Federal government announces funding for N.W.T. non-profit
CBC
A skills-oriented non-profit in Yellowknife plans to develop new programming, improve its space and add new training workshops, after the federal government announced nearly $732,944 in funding Wednesday.
N.W.T.'s Liberal MP, Michael McLeod, announced on behalf of Dan Vandal, minister of northern affairs, an investment through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) toward a three-year project by Makerspace YK.
Makerspace YK is a non-profit society in Yellowknife aimed at developing social infrastructure in the form of public shop space, a tool library, and a skills learning centre.
Aileen Ling, the executive director of Makerspace YK, says a huge part of the funding will go toward a social innovation project. This will include developing new programming and training workshops for members, making improvements to the space and adding a 24/7 membership through a fob-access system.
Around 50 to 80 people use the facility on a monthly basis, according to Ling.
"Summers are a little slower because people want to be outdoors, while in winters, we find there are definitely more people using this space," Ling said.
Ling says programs and spaces such as the woodshop at Makerspace are great introductions to trade skills.
"Especially for a lot of schools, it's not a mandatory curriculum requirement anymore. So having people run through the tools is a good way to introduce them to the trades," Ling said.
McLeod says there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the territory and a need to stimulate that sector further.
"Building new infrastructure, new homes, projects of that nature all require people with skill sets," McLeod said. "It's been a challenge; we hear on a daily basis... we need people that can provide such skills."
McLeod says there are many people who come from other communities to participate in programming at Makerspace YK.
"It would be nice to have spaces like these in every community. But at this point, Yellowknife has probably the biggest one," McLeod said.
Residents will have access to some of the new facilities at Makerspace YK by early next year.
After walking a few laps around the shop, Maria Castagna picks up a glass ornament in the form of a pink, sparkly ice cream cone and smiles widely.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says he has much unfinished work from his first term in office, as he prepares to make his pitch to voters ahead of the 2026 election.
Moving to Canada from Singapore meant losing close social connections for Iris Akbar, but Akbar says the gift was in finding an affirming space with friends that became like family.
Women and children staying at Regina Transition House now have access to Santa’s workshop — a safe space where mothers can choose Christmas gifts for their children.
A man from Powell River, B.C., is thankful to be alive after a stranger helped him while he was choking at a restaurant during a visit to Whistler.
When it comes to Hamilton readers' favourite library books of 2025, romance and mysteries are in close competition.
From the Detroit Lions losing to Apple iPhones that spontaneously update, Windsorites had things that bugged them this year.
Calgary emergency rooms are “in a state of critical overcapacity” ahead of the anticipated peak of flu season — and to cope with the surge and wait-room crowding, officials are urging doctors to speed up their decisions on whether to admit patients, according to a memo obtained by CBC News.
Northern Ontario's highway system needs improvements in order to make travel safer, a highway safety advocate said.
Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling up across Ontario as some companies responsible for tire recycling have stopped processing tires amid reduced provincial recycling regulations for tire producers, industry experts say.
People in Guelph facing homelessness will soon have a new place to go during the day.
Islanders are reminded to plan their rides ahead of holiday festivities if they plan on drinking alcohol or using cannabis.
Even before Gwen Healey Akearok began her new role as Nunavut’s Minister of Family Services, she was tuning into the Office of the Auditor General’s (OAG) hearings on the state of the Family Services department.