling them to bring “made-in-Canada” solutions to market with clear environmental and economic benefits.  This partnership-driven, cross-regional approach ensures that founders, regardless of location, can access the expertise, capital pathways, and connections needed to scale effectively. By combining targeted capital with hands-on advisory and strong regional collaboration, Boundless aligns directly with the Innovate Challenge’s focus on practical, socially oriented innovation with visible community benefit.