Andrea Bielecki & Scott McLorie
(Charlotte, Grade 11; Eloise, Grade 6)

“As someone working in AI, I see firsthand how quickly the world is changing.

The future my daughters are stepping into will look nothing like the one we began in—it will be shaped by automation, human augmentation and global connectivity. That’s why I’m so excited about iCAST. It gives them more than just tools; it will instill a mindset: adaptability, experimentation, collaboration. It’s about preparing them to create the future, not just react to it.

I hope my daughters will use iCAST as a place to explore ideas fearlessly. For them, iCAST is a safe space to try, fail and try again—which is exactly what entrepreneurship and innovation require. I want them to see themselves as builders, storytellers and leaders—roles that extend beyond STEM into every field.

What impresses me most is Branksome’s commitment to preparing girls not just for university, but for leadership in a world where the rules are still being written. iCAST’s interdisciplinary approach—blending science, design and storytelling—mirrors how real-world change happens.

Canada’s future will be built on innovation, creativity and inclusivity. We need leaders who can connect technology with humanity—exactly the kind of thinking iCAST fosters. I imagine my girls as part of a generation shaping the world in ways we can’t yet predict, and Branksome is giving them the foundation to do just that."

TOO BOLD? TOO BAD!

Only 5% of software developers are female. When Elpida graduates in 2031, we want it to be 50–50.

Elpida
Grade 7; passionate coder and future programmer

"I get frustrated because the real problem in tech is often overlooked—there simply aren’t enough women coders. When the people designing technology all come from similar backgrounds, the tools they build don’t meet everyone’s needs, especially those who could benefit most.

A big part of the issue is perception: tech roles are often presented in a way that feels gendered, making it seem like women aren’t as capable, even though we are. Girls aren’t always encouraged to pursue tech—our strengths are often channelled elsewhere. But if a girl is great at coding and no one nurtures that, her talent goes untapped.

When I first came to Branksome, I was so excited to be at such a big school. Within the first month, I fell in love with coding—I could finally bring all the ideas in my head to life by solving the problems that bug me most.

I co-created StackCode, a project-based platform that teaches coding through interactive activities, AI and the design cycle. Building on that, we launched AceAdemic, an app for self- and time-management. There’s a visual checklist, a shrinking timer and calming breaks like contour drawing.

Branksome supported me at every step—I started coding in Grade 1, then learned HTML and Swift, and in Grade 4 I joined the Apple Student Mentorship Program.

One day, I want to go to Harvard or MIT and become a software developer. I even taught my parents how to use their phones! Branksome didn’t just teach me coding—it gave me the confidence and tools to imagine a future that doesn’t exist yet, and the skills to help build it."

Read the full 2024-25 Donor and Giving Report here and learn more about the Make Way campaign.