When you think about the future of engineering, chances are you picture innovation, creativity, and bold new ideas. For Cassondra Fonseca, P.Eng., that future begins with girls discovering the magic of engineering for the very first time.
Cassondra is the founder of Camp Engineering Inc. (better known as Camp Engies), a not-for-profit dedicated to empowering girls to explore and pursue careers in engineering. Since its launch in 2018, the program has reached more than 1,500 girls across Canada, giving them hands-on opportunities to build, experiment, and solve real-world problems all while connecting with inspiring women role models in the field.
The project has blossomed into more than 20 camps across Ontario, British Columbia, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Each camp combines learning with fun challenges and activities that demystify engineering and highlight its impact on the world around them.
Over the years, the community has grown to include a passionate network of 40+ volunteer engineers and 50+ guest speakers who step away from their professional roles to inspire campers with stories of innovation, resilience, and leadership. Together, they’ve created a space where girls can see themselves as future engineers,
Accessibility is also at the heart of Camp Engies. Cassondra has worked tirelessly to ensure that cost or circumstance never stands in the way of participation. Through partnerships with local businesses, engineering firms, and organizations like Athletics for Kids, COSTI Immigration Services, SPOT Youth Centre, Girls Who Lead, and YWCA, the camp covers fees for girls from underserved and low-income communities.
Her efforts align with Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 initiative, which aims to see 30% of newly licensed engineers be women by 2030. By sparking interest at a critical age, Camp Engies is helping shift the landscape of the profession one camper at a time.
For her vision and impact, Cassondra Fonseca is being recognized with the Engineering Achievement of the Year award, a well-deserved honour for someone who is shaping the future of the profession in such a meaningful way.
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