Help protect FIRST funding: email your MPP today
(takes ~5 minutes)
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Step 1: Is your MPP Mike Schreiner?
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Not sure? Look up your MPP:
https://www.ola.org/en/members/current-
Use your home or school postal code, then click the MPP’s name to get their email.
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Yes: Then mschreiner-co@ola.org per https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/mike-schreiner
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Step 2: Copy and customize the email as you see fit
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Any stories or impact you can share with them will be more meaningful than a generic templated letter; however, if all you can do is send what we've drafted for you, that's fine too.
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Step 3: Send it using your email account
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To: <your MPP> CC: fundraising-team@guelphrobotics.ca
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Step 4: Click to confirm you sent it!
Dear MPP [Last name],
We are [Team name] representing [School Name] in FIRST Robotics Canada competitions.
We are asking you to encourage Minister Calandra to renew FIRST’s Funding to External Partners transfer payment for the coming year.
FIRST Robotics Canada is a registered Canadian charity that delivers impactful robotics and STEM education programs for students from kindergarten through Grade 12, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required for jobs of the future.
Students participate in three complementary programs that align with stages of their development:
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FIRST LEGO League (Ages 5-14; Grades K-8) introduces children to STEM through hands-on robotics, coding, design, and problem solving.
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FIRST Tech Challenge (Ages 12-18; Grades 7-12) engages students in team-based robot design, fabrication, and programming to compete in an annual challenge.
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FIRST Robotics Competition (Ages 14-18; Grades 9-12) challenges high school students to design, build, and program industrial-style robots while developing project management and teamwork skills.
[Insert paragraph(s) about your team’s experience with FIRST, the benefits you have received by participating, and why you think it’s important for FIRST to receive funding from the Ministry of Education]
We would be happy to tell you more about our team and the work we have been doing. We sincerely hope you communicate your support to Minister Calandra for the renewal of FIRST’s FEP funding for the coming year.
Thank you,
[Names of team members]
[Team name]
As a charitable organization, FIRST Canada relies on funding from the government and corporations for almost all of our funds to run the program. The Ministry of Education has been a long-standing partner of ours; however, in July, we received a message from the Ministry of Education stating that they were going to be reviewing all 'externally funded partners', of which FIRST Canada is one.
Funding for the 2026-27 season is currently under review and a decision is expected in the next month or so. Losing this funding would be extremely challenging for FIRST ROBOTICS CANADA and would definitely impact their ability to provide team grants and run events for teams with the same quality we have been doing for many years.
Dated: Mar 18, 2026 - Dave Ellis