The RBC Youth BIOlab Jeunesse (BIOlab) at St. Boniface Hospital Research has wrapped up a record-breaking and impactful 2024–2025 school year—its 20th year of full-time outreach and 11th year of operations inside its purpose-built biomedical teaching laboratory.
This year, more than 7,700 Manitoba students engaged with the BIOlab’s hands-on, curriculum-connected science programming, either on-site, in classrooms across the province, or through online sessions. Of those, over 4,500 students visited the BIOlab in person, making this the lab’s busiest year to date.
Founded in partnership with the Louis Riel School Division in 2005 and housed in the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre since 2013, the Youth BIOlab Jeunesse exists to foster health literacy, inspire scientific curiosity, and connect youth with real-world medical research. These goals are supported by a collaborative model involving multiple school divisions, generous donors, and a current 3-year PromoScience grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
One of the most inspiring stories of the past year came from the ongoing collaboration with Frontier School Division (FSD). Representing Manitoba’s geographically largest division—and with over 80% of its students identifying as Indigenous—FSD partnered with the BIOlab to support students in remote communities through science mentorship, work experience placements, and virtual labs. A division-wide virtual Cardiovascular Science Day reached 340 students across 10 schools, and donations from the Manitoba Metis Federation and Manitoba Metis Heritage Fund helped bring 80 students to Winnipeg for their science fair, many of whom visited the BIOlab as a highlight of the trip.
Efforts to support Indigenous youth didn’t stop there. The BIOlab again participated in the Medical Careers Exploration Program in partnership with the Pan Am Clinic and the Winnipeg School Division, and contributed to a similar Indigenous student internship through the River East Transcona School Division.
French-language programming continued to grow under the leadership of Meghan Kynoch, who received the 2025 Prix Margaret-Teresa-McDonnell Award from Santé en français for her outstanding contributions to French health education. Meghan’s work reached over 1,500 students this year alone and highlighted the increasing demand for French-language science outreach across Manitoba.
The BIOlab also engaged with community groups such as Rossbrook House, hosting after-school science nights for inner-city youth, and supported advanced learning through inquiry-based stem cell projects with Grade 11 and 12 students from multiple divisions. Students worked with professional-grade tools like the newly acquired DeNovix CellDrop counter, giving them a taste of authentic biomedical research.
In addition to student programming, over 60 teachers participated in professional development sessions, including collaborations with the Université de Saint-Boniface and the Science Teachers Association of Manitoba. The BIOlab also continued its involvement in the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance, bringing women’s cardiovascular health topics into classrooms.
Steve Jones, who has led the BIOlab’s outreach efforts since 2005, and Meghan Kynoch, who has spearheaded French programming since 2015, were instrumental in delivering another successful year. Their work, along with support from the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, dozens of school division partners, and passionate scientists and staff, ensures that the BIOlab remains a cornerstone of youth health science education in Manitoba.
As the Youth BIOlab Jeunesse looks ahead to 2025–2026, the enthusiasm, curiosity, and imagination of Manitoba’s students continue to drive its mission forward—building a healthier, more informed future through science.
Interested in more information? The full 2025 Youth BIOlab Jeunesse Activity Report is available to download and includes detailed program data, partnership highlights, and photos from the past year’s activities.