Marymount Academy’s Mercia Thompson Advancing to Canada-Wide Science Fair 🔬
Grade 8 student Mercia Thompson has earned a first place title at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair, securing her spot to represent Marymount Academy at the Canada-Wide Science Fair, set to take place on May 31 at the University of New Brunswick.
Mercia’s winning project, an innovative anti-pull collar for dogs, offers a creative solution to a common challenge faced by dog owners. The collar features a custom-built device that includes a small pressure switch within a container. When the collar tightens due to the dog’s pulling, the pressure activates the switch, emitting a sound that encourages the dog to stop pulling.
Inspired by her own family’s cocker spaniel, Zack, Mercia’s project aims to improve the safety and comfort of walks, especially with the ice and snow during winter months.
“My oldest dog, Zack, is five years old, and we’ve been trying to get him to stop pulling for a while. He is a small dog, but pretty strong, and the pulling can be dangerous especially in the winter,” Mercia said.
“The biggest surprise with Zack was he went from pulling for four minutes and 20 seconds to an average of just 51 seconds with the new collar, which was a massive drop.”
Though she didn’t expect to win, Mercia was thrilled to receive a first-place title among so many impressive projects.
“I was really surprised I won. There were a lot of great projects—like drones that help with forest fires—that I thought would win,” she said.
Equally impressed with the level of dedication and hard work from students was Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Michael Bellmore.
“I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the incredible student projects at this year’s Science Fair. The level of innovation, curiosity, and craftsmanship on display was truly impressive. Congratulations to all who participated—your passion and hard work were nothing short of inspiring,” said Bellmore.
“I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you as well to our dedicated teachers, whose guidance and encouragement are key to our students’ success,” he added.
Joanne Bénard, Director of Education, commended Mercia’s accomplishment, noting the impact of her innovation on other students.
“Mercia’s success at the Sudbury Regional Science Fair is a testament to her creativity, dedication, and passion for problem-solving,” said Joanne Bénard. “As she prepares to showcase her innovative project at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in May, her achievement serves as an inspiration to students everywhere. We wish Mercia the best of luck as she continues to make strides in science and engineering and look forward to seeing her future accomplishments.”