Create Makerspace

Create Makerspace has been open since January 2024 and I believe we have achieved a great deal during that time. We have brought together the creative community of Squamish in many different ways. Whether it's through woodworking or metalworking classes, paddle carving workshops with Art Harry, kids summer camps in textiles or woodwork, laser jewelry making in collaboration with Squamish Arts, people have shown up. It's been a delight and an honour to see everyone buy into what we are doing.

Here are some numbers that tell the story:

• We have 90 active members
• There have been 397 classes taken with us
• We have worked with youth participants from 3 different schools
• Our incredibly talented staff numbers 22 including core team members, instructors and shop stewards

In a town that has seen such rapid population growth, and therefore risks gentrification, initiatives like ours seek to nurture community, character and connection. Squamish is such a special place, and we love playing a part in it's development in a direction that we can all be proud of.

We have an incredibly exciting year ahead. A few of our goals are listed below, that we believe will supercharge Create and see our growth continue on its upward trend:

• We will open the Pottery Studio - so many people have been asking about this and we can't wait to make it a reality (before Christmas 2024).
• Our class offering will continue to diversify - wood lathe, welding, 3D printing, after school robotics, t-shirt making, pottery, silver smithing… you name it, we are probably working on a class for it.
• Our schools program will continue to grow. We are working to facilitate programming for another 4 local schools.
• The Bursary Program will be launched to support those from marginalized groups that couldn't otherwise access the makerspace.
• We are actively engaged in a partnership with Capilano University to offer micro-credential programming out of Create Makerspace. Stay tuned!