Report on National Chemistry Week 2002
activities in the Toronto Area

 Kara Rosenquist.

Kara Rosenquist, Leslie Barton, Satyendra Bhavsar and Nilima Gandhi with help from many other friends and colleagues, set up National Chemistry Week displays at Fairview Mall and Lawrence Square.  They gave away balloons and other NCW items, and helped young children perform “ink rainbow” (paper chromatography), acid-base food Chemistry experiments and soap bubble blowing.  The stands had continuous flows of interested participants and spectators throughout the days.

The Toronto section also ran a crystal-growing competition for local schools.  Once again, Leslie Barton and Kara Rosenquist judged the many entries in this year’s contest.  Melody Ho and Stephanie Lee from Unionville High School prepared our Best Quality crystal.  Robin Li and Kristine Tran from the Ontario Science Centre School prepared our Best Overall crystal.  Teams from thirteen other schools (Birchmount Park, Brebeuf College School, Don Mills Collegiate Institute, R. H. King, Marshall McLuhan, Middlefield Collegiate Institute, Mother Teresa, North Albion Collegiate Institute, Northern Secondary, Riverdale, Stephen Leacock, Windfields Junior High School and Woburn) also submitted crystals.  We had three entries in the teacher category, with our local first place and second place nationally going to Ms. Sandy Szeto at Windfields Junior High School.

Next year, we would like to set up NCW stands at shopping malls again.  We are also proposing to run the crystal-growing contest again.  Schools who are interested in growing crystals should note that they would need to start growing their crystals when classes begin in September, as the judging of the crystals takes place during National Chemistry Week.

Participants in the Chemistry Walk in Toronto

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