Grade 10 student Muhammad Mustafa Arif of Northern Collegiate in Sarnia has won the prestigious national Ingenious Award, a $1,000 prize, and a fully sponsored spot in the Forum for Young Canadians — all while heading to the Canada-Wide Science Fair for the fourth consecutive year.
Muhammad Mustafa Arif, a Grade 10 student at Northern Collegiate Institute & Vocational School in Sarnia, has been awarded the prestigious Ingenious Award at a ceremony held May 7, 2026, in Toronto. Along with the honour, Mustafa received a $1,000 prize in recognition of his innovation, academic excellence, and commitment to scientific advancement.
The Ingenious Award is presented by the Rideau Hall Foundation through its Ingenious+ program, which recognizes exceptional young Canadians for creativity and problem-solving in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, Edith Dumont, and Rideau Hall Foundation CEO Teresa Marques were among those present at the ceremony.
Mustafa's achievements don't stop there. He was also selected — with full sponsorship — to attend the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa, a highly competitive national leadership program that brings outstanding high school students together to engage with Canadian leaders and explore federal democratic institutions. The Forum is another Rideau Hall Foundation initiative.
On the science fair circuit, Mustafa earned a Gold Medal at this year's Lambton County Science Fair and will represent the region at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton — his fourth consecutive year doing so. He previously earned a Silver Medal at last year's national competition.
"Muhammad Mustafa Arif's achievements reflect not only his dedication and talent, but also his passion for innovation and learning," said his father, Zuhair Arif. "We are incredibly proud to see him recognized on such prestigious platforms."
