Since 2014, FIRST Robotics Competition Team 5036, The Robo Devils of Scarborough Guildwood, has proudly represented Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute and its surrounding community. Through dedication to innovation, mentorship, and inclusion, the team has consistently inspired local youth and their families while fostering a passion for STEM in one of Toronto’s most diverse regions. Aside from competitions, Team 5036 has become an irreplaceable community team of Guildwood, partnering with local businesses, uplifting community spirit, and offering students from all backgrounds the opportunity to engage in useful hands-on learning experiences.

However, this legacy is now under threat.

A rushed and poorly considered plan to expand the Native Learning Centre (NLC) within Laurier Collegiate jeopardizes the very foundation of our team. The proposed expansion would occupy the majority of the workshop space that has long served not only Team 5036, but also the school’s vital technology and computer science programs. This space is more than just a room. It is a hub of creativity, teamwork, growth, and resilience. To remove it without a proper alternative is to dismantle the opportunities it provides, and to erase over a decade of memories and student success.

We recognize and support the importance of expanding Indigenous-focused education, and understand the value the NLC brings to Laurier. However, this should not come at the cost of other students’ futures, as it creates adversity for students who would like to pursue STEM in the form of an extracurricular at the school. Advancing one group’s access to opportunity should never mean stripping it from another. There must be a more inclusive solution, one that ensures both the NLC and Team 5036 can thrive side by side.

This is not simply about a room. It is about the students who discover their passions here, the alumni who found their paths through robotics, and the countless hours poured into building not only robots but confidence, leadership, and a sense of community.

We implore all of you, students, parents, alumni, educators, and supporters of equitable education, to stand with us. Aid us in the fight against this sudden and unjust removal, and advocate for a plan that reflects the diverse needs of our school. Team 5036 deserves a future alongside the growing community.