This weekend, Montreal hosts the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race, uniting over 400 engineering students for a thrilling competition
Montreal: Canada’s longest-running national engineering competition is back, and it’s happening in Montreal this weekend. The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is bringing together over 400 engineering students from 18 universities across the country. It’s the first time the event has been in Montreal since 2006.
Before the big race, they kicked things off with a Technical Exhibition at the Old Port. Claudia McWilliams, a Civil Engineering student at Concordia University, shared her excitement about showcasing Montreal’s cool spots to everyone.
On January 24, 2025, students gathered at the Old Port for the exhibition, showing off their toboggans and designs. The competition started way back in 1974 and has become a staple for students and alumni alike, with last year’s champions hailing from the University of British Columbia Okanagan.
So, how does this competition work? Teams design and build toboggans with concrete running surfaces, keeping them under 350 pounds and able to carry five teammates. They’ll race these creations and be judged on design, project management, safety, and team spirit.
Samantha Leger, the VP of communications for GNCTR 2025, mentioned that the exhibition is a chance for teams to show off their hard work. The atmosphere was lively, with teams sporting costumes and chanting their school names.
Race Day is set for Saturday at Groupe Plein Air Terrebonne, just north of Montreal. Everyone is invited to watch as teams compete in three events: a slalom race, a drag race, and the King of the Hill competition.
Hannah Arnason from the University of Manitoba shared how hard her team worked, putting in long hours to prepare. Her teammate, Peter Kolodziej, expressed their excitement to finally compete in Montreal and show off their skills.
Leger summed it up perfectly, saying this event is something you don’t see every day. It’s truly unique and a great way to celebrate engineering and teamwork.
