Kids Across Canada Design Cars to Make the World a Better Place

Young Canadians become finalists in global competition by designing vehicles to fight harmful bacteria, make our world more inclusive and prevent global warming

TORONTO, April 19, 2021 /CNW/ - After an incredibly challenging year, many of us are turning to the world's children for a glimpse of a brighter future. Among the children providing us with hope are nine kids from Canada who are being globally recognized for inventing vehicles to make the world a better place.

"Over the years, the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest has evolved from an art competition to an opportunity for children to bring forward their world-changing ideas," said Larry Hutchinson, President and CEO of Toyota Canada and one of this year's Canadian judges. "I'm truly impressed by their ideas ? from making our planet more sustainable, to fighting virus and bacteria, to making the world more inclusive through physical accessibility."

Hundreds of young Canadians shared their inspirational and innovative designs for a 'dream car' to help make the world a better place, and three finalists were chosen in each category:

Under 8 Years Old

• Yuffie Chen (age 6, Vancouver, BC). Yuffie's "Weather Car" not only forecasts the weather ("sunshine, snow, rain, wind, rainbows or lightning"), but also flies around the world to protect it from global warming. The "Weather Car" delivers snow to the Arctic to rescue polar bears and rain to the Amazon to extinguish forest fires.
  
  
• Emily Hao (age 6, Oakville, ON). Emily's entry ? "The Shopping Car" - makes shopping more accessible for everyone by allowing them to fly around stores to collect items. It comes with an "auto-arm grabber" which helps reach items in high places and carry heavy goods.
  
  
• Bellina Man (age 6, Maple, ON). Bellina's entry ? "Planet Forerunner" ? turns space debris into new and livable planets. "Planet Forerunner" also brings hope to humans on Earth, as we look to travel, explore and live on new planets in the future.

8 to 11 Years Old

• Chantel Mei (age 11, Calgary, AB). Chantel's entry ? "Ying Yang" ? turns bad into good to clean and protect our ocean and wildlife. "Ying Yang" sucks in polluted water and breaks down debris to create marine wildlife.
  
  
• Shaivee Bhatt (age 11, Brampton, ON). Shaivee's "BeeMobile" takes care of the bees that play a vital role in our ecosystem. It keeps harmful pesticides away from the bees so they can pollinate flowers, grow honey and "live a sweet long life".
  
  
• Lindsay Qui Ru Lin (age 8, Vancouver, BC). Lindsay's "Back to the Ecology" is a turtle-shaped underwater vehicle that offers refuge and fresh water to fish, mammals and other marine wildlife. The "Back to Ecology" vehicle also helps restore our oceans by removing garbage from our waters and giving our animals a pollution-free home.

12 to 15 Years Old

• Nathalie Dai (age 14, Vancouver, BC). Nathalie's entry ? "Sportecc" - stands for "sport, electric charging car". "Sportecc" is powered by human exercise, "a renewable energy source", and motivates people to live a healthier lifestyle.
  
  
• Mike Huang (age 12, Vancouver, BC). Mike's "OALPS Explorer" stands for "oceanic, animal life preservation society". The "OALPS Explorer" allows humans to explore our oceans, and combines with "med-bots" programmed to help injured animals.
  
  
• Harvey Jiang (age 12, Scarborough, ON). Harvey's "Virus Be Gone" is a mobile airborne disease exterminator to save society from pandemics by purifying our air. The vehicle's three-filter engine sucks in harmful air and converts it into clean air, while a UV light adds an extra layer of protection by killing any remaining bacteria.

A panel of distinguished Canadian judges was tasked with assessing hundreds of entries from kids across Canada. In addition to Hutchinson, this year's Canadian judges included:

• Jennifer Flanagan - CEO of Actua
• Petrina Gentile - automotive journalist, children's book author and publisher
• Buzz Bishop - journalist, broadcaster and blogger at CyberBuzz Media
• Caitlin Keeley - Executive Creative Director at Dentsu McGarryBowen

Here's what the judges had to say about the submissions to this year's contest:

I am so inspired by these young artists and inventors. They put an incredible amount of thought, creativity, heart and talent into their visions of what their 'dream car of the future' will look like. It was amazing to see their imaginations interpret how mobility can help solve our most pressing global challenges and create a sustainable future.
- Jennifer Flanagan, CEO, Actua

Amazing artistry, creativity, and unique perspectives, all focusing on timely subject matter - from viruses to environmental issues - in beautifully created cars of the future.
- Petrina Gentile, Canadian Automotive Journalist, Children's Book Author and Publisher

This year's entries really showed a reflection of our times. As always, tapping into the imagination of youth is a remarkable way to peek at what our future holds. I can't wait to see what they innovate next!
- Buzz Bishop, Journalist, Broadcaster, Dad Blogger

There were so many inventive entries, it was very hard to pick winners. Kids have the best ideas and the most fun. I hope everyone who entered keeps drawing and creating imaginative concepts for a better world and future.
- Caitlin Keeley, Executive Creative Director, Dentsu McGarryBowen

The nine Canadian finalists will now be entered into the World Finals of the contest for a chance to win a prize valued at $15,000 USD. Each finalist will receive a $250 online retail gift card to KiwiCo.

First held in 2004 and now one of the world's largest global art contests for children, the Toyota Dream Car Art contest invites future artists, designers and engineers to share their ideas about the future of mobility.

For more information about the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, visit www.toyota.ca/dreamcarartcontest and to see the winning artwork, visit the Toyota Canada Newsroom.

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over six million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 286 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability, and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models for the North American market.

SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc.