STEAM Fest Brings Communities Together

One week later on August 29th, Ampere’s Bathurst Makerspace and Skills Hub launched its inaugural STEAM Fest, bringing hundreds of people to the Promenade Waterfront and Makerspace for an incredible day of music, food, celebration and of course, STEAM. 

And we aren’t done yet – later this year, Ampere’s Iqaluit Makerspace & Skills Hub will host its first-ever STEAM Fest (details coming soon!). 

The big question? Why does Ampere do this? The answer; community and connection.

There are incredible artists, innovators, and organizations in every single community we serve. Each of these events brings communities together to discover and celebrate amazing people, and help them make connections that further strengthens the communities, and benefits us all. Plus, let’s face it – everyone loves a good party. 

See below for recaps from the Bathurst and Kawartha Lakes STEAM Fests and subscribe to our  newsletter or follow us on social media to make sure you know when the next program, event or celebration takes place! 

Kawartha Lakes STEAM Fest

This year’s STEAM Fest was such a beautiful showcase of all the culture, talent, creativity, and amazing businesses we have here in Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding areas. From our entertainers and cultural performances to our food and market vendors, community partners, and hands-on STEAM activities, we truly got to see what this part of Ontario looks like in 2026.

What made the day so special, though, was seeing our community come together. Everywhere you looked, there were smiling faces, families trying something new, kids getting excited about STEAM, people stopping to watch a performance, exploring the market, or connecting with a local organization or business. There was such a great energy throughout the entire festival.

For us, STEAM Fest is about so much more than science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. It’s about creating a space where people can come together, learn from one another, celebrate the incredible diversity and talent that already exists in our community, and maybe discover something new along the way. Seeing so many people show up, participate, and genuinely enjoy the day made this year’s event feel like a huge success, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.

Bathurst STEAM Fest

On Saturday, August 29th, the first annual Bathurst STEAM Fest took place in Downtown Bathurst, New Brunswick. The festival attracted community members of all ages and abilities for an afternoon of curiosity, connection and interactive fun!

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Ampere’s CEO, Ryan Oliver and Deputy Mayor Michael Willett. We were honoured to have Gordon Sparks, a local Mi’kmaq tattoo artists and mask carver, share a beautiful message followed by a mask ceremony, rooted in the stories of the Nepisiguit River which flows through the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw peoples.

Many community members shared that they were happy to see such an event take place in Downtown Bathurst, where there truly was something for everyone.

Thanks to the City of Bathurst’s partnership, the festival was held between two locations; outdoors at La Promenade Waterfront, festival guests experienced a number of diverse activities and talent. Incredible live music was performed by award winning Acadian artist John Boulay, as well as youth rock band, November. Musical entertainment was made possible by the generous support we received from Ferguson Audio and Phantom FM.

Many attendees became living art thanks to the talent provided by Bernice Roy’s face painting, as well as Jas Mehndi henna tattoos. Local vendors RosaGemstones, Saramade Air Fresheners, and DaGem Creations joined our Maker Market, in addition to organizations such as Daly Point Nature Reserve and Family and Early Childhood North shared information about their services and the amazing work they’re doing in our community.

Participants at La Promenade Waterfront were also invited to get hands-on with a variety of STEAM-centered activities. Creators of all ages assembled miniature tractors and Solar Mindset Kits at Ampere’s building station, while others launched bottle rockets with our friends from Ulnooweg Education. Science East challenged everyone with their brain games and puzzles, Agriculture in the Classroom engaged future farmers with their interactive robots, and Brilliant Labs drew in curious crowds with their b.board demonstration.  

Inside the Bathurst Makerspace at 100 Main Street, Ampere hosted a fun Micro:bit drop in, teaching basic block coding concepts. Our very own Talia Metuq taught guests how to make miniature rattles, sharing stories of their significance in many Indigenous cultures. Nearby, Gordon Sparks invited the community to be a part of a one-of-a-kind wooden mask, commissioned by Ampere.

Local inventor, Patrick Beeson showcased his Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) prototype, and shared interesting details about the project, while author and digital scrapbooking expert Carole Asselin hosted an interactive postcard making booth. 

We were glad to have the Bathurst Police Force and Bathurst Fire Department join us, who kindly allowed participants to get an up-close look at their police cars and fire truck, while they shared a wealth of important information about public safety, through engaging and interactive activities.

The success of the first annual Bathurst STEAM Fest is possible thanks to the support of our wonderful community. We would love to extend a huge thank you to every artist, vendor, partner and organization who came out to make an unforgettable experience for each participant!The issue supports students in developing habits that extend beyond identifying whether something is true or false. It encourages them to pause before sharing, consider who created a message and why, seek reliable sources, recognize emotional manipulation, and understand how their actions affect the wider digital community.