In 2016, BCIT held the first Drone Fair in Western Canada, attended by approximately 800 hobbyists and industry professionals. The theme was RPAS safety, and events included a talk by regulators on changes to Canadian legislation for recreational and commercial operation of drones. Other industry presentations covered use of drones in wildlife research, film, and education.
But many people just came for the fun—interactive events included “fly zones” for visitors to test their piloting skills, a student drone-building competition with a $2500 scholarship prize, and a Drone Fair Grand Prix featuring top local pilots.