Concordians host Montreal’s first Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race since 2006

This article was written by Samantha Leger, BFA 21, and Erika Narimatsu, members of the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race 2025 organizing committee. In 2019, Leger competed at the GNCTR as the first ever non-engineering team member.

Did you know that the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is Canada’s longest running national engineering competition? Since its beginning in Alberta in 1974, the event has spread nationwide, bringing together nearly 500 students from more than 20 higher education institutions every year. 

Each participating team must build a five-person toboggan with a sliding surface made of concrete, along with braking, steering and crash-protection systems. Teams earn points and awards based on a variety of categories judged by industry professionals — mechanical design, concrete mix innovation, safety, sustainability, theme costumes, team spirit and more. 

The entirely alumni-run competition is hosted by a different Canadian city each winter. This year, our team of Concordia alumni is honoured to host GNCTR in Montreal for the first time since 2006. This year’s competition runs January 22 to 25.

The organizing committee hopes to continue inspiring Canadian students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing a unique and memorable opportunity for hands-on engineering experience, networking and fun.

‘The team members have become my best friends’

In addition to hosting the 2025 event, Concordia will be represented by a 30-member team of current students competing under the theme of Cirque du Bogg. Co-captains Claudia McWilliams and Devyn Vincelli say they hope to excel in the mechanical design category as well as at the Technical Exhibition this year. Competing locally means they were able to invest more resources toward their toboggan design, and the size of their display won’t be limited by what they could fit in a shipping crate.

Nick Vergados is a computer engineering student and VP Sponsorship for the 2025 team. He says the toboggan team (Tbogg) caught his interest when he first started studying at Concordia.

“I joined Tbogg because I noticed all the yellow lab coats at Orientation and was looking to get involved in student societies. I was able to get hands-on experience in the lab mixing concrete and also participate in Tbogg's fun social events,” Vergados shares.

“I have continued working on Tbogg not only because I enjoyed the project but because all the team members have now become my best friends."

Public events January 24 and 25

The Technical Exhibition (Tech Ex) and Race Day events are open to the public, and they present a great opportunity for all guests to meet the teams and see toboggans in action. 

Tech Ex is a trade-show style event in which teams showcase their toboggan and design work. It provides students an opportunity to display their engineering knowledge, creativity and effort, as well as their team themes and costumes! 

The exhibition will be held at the Grand Quai Terminal 1 (200 De la Commune Street West) on Friday, January 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Race Day is an action-filled day where teams put their toboggans to the test and show off the hard work they have put into the toboggan design and fabrication. Teams compete in the Drag Race, Slalom and King of the Hill events, and race officials record their speed, steering control and braking efficacy. 

Montrealers looking to cheer on the Concordia team are invited to attend Race Day at the Groupe Plein Air Terrebonne (1150 Côte Boisée Street in Terrebonne) on Saturday, January 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public events for the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race 2025 take place January 24 (Technical Exhibition) and January 25 (Race Day). Follow all the action on Instagram and Facebook.

Find out more about Concordia’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science.