Student-built robots to battle on Vancouver Island this weekend
More than 100 students will put their team-built robots to the test this weekend as they battle it out at the annual FIRST Tech Challenge provincial qualifier.
Since Sept. 12, Victoria-area teams, made up of students aged 14 to 18, have designed, built and programmed their robots to compete in this season’s game of "Power Play."
During the competition, teams are paired up against two other teams to have their robots carry out a series of tasks while overcoming obstacles.
First Robotics British Columbia says the goal of the competition is to get students to develop a greater appreciation for science and technology and to get them to think how they might use that knowledge to impact the world around them in a positive manner.
The qualifying tournament takes place at St. Margaret’s School, located at 1080 Lucas Ave. in Saanich, B.C., on Saturday. First Tech said the best time for viewing the competition is between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and admission is free.
The top teams will be invited to compete in the B.C. championships in Surrey next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Nordstrom liquidation sales underwhelm Canadians as most items marked down 5 per cent
The first day of Nordstrom's liquidation sale began on Tuesday, but some shoppers walked away underwhelmed, as most items were only marked down five per cent.

Via Rail apologizes after Muslim man told not to pray at Ottawa train station
Via Rail is apologizing after a Muslim man was told he couldn't pray at the Ottawa train station.
Ontario man fails driving test, almost hits 4 people with vehicle before doing burnouts in parking lot: police
Police in Guelph, Ont. have charged a man who they say failed a driving test before driving off and nearly hitting four people with his vehicle and then deciding to do burnouts in a parking lot.
Second body recovered from Old Montreal building destroyed by fire
Montreal police confirmed Tuesday evening that a second body has been recovered from the building in Old Montreal that was destroyed by a fire last week.
These foods cost more in Canada, despite inflation rate slowdown
Overall inflation in Canada is cooling, according to just-released data, but the trend is not being reflected at grocery stores, where prices for some items continue to grow.
Trudeau's top aide Telford to testify, amid Hill drama over foreign interference
After weeks of resistance, and ahead of a vote that could have compelled it to happen, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office announced Tuesday that his chief of staff Katie Telford will testify about foreign election interference, before a committee that has been studying the issue for months.
Kitchen renovation unearths paintings nearly 400 years old
Murals believed to be nearly 400 years old have been discovered at an apartment in northern England following a kitchen renovation.
Adviser on unmarked graves says some landowners are refusing access for searches
As some private landowners restrict residential school survivors from performing ceremony or searching their properties for possible unmarked graves, a federal minister says Ottawa is open to legislating new protections for the possible burial sites.
Gould says passport application backlog 'completely eliminated', announces online status checker
Canada's passport application backlog has been 'completely eliminated,' according to the minister responsible for the file.