Staples Canada brings The Genius Lab coding and robotics programs to five GTA locations

RICHMOND HILL, ON, Sept. 28, 2017 /CNW/ - Staples Canada is teaming up with Logics Academy to provide STEM education programs, called The Genius Labs, to students at five of its GTA locations this October. STEM – the study of science, technology, engineering and math – is an important topic as parents and educators work to get young people interested in pursuing STEM disciplines, and one of its biggest challenges is making it available to the students who want to pursue it at a high level.

Logics Academy is a Canadian leader in STEM education and was created six years ago by two University of Toronto Engineering graduates with the objective of using robotics and coding to enrich school curriculum and help students develop 21st century literacy. While Logics provides educational services to hundreds of schools, they can't be everywhere and has developed this partnership with Staples to provide a space for workshops where students can interact with robots and learn more about STEM.

"Our objective is to provide every student in Canada with an opportunity to grow from being consumers of technology, to understanding what it is and how it works," said Ramy Ghattas, Co-Founder of Logics Academy. "We hope that these Genius Lab programs will spark an interest among students to be participants and creators in this global high tech economy. Working with Staples to offer these courses will move us closer to our goal."

The Genius Lab is a weekly program where students are provided with hi-tech equipment, including Logics award winning robots, and guided by certified instructors to create and problem solve with computer code. Depending on age and ability of the students, different programs use a variety of robots, devices and coding languages.

"Partnering with organizations that support learning is important to us," said Mary Sagat, Chief Executive Officer of Staples Canada. "We're known for our school supplies, but the General Managers at your local Staples store are a great resource for closing the gap with technology in the classroom. Whether it's through developing a Bring Your Own Device program for your school, or offering advice on how to enhance your STEM program, we're here to help parents and teachers make sense of the ways in which learning tools are changing. Through this partnership with Logics Academy we hope to open the door to more educational initiatives to be a partner in learning."

To start, The Genius Labs will be offered at select Staples locations in Toronto, Thornhill, Etobicoke, Oakville and Brampton for students in grades 1 through 6. No experience or equipment is required to participate. The program costs $170 for an eight-week course. Additional information and registration is available online at www.logicsacademy.com/instaples.

About Logics Academy
Logics Academy is a leader in Canadian STEM Education and an Educational Partner with numerous school-boards across Canada. Logics is a co-developer of hardware, software & curricula, a provider of educator professional development and a provider of learning experiences for students in and out of the classroom. Logics school services include The Genius Lab extra-curricular programs and "STEM in the Class", workshops designed to apply enriched and expanded thinking, through a hi-tech and scientific lens, to the provincial curriculum. Learn more at: logicsacademy.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros
Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros makes it easy to make more happen with more products and more ways to shop. Through its world-class retail, online and delivery capabilities, Staples lets customers shop however and whenever they want, whether it's in-store, online, on mobile devices, or through the company's buy online, pick up in store option. Staples is dedicated to offering customers the highest level of service, with more products than ever, including technology, facilities and breakroom supplies, furniture, safety supplies, medical supplies, and Print and Marketing services. The company also invests in a number of corporate giving programs that actively support environmental, educational and entrepreneurial initiatives in Canadian communities from coast to coast. Visit www.staples.ca for more information, or visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE Staples Canada Inc.