History

2023 Participants  2019 Participants2018 Participants | 2017 Participants | 2016 Participants | 2015 Participants | 2014 Participants | 2013 Participants | 2012 Participants | Previous Physics Participants

The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) has risen from very humble beginnings in 1967, when only three nations from Eastern Europe participated. The Olympiad has been held every year since and they now attract close to 80 countries from all continents. The goal of these competitions was, and continues to be, the encouragement of excellence in science education throughout the world; these competitions are the most prestigious of their kind for students at the high school or CÉGEP level.

All participating countries, Canada included, devote an enormous amount of time, energy, and money encouraging and preparing their most talented students so that they will do well in these competitions. The caliber of the competition is high and encompasses both theoretical knowledge and laboratory expertise.

Each year, the IPhO competition is held in different countries. In 1997, Canada was honoured to serve as host for the 28th IPhO (in Sudbury, Ontario).

Our national teams performed well at these competitions. Canada first participated in the International Physics Olympiad in 1985. As of 2023, our previous participants have won 9 Gold, 25 Silver, and 62 Bronze Medals, in addition to 40 Honourable Mentions.

The 2023 Competition:

The 2023 Canadian Physics Olympiad National Training Camp took place at the University of British Columbia between May 22 to 27, 2023. Fifteen students who received top results in the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Exam came to Vancouver to compete for the five places on the team, which represented Canada at the 53rd International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), in Tokyo, Japan between July 10-17, 2023.

The students attended lectures, problem solving sessions and a lab and had four 5 hour-long (IPhO standard) theoretical and experimental tests.

2023 Canadian Physics Olympiad National Training Camp participants were:

Last name First name School Province
Chen Yixuan Oakville Trafalgar high School ON
Ding Qi Xuan Access Academy AB
Li Zander University of Toronto Schools ON
Lu Anthony Eric Hamber Secondary School BC
Marshall Ryan St. John’s Ravenscourt MB
Millington Vincent CEGEO de Dte Foy QB
Pu Tian Bayview Secondary School ON
Shao Eric Semiahmoo Secondary School BC
Sheth Parth Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School AB
Tian Dongli Mulgrave School BC
Wang Marven Bayview Secondary School ON
Wong Connor St. George’s School BC
Yan-Klassen Tristan Eric Hamber Secondary School BC
Zhang Wenhe Marianopolis College QB

The following students were selected from the above group to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2023 International Physics Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan!

Last name First name Medal
Li Zander  Bronze
Shao Eric  Bronze
Wong Connor  Bronze
Zhang Wenhe  Bronze
Millington Vincent  Honourable   Mention

 

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the unofficial 2023 International Physics Olympiad website.

The 2019 Competition:

Due to lack of funding, we were unable to organize the the Canadian Olympiad Finals. The top scoring students in the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Exam were invited to represent Canada at at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Tel Aviv, Israel, July 7-15).
The students received one week of training prior to the competition. It is worth mentioning that teams from other countries are given anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years of additional training for this competition.

2019 Canadian Team members were:

Last name First name School Province
Li Zhening Sir John A. Macdonald S.S. ON
Xu Yuheng (Jack) Unionville High School ON
Shen Eric University of Toronto Schools ON
Liao Isaac Earl Haig Secondary School ON
Li Roger Marc Garneau C.I. ON

The following students were selected based on their performance in the CAP High School Prize Exam to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2019 International Physics Olympiad in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Last name First name Medal
Li Zhening Silver
Liao Isaac Silver
Xu Jack Silver
Li Roger Bronze
Shen Eric  

The 2018 Competition:

Due to lack of funding, we were unable to organize the the Canadian Olympiad Finals. The top scoring students in the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Exam were invited to represent Canada at at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Lisbon, Portugal, July 21-29).
Our students did not get any formal training to prepare them for IPhO. It is worth mentioning that teams from other countries are given anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years of additional training for this competition.

2018 Canadian Team members were:

Last name First name School Province
Wu Manqiu A.Y. Jackson Secondary School ON
Mai Steven University of Toronto Schools ON
You Alex Richmond Secondary BC
David Tang University of Toronto Schools ON
Liao Isaac Earl Haig Secondary School ON

The following students were selected based on their performance in the CAP High School Prize Exam to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2018 International Physics Olympiad in Lisbon, Portugal and all received prizes!

Last name First name Medal
Wu Manqiu Bronze
Tang David Bronze
You Alex Bronze
Mai Steven Bronze
Liao Isaac Honorable Mention

The 2017 Competition:

The 2017 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp took place at the University of British Columbia from May 19 to 26. Fourteen students who got top results in the Canadian Association of Physicists High School Exam came to Vancouver to compete for the five places on the team, which will represent Canada at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, July 16-24).

The students attended lectures, problem solving sessions and a lab and had four 5 hour long (IPhO standard) theoretical and experimental tests.

2017 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp participants were:

Last name First name School Province
Zheng Guo Richmond Hill High School ON
Ye Ming Yang Bayview Secondary ON
Amani Pedram West Vancouver Secondary BC
Li Michael Marc Garneau Collegiate ON
Yu Felix Crescent School ON
Tang Henry Marc Garneau Collegiate ON
Zhang Matthew Mulgrave School BC
Xu Jack Unionville High School ON
Tian Edward University of Toronto Schools ON
Jiao Xinyu Western Canada High School AB
Zheng Ce Western Canada High School AB
Lamoureux Benjamin Strathcona High School AB
Cui Wentao Old Scona Academic AB
Khoroshilov Anna Lisgar Collegiate ON

The following students were selected from the above group to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2017 International Physics Olympiad in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and all received medals!

Last name First name Medal
Ye Ming Yang  Gold
Amani Pedram  Bronze
Xu Jack  Bronze
Tang Henry  Bronze
Zheng Guo  Silver

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2017 International Physics Olympiad website.

The 2016 Competition:

The 2016 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp took place at the University of British Columbia from May 25 to 27. Fifteen students who got top results in the Canadian Association of Physicists High School Exam came to Vancouver to compete for the five places on the team, which will represent Canada at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Zurich, Switzerland, July 11 – 17).

The students attended lectures, problem solving sessions and a lab and had four 5 hour long (IPhO standard) theoretical and experimental tests.

2016 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp participants were:

Last name First name School Province
Liu Stephen Bayview S. S. ON
Mai Steven UofT Schools ON
Amani Pedram West Vancouver Secondary BC
Ameri Abtin Bloor Collegiate ON
Loo Noel Western Canada High School AB
Xing John University Hill Secondary BC
Zhang Yiqun Marc Garneau C. I. ON
Van Duong Vincent Marianopolis College QC
Verkhovskaya Anna Western Canada High School AB
Jiang David North Toronto C. I. ON
Chen Sean Burnaby North Secondary BC
Fugleberg Nathan Vincent Massey High School MB
Wang Shuolin York Mills C. I. ON
Li Robert Albert Campbell C. I. ON
Xu Yuheng (Jack) Unionville H. S. ON

The following students were selected from the above group to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2016 International Physics Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland and all received a prize!

Last name First name Medal
Liu Stephen Bronze
Mai Steven Bronze
Loo Noel Bronze
Zhang Yiqun Bronze
Xu Yuheng (Jack) Bronze

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2016 International Physics Olympiad website.

The report on Canada’s participation in the 47th International Physics Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland can be found here.

The 2015 Competition:

Due to limited funding, members of the 2015 Canadian Physics Olympiad team were selected based on their results Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Exam, and no National Camp or training was organized. The International Physics Olympiad 2015 was held in Mumbai, India July 4-13

The following students were selected based on their performance in the CAP High School Prize Exam to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2015 International Physics Olympiad in Mumbai, India and all received a prize!

Last name First name School Name Province Medal
Wu Qingyue (Austin) University of Toronto (extra students) ON Silver
Liu Stephen Bayview Secondary School ON Bronze
Wang Oliver St Robert Catholic Secondary School ON Bronze
Wu Wilson Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School ON Honorable Mention
Kim Andrew (Jinwook) University of Toronto Schools ON Honorable Mention

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2015 International Physics Olympiad website.

The report on Canada’s participation in the 46th International Physics Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland can be found here.

The 2014 Competition:

Due to limited funding, members of the 2014 Canadian Physics Olympiad team were selected based on their results Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Exam, and no National Camp or training was organized. The top five students were selected out of 996 writers from 170 Canadian Schools. The International Physics Olympiad 2014 was held in Astana, Kazakhstan July 13 – 21.

The following students were selected based on their performance in the CAP High School Prize Exam to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2014 International Physics Olympiad in Astana, Kazakhstan and all received a prize!

Last name First name School Name Province Medal
Wu Henry University of Toronto Schools ON Silver
Ni Chris A. Y. Jackson Secondary School ON Bronze
Molina Lovett Antonio Ecole Sainte-Anne NB Honorable Mention
Muthukuda Pasindu Burnaby Central Secondary School BC Honorable Mention
Kim Andrew (Jinwook) University of Toronto Schools ON Honorable Mention

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2014 International Physics Olympiad website.

The report on Canada’s participation in the 45th International Physics Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland can be found here.

The 2013 Competition:

The 2013 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp took place at the University of British Columbia from May 19 to 25. Eleven students who got top results in the Canadian Association of Physicists High School Exam and one selected on the basis of his performance at POPTOR (Toronto provincial Olympiad program) came to Vancouver to compete for the five places on the team, which will represent Canada at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 7 – 15).

The students attended lectures, problem solving sessions and a lab and had four 5 hour long (IPhO standard) theoretical and experimental tests.

2013 Canadian Physics Olympiad Finals Camp participants were:

Last name First name School Province
Barszcz Jean-Alexandre Bois-de-Boulogne QC
Dai Zheng Lisgar Collegiate ON
Fan Jia Hui St. Robert Catholic High School ON
Gu Bailey Lisgar Collegiate ON
Han Yifei Burnaby North Secondary School BC
Li Ziyan St. George’s School BC
Mei Jiaxi (Jannis) University of Toronto Schools ON
Ni Chris A. Y. Jackson Secondary School ON
Sheng Hao Zhe Bayview Secondary School ON
Suo Shun Da Victoria Park Collegiate Institute ON
Totz Keiler St. Michaels University School BC
Wu Henry University of Toronto Schools ON

The following students were selected from the above group to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2013 International Physics Olympiad in Copenhagen, Denmark and all received a prize!

Last name First name Medal
Gu Bailey Bronze
Mei Jannis Honorable Mention
Sheng Hao Zhe Bronze
Suo Shun Da Honorable Mention
Wu Henry Silver

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2013 International Physics Olympiad website.

The report on Canada’s participation in the 44th International Physics Olympiad in Zurich, Switzerland can be found here.

The 2012 Competition:

The 2012 National Olympiad Finals (NOF) were held at the University of British Columbia from May 21 to 25. Fifteen students came to Vancouver to compete for the five places on the team, which represented Canada at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO, Tallinn, Estonia, July 15 – 24).

2012 Physics NOF participants were:

Last name First name School Province
Bhatla Christopher Western Canada High School AB
Blouin Simon Bois-de-Boulogne QC
Borissov Anton Waterloo Collegiate Institute ON
Downing Tristan Semiahmoo BC
Ebadi Sepher Langstaff Secondary School ON
Fan Jia Hui St. Robert Catholic High School ON
Fisher Wesley Dartmouth High School NS
Yun Jia Guan University of Toronto Schools ON
Kim Ji Sup Yale BC
Lu Sean Vincent Massey Secondary School ON
Mei Jannis University of Toronto Schools ON
Wu Henry University of Toronto Schools ON
Yao Yuan Colonel By Secondary School ON
Cao Run Ze Martingrove C. I. ON
Zhan Eric University of Toronto Schools ON

The following students were selected from the above group to serve as members of the Canadian team for the 2012 International Physics Olympiad in Tallinn, Estonia and all got medals!

Last name First name Medal
Blouin Simon Bronze
Downing Tristan Bronze
Ebadi Sepher Bronze
Guan Yun Jia (Melody) Bronze
Wu Henry Silver

Final results for all participating countries will be posted on the 2012 International Physics Olympiad website.