Girls Who Code brings free coding clubs and AI summer program to Toronto

What is the background?

Girls Who Code was founded in the United States to close the gender gap in technology, and expanded to Canada in 2018 as its first market outside the US. Free coding clubs Toronto programmes like this let schools, libraries, and community organisations run a club at no cost to participants.

What happened?

Toronto schools, libraries, and nonprofits can apply to run a free Girls Who Code Club for students in grades 3 through 12. Each club gives members access to more than 120 hours of self-guided coding tutorials covering Scratch, Python, p5.js, and Swift, alongside community-building activities led by trained facilitators.

For 2026, Girls Who Code launched its Pathways Summer Program: a free, fully virtual, seven-week course for high school girls and non-binary students, with tracks in game design, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and web development.

How did it happen?

Any school, library, university, or nonprofit in Canada can apply to host a free Girls Who Code Club, with the organisation providing the curriculum and facilitator training rather than requiring participants to pay for materials or instruction. The self-guided tutorial structure means clubs can run with varying levels of technical support from adult volunteers.

The Pathways Summer Program adds a more intensive, structured option for older students specifically, letting them choose a track that matches their interest rather than following one fixed curriculum.

Why does it matter?

Removing cost as a barrier matters most for the students least likely to have access to private coding bootcamps or paid after-school programmes. Structuring the offering around clubs that any local institution can host, rather than centralising delivery in one location, lets the programme reach students across Toronto’s many neighbourhoods rather than concentrating in a single site.

Offering both a lighter-touch, self-guided club format and a more intensive summer track gives students multiple entry points depending on how much time and structure they want.

What were the key results?

• Girls Who Code Clubs free to run for students in grades 3–12 across Toronto
• Over 120 hours of self-guided coding tutorials available per club (Scratch, Python, p5.js, Swift)
• Canada was Girls Who Code’s first international market, launched in 2018
• 2026 Pathways Summer Program: seven weeks, fully virtual, free to attend
• Summer programme tracks include AI, data science, cybersecurity, game design, and web development
• Open to high school girls and non-binary students specifically for the summer track
• Any Toronto school, library, university, or nonprofit can apply to host a club

What happens next?

Girls Who Code plans to keep expanding club availability across Canadian schools and libraries beyond Toronto.

The organisation will open applications for the next Pathways Summer Program cohort after the 2026 session concludes.

Local Toronto institutions interested in hosting a club can apply directly through the Girls Who Code website year-round.

Girls Who Code said it will continue tracking how many Canadian participants move on to further study or careers in technology.