FROM RENDERINGS TO
REAL Branksome Donors Propel the Historic Make Way Campaign to the Finish Line in 2025–26
As the Make Way Campaign comes to a close, iCAST stands as one of its most transformational outcomes—a bold new centre designed to expand what students can imagine, create and accomplish. This final year of the campaign focused on what will happen inside iCAST: the tools, technology, equipment and programs that will bring the building to life.
This year’s report offers a snapshot of two key spaces within iCAST, brought to life through the voices of our students and faculty. Robotics will move into a purpose-built arena where students can design, build, test and compete in an environment that reflects the pace and complexity of real-world engineering. The Studio Theatre will create new possibilities for performance, production, storytelling and cross-
disciplinary work—giving students a professionalcalibre space to bring bold ideas to an audience. But these are only two examples. Across iCAST, students will access fabrication studios, digital media tools, design spaces, entrepreneurship resources and collaborative learning environments that will support innovation across every division. A signature program bringing this vision to life is the Experts-in-Residence program, made possible through donor support. Through this program, students will learn directly from leaders across fields such as engineering, AI, entrepreneurship, science, design, media and the arts—connecting classroom learning with real-world expertise. Together, these spaces, tools and programs will ensure iCAST is far more than a building. It will be a launchpad for creativity, confidence, leadership and discovery—and a lasting expression of what this campaign has made possible for Branksome students today and for generations to come.
THE MAKE WAY CAMPAIGN
BUILDING iCAST TOGETHER Transforming one bold vision into Branksome Hall’s newest centre for innovation, creativity and future-ready learning.
Building iCAST, brick by brick
Tools to shape tomorrow
$1,650,615
$387,554
raised toward construction in 2025–26
raised for the iCAST Equipment Fund in 2025–26
Total raised for iCAST through the Make Way Campaign, 2019–2026
$37.6 MILLION
36,000 square feet of innovation, design, performance and STEAM learning
2,000+
donors, one shared belief
The numbers are remarkable—but it’s the participation that built this.
CELEBRATING COMPLETION Your generosity brought iCAST’s unprecedented vision of innovative learning to life 2025 September
2026 November
Protective skin Toronto Hydro installed (including connected power fire-rated curtain wall, for the first time flood-tested roof and a new green roof)
January
February
March
April
June
September 18
Interior finishes began
The Studio Theatre’s permanent heating and cooling was turned on
Retractable and balcony seating installed, leaving the Studio Theatre ready for audiences
Landscaping, millwork, railings and the fire pump were finished as construction wound down
With the driveway paved and painted, the building moved into final inspections and occupancy
SAVE THE DATE
iCAST Grand Opening
TOOLS TO
LEAD
This year, you turned a vision into a bold future our students can hold in their hands. The iCAST Equipment Fund is about far more than tools. It is about possibility.
With more than 300 pieces of equipment bringing iCAST to life, our students will be able to build, test, perform, prototype and lead in ways never before possible at Branksome. From VEX Robotics in the Robotics Arena, to laser cutters and CNC machines in the Fabrication and Machine Shops, to lighting and sound equipment in the Studio Theatre, these are only a few examples of the donor-funded tools that will spark new programs and transform hands-on learning. Because of you, iCAST will be more than a building. It will be a place where ideas become action, where students discover what they are capable of, and where the future is built by Branksome girls.
“It’s wonderful to give back and help girls who are more creative or technical, who want to work with their hands.” — Darcy BETT MacLeod’84
Leading-Edge Learning Tools Inspire Discovery and the Arts Design Space
Bambu Lab 3D Printer Turn ideas into reality—students go from sketch to working prototype in engineering, robotics and design.
Fabrication Lab
CNC Milling Machine Open the door to professional-level making, where students turn ideas into precision-built components through hands-on learning.
Robotics
VEX Competition Super Kits Code, build, compete—students apply real engineering while learning teamwork and resilience.
Theatre
Laser Projector Transform the Studio Theatre into a venue for immersive performances, cross-curricular showcases and collaborative learning.
“We want our next generation to have early exposure to different equipment, hands-on, and get ahead to understand most emergent trends in tech. Their support of the iCAST Equipment Funds is setting up Branksome to do just that.” — Andrew Dunbar and Nancy Deng, current parents
IMPACT ON PROGRAMMING Where Disciplines Collide, Innovation Ignites
STEAM means giving subject silos a pass. Instead, students get tools, spaces and a fresh mindset to tackle complex, open-ended challenges, more like actual professionals. Research consistently shows that interdisciplinary, project-based learning strengthens critical thinking, creativity and real-world readiness, equipping students with transferable skills that outlast any single lesson.
Thanks to your generosity, we’re not just preparing students for the future. We’re empowering them to build it.
IN THEIR
OWN WORDS Engineering a Brighter Future
“
“At Robotics Club, we’re a bit messy, but the new Robotics Lab will simplify everything with a purpose-built space to build and modify our robots. In the VEX competitions we attend through the year, we once strategically engineered a simple, reliable robot that beat the flashier ones, proving what girls’ school resilience can do. This experience taught me that strategic solutions are the most effective form of engineering. Personally, Branksome robotics helped me realize I want to be a mechatronics or computer engineer, setting up a bright future for girls in STEM. I would like to give a huge thank you to our donors for creating and expanding all these new STEAM opportunities for the Branksome community. I’m looking forward to having more space to collaborate and create, and more opportunities for girls to explore future STEAM possibilities.” — Heidi, Grade 10, Future Mechatronics Engineer
Funding Dreams of Galaxies and Beyond “I got into coding because I want to be a scientist. I love creating and inventing. Right now, we only code robots that are already built. In iCAST’s new Robotics Lab, I’ll finally have the tools, the materials and all that space to build my own and work with older students to get inspired. My dream is to make a robot that can travel to other galaxies and find us a new home because, one day, we might need somewhere beyond Earth.” — Annie, Grade 4, who codes pre-built robots today and, with iCAST’s tools and space, will build her own tomorrow
“ “ From Consumers to Creators
“This year, we benefited greatly from the 14 robotics kits purchased by our donors, giving students hands-on experience with metal hardware, cutting and drilling to construct working robots. As we transition into the iCAST, they will master advanced sensor coding and leverage the Machine Shop to manufacture custom mechanisms. Ultimately, this gives students options, a massive shift from what we have now. They aren’t limited by facilities anymore; they can just focus on solving the problem with professional-grade solutions. I would like to give a huge thank you to our donors for these contributions. This space shifts our students’ identities from simply being consumers of technology to becoming the actual creators of it.” — Zach Medendorp, Science Teacher and Faculty Lead, Robotics Club
Supporting Tomorrow’s Theatre Producers
“
“I came in shy [in Grade 9] and performing was the first thing that truly opened me up. In Grade 10, I played a male lead, a student president in She Kills Monsters. It was a demanding, highenergy role that pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to manage real pressure. But our Theatre Lab right now is really just a classroom. The floor’s flat, the audience has no real sightlines and there’s no real stage. A flexible black-box theatre will change everything. I could perform, but also design the lighting on the tension grid and blend in multi-media film and theatre. I’ll be thinking like a maker and producer, not only an actor.” — Cici, Grade 11, who found her confidence on stage and, in the Studio Theatre, will learn to create the show as well as perform in it
“A Massive Theatre in Our Own School”
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“Most people don’t see the little things about a production, like a costume change you have to pull off in 22 seconds. I’ve never had stage fright; growing up with two brothers taught me to stand my ground. I’ve loved performing since I was little and iCAST will be everything we have and so much more. To put on a production in a massive theatre right here in our own school, without seeking out performance opportunities outside school like I did before coming to Branksome last year. It’s going to be just amazing.” — Hayden (Grade 6) lead in Grade 5 and 6 production of Mary Poppins, December 2025, whose dedication and voice will light up iCAST’s Studio Theatre
Actual Curtain Call Optional
“
“The Studio Theatre means we can go deep into the tech side of film and theatre with a Foley floor [a specialized acoustic floor surface used in audio post-production for recording realistic footstep and prop sound], set construction in the Wood Shop and costume fabrication. People underestimate tech theatre, but it’s an industry in itself; at Stratford, for example, there are people who do nothing but design and build sets. What excites me most is the black-box design; it’s so flexible. Most people picture an audience all in one place in front of a stage with curtains, but with the grid system and moveable seats you can do alley staging, theatre-in-the-round, so many possibilities. None of that exists for us without the people whose generosity built this. Donors aren’t just giving a room. They’re handing the next generation a space to invent within.” — Laura Bell, Senior & Middle School Theatre & Film Teacher, whose passion for igniting the love of stagecraft and all its professional possibilities and transferable skills is made possible by donors
EXPERTS-IN-RESIDENCE: WHERE iCAST COMES TO LIFE
A signature new program connecting Branksome students with industry leaders, real-world challenges and the future of work Launching this fall with the opening of iCAST, Branksome’s new Experts-in-Residence program is set to become one of the school’s most exciting differentiators. This is where classroom learning meets the real world. Through extended, collaborative residencies, students and faculty will work directly with industry experts in fields such as innovation, design, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, media, performance and more. These are not one-time guest speakers or classroom add-ons. They are immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to help students explore big ideas, tackle real challenges and see what is possible for their futures. Made possible by iCAST’s purpose-built spaces, specialized equipment and interdisciplinary design, the program gives Branksome students something powerful: direct access to the people, tools and experiences that shape the world beyond school. The Mad Plaid Ball on November 20, 2025 was more than a spectacular evening. Thanks to every bid, sponsorship, ticket and raffle purchase, together we raised an extraordinary $794,625 to launch the Experts-in-Residence Program in iCAST this fall.
What It Is
Experts-in-Residence brings industry leaders into iCAST to collaborate with students and faculty on real-world projects that connect learning with the future of work.
Why It Matters
Students work alongside professionals, explore emerging careers and build the skills, confidence and experience to thrive and lead in a changing world.
Why iCAST Makes It Possible
With professional-grade studios, labs and maker spaces, iCAST provides the environment where experts and students can create, experiment and innovate together.
Faculty Are Ready
Faculty response has been overwhelming, with strong interest from across disciplines to create new, collaborative learning experiences.
What Students Gain • • • • • •
Exposure to future-focused careers Mentorship from industry experts Real-world problem-solving Confidence across disciplines Understanding of how to move ideas from concept to impact Ability to imagine new and unexpected possibilities
“One of Branksome’s greatest strengths is our community. We are fortunate to have engaged parents and partners who help make programs like this possible, giving young women a window into future opportunities. Through these connections, students can build networks, gain real-world insights, and see themselves in fields they may never have considered.
— Megan McKellar, Director, Curriculum Innovation K-12, on the Experts-in-Residence Program, made possible by every guest, sponsor and donor of the Mad Plaid Ball
Each residency is designed to have a unique impact, whether through a student showcase, dedicated office hours, a resource archive, or another tangible outcome. Residents may work directly with students in classrooms, host events, provide mentorship, or contribute to co-curricular programming. At its heart, the program gives students the chance to discover what interests them so they can make informed choices about their futures. Often, students do not fully understand a field until they experience it firsthand. These opportunities help them see where different pathways can lead and imagine what’s possible.”
LOOKING FORWARD:
iCAST GRAND OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 18
10 Elm Avenue Toronto ON M4W 1N4 Canada
On September 18, we are reimagining Welcome Back as something even more spectacular. Since 2023, this beloved event has brought the Branksome community together at the start of the school year in a spirit of connection, celebration and shared pride. This year, it becomes so much more. Held inside iCAST and marking its official grand opening, Welcome Back will welcome upwards of 1,000 guests for an unforgettable celebration filled with energy and fanfare—befitting the magnitude of what this community has helped build together.
THANK YOU, YOU’RE INVITED WE WOULDN’T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU!