Local initiative brings engineering careers into view at Markham Indy
The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will do more than showcase high-speed racing this summer; it will provide an experiential bridge between motorsport and engineering for young women. The Anne Roy Motorsport Equity Initiative, supported by promoter Green Savoree Toronto ULC, is bringing 15 women engineering students to the event for hands-on exposure to the technical side of professional racing.
Organizers say the Discover program will give participants guided visits to the Aviva INDYCAR Paddock and pit lane, and scheduled conversations with engineers, team personnel, series officials, manufacturers and suppliers. The aim is to broaden understanding of the career paths and technologies that underpin modern motorsport.
“We’re proud to work with the Anne Roy Motorsport Equity Initiative and give women meaningful access to the people, technology and careers that make our sport possible,”
Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, added that the promoter hopes the experiences will have a lasting influence beyond the race weekend and encourage more young women to consider careers in the sport.
Universities represented and internship pipeline
The Discover cohort comprises students from three Canadian universities. During the race weekend they will be escorted through technical areas of the event and exposed to the engineering, technology and innovation that drive motorsport.
- Universities: University of Toronto, Ontario Tech University, École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montréal
- Participants: 15 women engineering students in the Discover program
- Ongoing internships: five women currently completing season-long placements with EMZONE Radical Cup Canada presented by Michelin
| Program | Number |
|---|---|
| Discover cohort at Markham Indy | 15 |
| Season-long internships with EMZONE Radical Cup Canada | 5 |
The season-long internships referenced by the Initiative place women engineering students within the operations of the EMZONE Radical Cup Canada series. According to program materials, those interns gain practical experience in areas such as data analysis, technical inspection, communications and trackside operations — work that mirrors many roles found at larger events like the Markham Indy.
Local impact and longer-term ambitions
Markham — a city balancing suburban growth and a growing events calendar — stands to benefit from initiatives that link major events to local education and workforce development. The Anne Roy Initiative’s activities at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham are positioned as part of a wider push to increase diversity in motorsport engineering, not only by showcasing career options but by keeping pathways open after the race weekend.
Officials with the promoter and the Initiative emphasise the hope that direct engagement with engineers, manufacturers and race teams will spark sustained interest and create tangible opportunities for women entering technical fields.
For residents watching the build-up to the Markham race, the program underlines that the event will offer technical learning alongside entertainment — a practical, skills-focused legacy that organisers say could help shape the next generation of Canadian motorsport engineers.
