What Canadian game show did Alex Trebek host in the 60s? The answer continues to inspire students today

For nearly 60 years, the national Reach for the Top competition has been putting the wits of Canadian students to the test. In 2024, students from about 500 schools across the country participated in the competition.

What creation of the Mattel toy company celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2019?

Not sure? Just ask the students on École Lansdowne School’s Reach for the Top team. They’ll be able to tell you, the answer is Barbie.

It’s lunchtime at the Winnipeg school and a group of about 20 students pile into the music room. After eating their lunch, they split into two teams and get to work.

“What botanical technique involves joining a part of one plant to another?” one student asks as three or four hands shoot up into the air.

“Grafting,” another responds with a small cheer from their teammates.

“It's fun because you get to work with your classmates in a way that you don't do a lot,” said Annika, a grade 8 student on the team. “It's a lot more fun facts and trivia knowledge than things that you would study in class.”