Students across Vancouver proved that the future of innovation is already here, and it is being led by kids. 

On June 12, Quilchena Elementary School hosted Canada’s first-ever drone show designed entirely by students. The event was a partnership between Steamoji Kerrisdale, a local STEAM academy for kids and Pixel Sky Animation, the team behind the 1,000-drone show at the CFL Grey Cup Festival. VSB students from four different schools (Kerrisdale, L'ecole Bilingue, Shaunessy elementary schools, as well as Byng Secondary) aged 10 to 13 imagined, coded and choreographed a full indoor drone performance. The event highlighted the kind of hands-on learning that prepares students for the careers of tomorrow. 

“What I enjoyed the most was learning what goes on behind the scenes of a drone show,” said Dylan Lum from Kerrisdale Elementary. “There were a lot of steps involved, and sometimes things didn’t work the first time. But we kept going, and that made it even more rewarding in the end.” 

The student drone designers were all enrolled at Steamoji Kerrisdale, where they built skills in coding, robotics and digital design. With guidance from industry mentors, students brought their creative vision to life. 

“Technology is transforming our classrooms and creating entirely new fields,” said a Gregg Sayer, Steamoji Kerrisdale Director. “Events like this show how kids aren’t just learning about innovation. They’re leading it.” 

A twelve-year-old student summed it up, saying “no matter how much AI changes things, the world will always need human imagination.” 

As drone shows grow in popularity, so does the demand for creative and skilled talent,” said Jean-Michel Dentinger, Director at Pixel Sky Animation. “Working with VSB students means we’re planting a seed of possibility. Whether it’s a student designing their first sequence or a child in the crowd watching in awe, this is about sparking inspiration.” 

VSB is committed to nurturing student success in all forms, from classroom learning to real-world innovation. Thanks to the partnership with Steamoji Kerrisdale and Pixel Sky Animation, this drone show is one example of what happens when students are given the tools, mentorship and the opportunity to shine.

Background 

Steamoji Kerrisdale is a STEM academy for kids (5-14) whose hands-on, structured curriculum introduces them to future-facing skills like 3D printing, robotics, engineering, digital arts and the philosophy of applied design. 

Pixel Sky Animation is a team of storytellers and drone enthusiasts, pushing the boundaries of technology to create unbelievable light shows in the sky. They specialize in designing and producing drone light shows.