Branksome Hall Opens Canada's First K, 12 Centre for Girls in STEM, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Arts
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Toronto, Sept. 17, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Branksome Hall, a leading independent International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls, has unveiled Canada’s first K, 12 Centre for Girls in STEM, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Arts. The new Karen L. Jurjevich Innovation Centre & Studio Theatre (iCAST) aims to provide a unique learning environment where students can seamlessly integrate subjects such as science, technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, design, media, and the performing arts.
According to Grace McCallum, Principal of Branksome Hall, the iCAST facility is designed to radically reimagine the learning experience for girls.
The iCAST facility includes the Lo Family Studio Theatre, which serves as both a performance venue and a learning lab. Here, students can explore lighting, sound, technology, design, and science alongside performance. The theatre will also host partnerships with organizations like Red Sky Performance, Canada’s leading Indigenous contemporary performance company, bringing Indigenous artists, creative residencies, and workshops into the space.
In addition to the theatre, the iCAST facility will support a variety of programming and events, extending learning and collaboration opportunities beyond the school. A multi-year partnership with Red Sky Performance will bring Indigenous perspectives into the space, inspiring the next generation of creators and leaders.
Entrepreneurship is a key component of the iCAST experience. More than 150 students in Grades 4 to 12 participate in Noodle, Branksome’s signature student business accelerator program. Last year, Middle and Senior School students launched 47 companies, building real ventures from the ground up with guidance from entrepreneurs and professionals. In iCAST, an idea can move from brainstorming to prototyping to pitching, allowing students to experience the process of turning an idea into something real and becoming founders of their own companies.
The facility will also connect students with perspectives beyond the school through artists, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community organizations. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment, iCAST aims to prepare students for a world where the most interesting problems won’t arrive neatly labeled as “science,” “business,” or “art.”
McCallum emphasized the broader impact of the iCAST initiative.
Through iCAST, Branksome Hall continues to challenge and inspire its students to love learning and to shape a better world. The school’s unique combination of outstanding academics, well-being, and international mindedness prepares students to become impactful leaders who give back to their communities.