The POPSICLE STICK BRIDGE BUILDING CONTEST has been a major part of our programming, growing from 50 bridges in 2018 to 189 in 2023 and then a huge rise to 366 in 2024.

According to the Sea-to-Sky Branch of Engineers and Geoscientists BC, our Bridge Contest is the largest in BC. The incredible success and added support requirements coupled with the loss of key volunteers, caused TFABC to suspend the program in 2025-2026 to allow TFABC to re-group. Through the 2025-2026 year TFABC worked with the SD to define a program that would better suit a much higher level of student engagement. It is anticipated that
the Bridge Contest will resume in the 2026 – 2027 school year.

The Contest was launched in 2011 by the Sea-to-Sky Branch of Engineers and Geoscientists BC. 2011 Engineers. The initiative continued until 2017 when the current volunteers reached the point of wanting to turn it over to others. A few locals, one or two who had previously been involved with the Contest jumped in to continue the experience. At the time the event tested about 50 bridges at a community event at the Shishalh Natikon hall. This continued through 2019 and 2020, with number of bridges tested growing to 128 <?>. With COVID the group needed to take a different approach, hosting testing in a volunteer’s garage. The group made two more strategic decisions : (1) to focus attention on school students; and (2) to register as a not-for-profit association. With COVID Bridge Kits  (sticks, glue, a road bed, rules and a pencil) were delivered to schools. Following the building and in preparation for testing all completed bridges were picked up from schools and delivered to the test site. Testing was scheduled and on test day the testing was recorded on video and broadcast live. In 2022 testing was conducted at Cedar Grove Elementary School for bridges built at that school. Kinnikinnick was added in 2024.  The number of bridges tested grew to 187 in 2023 and 367 in 2024. With such success pressures were added to the work of the volunteers. With a loss of some key talent and a need to re-invent the event, the group did not run the contest in 2025. Testing resumed again for the 2026 – 2027 school year, based on a new formula.

The current model included testing at each school with test kits and testing devices (weights) provided by TFABC. The bridges that survive the first round of testing then go on to the Heavy-weight competition hosted by TFABC. 

The Technology Festival Association of BC, based on the Sunshine Coast, was formed in 2022.