Developing local partnerships: Brampton opens new creative hub

NRU
Nov. 12, 2014
By Leah Wong

The average person doesn’t have access to leading edge 3D printers or robotics software. That is, unless they live in Brampton.

The City of Brampton, Sheridan College’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies and the Brampton Library have partnered to develop the MakerSpace Creative Hub, which brings leading technology closer to the public.

“The idea is allowing public access to new technology and giving people hands on tools, tech and resources like Sheridan College faculty, that they normally wouldn’t have access to,” Brampton HACE creative economy senior advisor Kelly Stahl told NRU.

The hub is part of Brampton’s five-year Heritage, Arts, Culture and Entertainment Strategy - the purpose of which is to support and enhance the city’s creative and cultural industries. The strategy’s goals focus on collaboration and creating new opportunities downtown. With the city, library and Sheridan’s involvement in the hub, Stahl says it’s a great example of collaboration. And the hub itself is also focused on creating more collaboration within the community.

“Ideally, [it will serve] as a community hub where people can go and share ideas and potentially come out with collaboration,” said Stahl. This could include residents coming together to develop a business or connecting businesses with the college.

The centre’s use really depends on who is interested in dropping-in. While it could help develop small businesses by connecting them with resources at Sheridan College, it might, more simply, serve the purpose of developing a child’s interest in robotics.

Currently Sheridan faculty and students are leading the programming aspect of the space. They are releasing two week schedules comprising drop-in hours where the public can learn about 3D modelling and printing, robotics and architectural design. The space is free to use.

The centre also has the ability to connect local businesses focused on innovation with faculty and students at Sheridan, and Sheridan with youth in the community.

“[It can lead to] this really nice conversation happening [among] the youth, the college and the businesses, especially around tech and innovation,” said Stahl. This could also create more awareness about the types of positions available, or where there is a skill shortage in the city.

Eventually the partners would like to bring more high school students in for programming throughout the day, which could also open their eyes to new fields of study after graduation. By addressing what types of skills people may need in the future, it could also prevent skill shortages down the road.