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As guests began arriving at the banquet hall last week at the 2026 Atlantic Engineering Competition (AEC), Joya Boutros finally had a moment to take it all in.

“Seeing everyone walk in smiling and enjoying themselves made all the months of work feel worth it,” says the Dalhousie electrical engineering student and Chair of the event.

The banquet was one of many highlights of the three-day competition, hosted on Dalhousie’s Sexton Campus. The event welcomed 180 student delegates from 11 universities across Atlantic Canada and challenged participants to apply their technical knowledge through a series of competitions, while building connections with peers and industry partners.

“I was impressed by everyone who helped make this event happen,” says Joya. “Having a great team around me made the difference. Everyone worked hard, and you could see how happy people were.”

Months of Planning
 

Planning for AEC began months in advance, with Joya and her organizing team coordinating everything from partnerships, logistics, communications, finance, and hospitality, to competitions, social events, and technology. While the scale of the event initially felt overwhelming, having a dedicated committee by her side, helped ease the pressure.

“I knew I needed people who would stay committed until the end and make themselves proud of what we were planning together,” she says.

The organizing committee, made up of 36 Dal Engineering students, managed every aspect of the competition, including post-events clean-up, and strong partnerships played a key role in bringing the event to life. Joya emphasizes that the success of AEC came from every team working together toward a shared goal.

Competition Weekend
 

After nearly a year of preparation, the weekend officially began with an opening ceremony welcoming delegates to Sexton Campus.

Dr. John Newhook, Dean of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Engineering, encouraged students to embrace the competition’s theme, Engineering for All, highlighting the importance of accessibility and inclusive design. He also reminded participants to take full advantage of the weekend by connecting with industry partners, asking questions, and learning from one another.

For Joya, the heart of the competition was learning. The events were designed not only to test students’ abilities, but also to help them grow.

“At the competition, you push yourself, work through challenges, and collaborate with people from different schools,” she says. “And even if you didn’t win, you learned a lot, developed both technical and interpersonal skills, and met a lot of new people.”

Saturday marked the busiest day, with multiple competitions running simultaneously across campus. On Sunday, the focus shifted toward professional development and networking, as well as presentations.

“The career fair was a big success,” says Joya. “It ran during competition time, when students usually choose to step away and practice their presentations or focus on their work. That’s why I was happy to see many students take the time to talk with the career fair professionals.”

Lasting Impact
 

Dalhousie teams performed strongly throughout the weekend, earning first place in both Programming and Debate, and second place in Consulting. These teams will go on to represent the Atlantic region at the Canadian Engineering Competition in Sherbrooke this March.

Beyond the results, one of the most meaningful parts of AEC for Joya was the opportunity to showcase Dalhousie Engineering.

“I enjoyed showing people the engineering campus and its labs,” she says. “So many delegates were curious about what we do here, and it was amazing to see how engaged they were.”

“For me, one of the best things about Dal Engineering has always been its sense of community,” she adds. “This weekend highlighted that, and choosing the right people for the organizing committee made all the difference.”