Grassroots space projects get Canadian Space Agency funding to train Canada’s next space generation

The Canadian Space Agency has awarded $120,000 into three projects designed to open doors for underrepresented students in the space sector. The new grants aim to provide mentorship, hands-on training, and career support to ensure that Canada’s growing space economy reflects the diversity of the country itself. As the global space industry expands, filling high-tech roles requires a wider talent pool. The CSA hopes to build a more inclusive workforce by funding community educational initiatives through its ongoing equity, diversity, and inclusion grants. H.R. MacMillan Space Centre – Sky Stories, Space Futures The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in British Columbia will receive $20,000 for a project called Sky Stories, Space Futures. This initiative offers Indigenous-led workshops for university and college students. The program connects Indigenous knowledge of the night sky with modern space science. It introduces participants to careers in technology, climate monitoring, and the responsible use of satellite-based services. Pulsar Institute – Space LaunchPad The Pulsar Institute in Nova Scotia secured $50,000 for its Space LaunchPad program. This marks a return for the organization, which successfully utilized a previous grant from this exact funding envelope. Its earlier initiative reached more than 200 students across the country. The newly funded national program will provide online sessions, skills workshops, and an in-person networking event. The institute targets a participant base where at least 75 per cent come from underrepresented groups. York University – Space by Inclusive Recruitment and Retention York University in Ontario will also receive $50,000 for a project focused on inclusive recruitment and retention in the space sector. The funding will support women, visible minority students, and persons with disabilities through specialized training in space robotics and human spaceflight. Participants will engage in mission-style challenges, collaborative problem-solving events known as hackathons, mentorship sessions, and career panels. The university will also create an inclusive space training toolkit to share with other schools across Canada. In a story posted to its website, the Canadian Space Agency emphasized the long-term impact of the latest funding round. “These projects support the CSA’s goal of helping build a space workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity,” the agency stated. “By making space learning more accessible and relevant, they will help prepare a wider range of talented individuals to take part in future space missions, research and innovation.” The Canadian Space Agency is currently accepting applications for the next Cycle (6) with an application deadline of September 16, 2026 at 1:00 pm EDT.