Lindsay, Ontario, 02/07/2025 – Youth across Kawartha Lakes are invited to join Ampere for an inclusive e-sports competition, Power Up Cup, battling it out at the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace in pursuit of prizes and glory.
Power Up Cup, hosted in partnership with Treaty 4 Esports (T4E), is a two-day Fortnite tournament offering young gamers of all experience levels to come together to play the game in a safe environment, make some friends and have fun.
“This tournament is all about uniting the community for the common purpose of playing, learning and growing together,” says Ryan Oliver, founder and CEO of Ampere.
“We are grateful to be part of the Kawartha Lakes community. Working with Treaty 4 Esports to host this inclusive and welcoming tournament, where players are safe to be who they are while doing what they love – gaming – is a chance for us to thank the youth of this community for embracing us so fully for so many years.”
The tournament – running in the afternoons of August 27 and 28 – includes two age brackets: 8 to 13 and 14 to 18. Participants age 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. There is no registration fee. Players will only be competing against other Power Up Cup registrants; there is no online play with anyone other than those in the Makerspace.
A firm believer in the power of play with respect to learning, Ampere is excited to offer youth an opportunity to further develop usable life skills like agency, experimentation, planning and evaluating. It’s also a chance to engage in problem-solving and communication while practicing interpersonal skills in this group setting.
When it’s not their turn to play, participants will engage in hands-on activities with Ampere’s expert STEAM educators, keeping the fun flowing while players are away from the screen.
Treaty 4 Esports is a First Nation family-run organization consisting of Tristan, Shenika and Jory Keshane.
“T4E aims to bring all treaty people together through video games & e-sports,” says Tristan Keshane, who notes that non-Indigenous individuals are still considered Treaty people.
“We travel to rural & remote Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan, hosting e-sports events on games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex & various sports games for Indigenous youth. Our events provide a safe space for Indigenous youth to compete, connect and build community. At T4E we say video games & e-sports are a positive alternative to the obvious. Through Ampere’s, formerly Pinnguaq’s, mentorship & support, we’ve expanded our reach and created more meaningful experiences for the communities we serve.”
Registration for Power Up Cup is now open at go.amp.ca/power-up-cup. Spots are limited so those interested are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.
About Ampere
For over a decade, Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association) has partnered with rural, remote and Indigenous communities to provide access to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and opportunities. Founded in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Ampere applies a Lifecycle approach to ensure that its supporting learners at every age, and every stage of life. Ampere offers programming directly through Makerspaces in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, and works directly with community partners, social organizations, governmental funders and educational institutions from coast to coast to coast.