An epic battle of robots will take place this weekend at Georgian College’s third FIRST Robotics competition at the Barrie campus's athletics centre.
The event, which is in collaboration with FIRST Robotics Canada, includes 27 teams of high school students, including five from Michigam, three from Simcoe County and 19 others from across the province. They will compete using robots they designed, built, programmed and tested.
The competition also includes 900 team supporters and 100 volunteers, many of them college staff and students.
Robots will arrive at the campus on Friday evening, with opening ceremonies on Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m.
Local dignitaries will also be on hand for the opening ceremonies, including Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Alex Nuttall, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey and Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin, as well as Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman, Simcoe County Deputy Ward Barry Burton and Georgian College president and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes.
The battles get underway at 11:30 a.m., Saturday.
The awards presentation and closing ceremonies will be held Sunday from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.