Bathurst, New Brunswick – It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating our first anniversary! We started small, tucked into a corner inside Layers 3D Print Studio in Downtown Bathurst, New Brunswick, but in just one year we’ve made a meaningful impact in our community.
Our first few months were a whirlwind of creativity and exploration, as we got to know our community. From our launch party on June 7th, 2025 to our popular summer camps, we found opportunities every day to connect and learn together.
We kept the momentum going into the fall with full registration for our Tuesday after school programs and PD Day camps. In October 2025, Ampere expanded to take over the whole location, while still maintaining our invaluable partnership with Layers. This allowed us the opportunity to grow our community further, including more adult and family programming.
Over the course of the year, we’ve had the privilege to collaborate with a number of local groups and organizations, including but not limited to, the 275 Chaleur Sea Cadets Corps, Nursing Homes Without Walls, the McKenna Institute, Co-Action and Chaleur Puzzle.
The recently-launched Class Visit registrations have swiftly grown in popularity as well; we’ve already welcomed nearly 300 students, educators and volunteers from schools in the region, Kindergarten through Grade 12, to the Bathurst Makerspace. We got curious (and sometimes messy!) while exploring STEAM-based activities together, and although we are fully booked for the remainder of the 2025/26 school year, we’re looking forward to continuing this programming in the fall.
Our role as a learning hub has naturally evolved and grown to include our function as an inclusive third space for community members of all ages and abilities to gather, connect, and grow together. This has inspired programming such as our Silver & Gold Social for those 50+, and an informal weekly gathering of homeschooling parents at our Family STEAM Drop In.
As fulfilling and monumental as the last 12 months have been, we have even bigger plans for our second year! We will be increasing our available seats for Summer Camps to include even more young learners this season. Additionally, we’re adding programming for learning English as a Second Language, and launching a wider range of skill-building sessions geared to teens and adults.
Beyond our programming, we aim to deepen our roots within the Chaleur region, and continue to build strong partnerships with local experts, organizations and groups. By working together, our communities benefit from easier access to STEAM education, resources and support.
On behalf of the Bathurst Makerspace Team, we’d like to share our gratitude for the support and encouragement we’ve received from our community. We look forward to continuing to spark curiosity, foster inspiration, and share moments of joy together!
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, Bathurst, New Brunswick, 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.
