The post Lifecycle Superstar – Talia Metuq appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>About Ampere’s Lifecycle Superstars
Ampere’s work is based on our Lifecycle model, with our learners in the middle. As they learn and grow, they can leverage education, assets and opportunities that help them realize success. One person may start as a learner, then work with us, gaining STEAM education experience. Another could receive an internship through Ampere, benefit from our digital skills training, and then work with us to offer specific education. It’s non-linear, and it’s different for everyone, but the result is that we’re there at multiple key points in our learners lives to help people grow and achieve, and we grow and succeed along with them. They’re our Lifecycle Superstars – we’re excited to share their stories.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey?
My name is Talia Metuq, and I’m from Pangnirtung, Nunavut. I’m an Inuit artist and designer that works as an Inuit Cultural Advisor at Ampere. My journey started in Pangnirtung, where Pinnguaq (now Ampere) was founded. When I finished school, I moved south to study digital image design at Fleming College in Haliburton, Ontario. After that I moved to Peterborough, Ontario to do the Indigenous Studies program at Trent University. I started working for Ampere in 2018, so I worked there during my education and after I graduated.
How did you first connect with Ampere?
In Pangnirtung, I used to babysit for Ampere CEO Ryan Oliver. When he was in the process of starting the business, I kind of knew what was going on because I had insider knowledge. So I went away to school, came back and babysat for Ryan some more, then I took part in the first Code Club that took place in Pangnirtung. That encouraged me to pursue an education in 3D animation in Vancouver. Unfortunately, I had to quit that and move back to Pangnirtung. Soon after that, in 2018 Ryan reached out to me about working for Ampere (Pinnguaq at the time) and I was excited for the opportunity.
As someone who experienced Ampere programming, why do you think it’s important for the rural, remote, Northern and Indigenous communities we serve?
From my own perspective, there are a lot of young kids that are into gaming, so I find what Ampere does to help or teach kids is important. It would be really cool to see kids that we work with go to school for any kind of computer programming, graduate and start a career. Especially in Indigenous communities, where these kinds of opportunities are rare. When I was young, there was nothing like this available to me, I didn’t ever think about a future in computers or technology – I like that we are giving people opportunities that I didn’t have.
Trent University
Before Pinnguaq/Ampere, what were your career goals or aspirations? How did that change after taking part in Ampere programming?
Before Pinnguaq, I always wanted to work for the military. I wanted to be a military psychologist, to help people like me in the military. In 2019, at the Northern Lights Trade Show, I met a military recruiter and went through the recruitment process. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and everything was on pause. I decided that I would go to Peterborough to study Indigenous Studies at Trent University, instead of joining the military. At school, I learned about the importance of preserving Indigenous culture, language and identity and that had a big impact on me. I realized where I fit at Ampere and how I could help the organization and the communities we serve.
In what ways has your work or learning connected back to the Ampere community?
When I came back from school, my main role was to teach Inuit language, culture and traditions to Ampere staff so that they could understand a bit more about our ways of life. Ampere staff is very diverse, we have people from all different cultural backgrounds. Some have experience with Indigenous cultures, and some don’t. It’s important for all of our staff to be able to understand the cultural backgrounds of the people and communities that we work with so that we can better serve them.
What has been your favorite experience at Ampere?
My favourite experience so far is when I came back from university to the role that focuses on my culture, traditions and language. I love my culture and it’s important to me. So I love teaching all of that to Ampere staff and non-Indigenous peoples that don’t have experience with Inuit culture. I love seeing people’s faces when I’m teaching and sharing my culture with them!
Stay current with Ampere
Keep up with all things Ampere by signing up to our Ampere Newsletters today.
Ampere’s Lifecycle
Have you heard about Ampere’s Lifecycle? It illustrates how we support learners in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities at every stage of life and learning. Our Lifecycle includes:
- Advocacy – Showing up for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
- Mentorship – Amplifying voices and building capacity
- Production – Enabling creators and leaders
- Employment – Developing local, sustainable STEAM careers
- Resources – Providing fair access for all learners
- Education – Delivering hands-on, tech-driven learning
The Kawartha Makes program covered the entire lifecycle: Advocacy, Mentorship, Production, Employment, Resources and Education.
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]]>The post Diving into the Kawartha Makes program with participant Luke Weiler appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>By Bryan Reid
In March 2025, then 14-year-old Luke Weiler started a small manufacturing business in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario called Fleetwood Engraving.
Fleetwood Engraving specializes in custom order laser engraved products like water bottles, dog tags and wooden signs.
“I’m hoping that it’ll be able to generate enough profit to maybe even help pay towards tuition eventually. Maybe I might not have to get a job and I could just work my own business,” said Weiler, now 15 and in Grade 10 at I.E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay.
Weiler first heard about the Kawartha Makes program through his parents, both teachers at Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute (LCVI), and saw it as an opportunity to learn about large scale industrial laser engraving and 3D printing technology while also picking up important skills that will help him when he eventually joins the workforce.
“I think it definitely helped me for future careers. It showed us how to make a good resumé and what employers are looking for, which is really going to help me if I’m trying to get into engineering because you need pretty good skills to get into that. It also helped me with my small business by showing me new kinds of [design] software that I can use,” said Weiler.
Funded in part by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Ampere’s Kawartha Makes program offered the youth (ages 15 to 29) of Kawartha Lakes an introduction to the advanced manufacturing industry and the skilled trades. Through Kawartha Makes, participants got to explore advanced manufacturing technology and software, connect and learn from local manufacturers like Dan Kitchen at Make Stuff Move, and learn the skills needed to launch their own business or pursue an entry-level position in a profession that is desperately in need of workers.
By 2034, the government of Ontario projects that one in six job openings in the province will be in skilled trades-related occupations. On top of that, at least one in three workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship or trade certificate is aged 55 or over and nearing retirement. Ontario’s not alone as the government of Canada projects that the skilled trades industry will see an estimated 700,000 skilled trades workers in Canada retire by 2028
“It’s almost like the lack of skilled trades workers is becoming an issue of national security,” says Kitchen, recalling a conversation with military recruiters at a trade show a couple years ago. The recruiters explained that the military typically builds its own infrastructure and assets domestically but a shortage of skilled trades workers (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.) is making that increasingly difficult for them.
Kitchen owns Make Stuff Move, a manufacturing and education company in Kawartha Lakes that provides turn-key, hands-on learning kits to help educators bring skilled trades, STEAM education and real-world skills into any classroom. He co-designed Kawartha Makes with Ampere.
“The real premise of programs like Kawartha Makes is [explaining] that apprenticeships are a third option for young people because for a lot of years it was always [choosing between] college or university. That was how you’d become valuable, make money and have a good career and we’re finally realizing, as a society, that we need people that do the hands-on stuff too,” says Kitchen.
Weiler is too young to consider a college or university program right now but he’s at the right age to start thinking about his future and Kawartha Makes was a great opportunity for him to learn what’s out there.
“I actually just kind of started to think about [my future] quite a bit more because some of the courses that I have to choose for Grade 11 will affect me in Grade 12. And so right now I’m thinking that I might go to the University of Tech Ontario to become an automotive engineer, engineer or possibly a millwright,” says Weiler.
From high school students looking for options to young adults looking for opportunity, the program brought in all kinds of participants.
“You have people in the program that have never seen a laser, never touched tools, versus a kid like [Luke] who’s already been trying to do his own thing with a laser,” says Kitchen.
The program was very hands-on with some of it taking place at Kitchen’s Make Stuff Move shop. The shop is equipped with high-end laser engravers and high-end 3D printers, that you’d typically only get to experience in a college or university lab. Kitchen showed participants how to use some of the industrial size tech and equipment, even walking them through the different software programs that control the machines.
“That was pretty awesome. I really thought that that’s kind of what I was thinking about. That would probably be the dream [for my own shop]. It’s really cool to see that he has such big lasers and he taught me quite a bit on how to make my laser better and showed me some new material that is really cool and can help me with some new products,” says Weiler when talking about visiting the Make Stuff Move shop.
Experiencing the manufacturing shop environment was a big part of the program, but the opportunity for Kitchen to clear up some common misconceptions about the manufacturing industry was just as important.
“Everybody thinks it’s putting things in a box on an assembly line, right? But it’s a big industry. Within any single company, you have accounting, you have design, you have documentation, you have HR, you have so many different roles. Just because you’re in this program learning these things doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be the person that’s going to be a machine operator or a millwright, but having understanding of how the business works is important,” says Kitchen.
While the advanced manufacturing industry and the skilled trades may not be for everyone, it’s hard for young jobseekers to know what careers to pursue without having experienced them themselves. Kawartha Makes provided equitable access to the industry by opening the doors to underrepresented young jobseekers in Kawartha Lakes.
For program participants like Luke Weiler, the experience was invaluable. Not only did it help him with his small manufacturing business, but it helped him to start thinking about what he wants to do next and he wants other people to have the same opportunity as he did.
“I definitely would recommend it to friends or family. I did recommend it to one of my friends and I believe he got in, which is really cool. I definitely recommend it to people who are interested in manufacturing, want to learn a bit more about that industry and jobs there and what kind of jobs you can get there,” says Weiler.
Career planning and workforce readiness training are more important for young people now than maybe ever before. With advanced technology, innovation and the efficiencies created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) regularly changing the job market, it’s hard to forecast what the future workforce will even look like. There are some certainties though. One of which is that the need for skilled trades workers and people that can work with their hands isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
“In a world where AI is coming into play, if you’ve got the ability to do hands-on work, you’re even more valuable and your career is even safer,” said Kitchen.
As the job market changes and the need for skilled trades workers grows, programs like Kawartha Makes are providing underrepresented young workers with an opportunity to dip their toes into the manufacturing and skilled trades industry to see if it’s the right career path for them.
Stay current with Ampere
Be the first to know about any future upcoming skilled trades programs or opportunities by signing up for our Ampere Newsletters today.
Ampere’s Lifecycle
Have you heard about Ampere’s Lifecycle? It illustrates how we support learners in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities at every stage of life and learning. Our Lifecycle includes:
- Advocacy – Showing up for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
- Mentorship – Amplifying voices and building capacity
- Production – Enabling creators and leaders
- Employment – Developing local, sustainable STEAM careers
- Resources – Providing fair access for all learners
- Education – Delivering hands-on, tech-driven learning
The Kawartha Makes program covered the entire lifecycle: Advocacy, Mentorship, Production, Employment, Resources and Education.
The post Diving into the Kawartha Makes program with participant Luke Weiler appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>The post How one Lindsay teacher changed lives and helped shape Canada’s Tech Industry appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>By Bryan Reid
The best teachers don’t just teach a subject. The best teachers change the trajectory of their students’ lives.
In the mid-1990s, inside a Grade 10 computer science classroom at I.E. Weldon Secondary School in Lindsay, Ontario, the late Rob Mathers did exactly that for Ampere CEO Ryan Oliver and his peers.
Mr. Mathers, a math teacher by trade and self-admittedly not a computer science expert, was tasked with teaching computer science to students at a time when most people didn’t even have a computer in their home.
He created an environment where every one belonged and had a say, trusting his students to experiment, break things and learn together, inspiring a whole generation of young people in the process.
To honour his legacy and impact on Ampere, the South Makerspace Room in the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace has been renamed to the Mathers Room. Oliver shared the news and unveiled the new room’s decals at an Ampere staff event in December 2025.
“When Rob Mathers walked into our Grade 10 computer science classroom in the mid 1990s, he was coming as a Math teacher that knew computer science was going to be an important part of our future, but he would freely admit that he was not a computer science expert. He built a classroom rooted in experimentation, exploration and the idea that no one individual had a monopoly on teaching computers. The best way to learn was to do and see what breaks,” said Oliver.
It’s not hyperbole to say that Mr. Mathers’ computer science classes from the mid-to-late 90s helped shape the technology industry in Canada. Nearly every student from Oliver’s class of 20 ended up in the industry.
“The individuals that were fortunate enough to experience those early classes went on to be involved in, and create, some of the biggest technology projects in Canadian history. Peers from our class, and the ones that followed, have been directly responsible for billions of dollars in tech projects over the last 25 years,” said Oliver, “This was because of Rob’s way of teaching, of the control he gave us over the computer and the learning we all received.”
Mr. Mathers’ impact goes beyond the Canadian tech industry. His teaching philosophies have inspired and helped shape the way Ampere delivers programming.
“Ampere is built on that same philosophy of teaching, and we attempt to bring that same spirit of experimentation and exploration to our approach in everything we do,” said Oliver.
In attendance at the re-naming of the room was Mr. Mathers’ wife Melody Mathers, daughter Leah Ryrie (nee Mathers), some of his former colleagues and the entire Ampere team.
“My family and I were so touched when Ryan, a former student of my dad’s, reached out to us to let us know that a room at Ampere was being named after my Dad. To have this room named after him truly honours his legacy. Dad was so humble, and would never have guessed how many lives he touched and how many students he inspired over the years,” said Ryrie, “Dad loved teaching and knowing that he helped pave the road for computer science students to be successful in the field would have made him very proud. We’re so grateful to Ampere for bestowing this honour, and are thrilled to know that the space will be available for future generations.”
The newly named Mathers Room is a living reminder of what’s possible when curiosity is encouraged, mistakes are welcomed and learners are trusted to explore in a safe environment.
At Ampere, we’re proud to honour a teacher whose impact continues to ripple through classrooms, the Lindsay community and Canada’s tech industry.
As future learners step into the Mathers Room, they’re stepping into a legacy rooted in experimentation, exploration and possibility; the same spirit that drives everything we do at Ampere.
Remembering Rob Mathers
Bruce Barrett, friend and former colleague of the late Rob Mathers wrote a beautiful article for the Lindsay Advocate in September 2023 after Mr. Mathers’ celebration of life.
“Rob retired as the Head of Mathematics at I.E. Weldon Secondary School in 2008, where he spent 24 of his 31-year teaching career. He was fiercely devoted to his students, his craft, and his school, wielding a beautiful combination of knowledge and curiosity, truth and integrity, and kindness and humour,” wrote Barrett.
Read Barrett’s Remembering teacher Rob Mathers story to learn more about Mr. Mathers’ impact on his students, school and community.
About the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace and Skills Hub
The Kawartha Lakes Makerspace and Skills Hub in Lindsay, Ontario is your hub for STEAM education, summer camps, after school and PA Day programs and more in Kawartha Lakes. It’s filled with robots, maker kits, oozing oobleck, Minecraft marvels and some of the best STEAM educators in Canada. It’s also a community hub where people of all ages can learn about and embrace the power that STEAM creates. Visit the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace webpage to learn more and see what programming we have to offer.
Stay up-to-date on all things Kawartha Lakes Makerspace by subscribing to the KL Makerspace Newsletter – be the first to know about news, events and new programming!
The post How one Lindsay teacher changed lives and helped shape Canada’s Tech Industry appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>The post STEAM in Motion: Checking in from Old Crow, Yukon appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>By Tess Sutherland, Community Delivery Manager, Ampere
Old Crow, Yukon is the furthest north and only fly-in community in the Yukon.
The community lies in the arms of the Porcupine River where it meets the Crow River and is the home of the Vuntut Gwichʼin First Nation (“People of the Lakes”). The migration route of the Porcupine Caribou Herd is in the nearby hills and mountains. The herd, numbering a staggering 218,000 caribou, is the only caribou herd in North America that is now at higher numbers than any previous year on record. About a month ago the local school took all of the students on a successful 4-day moose hunting trip but now is the time of year the caribou will begin to move through the region.
So what does a community delivery actually look like?
It looks like talking to everyone – whether it’s the people sitting beside you on the plane, the person you’re in line to get groceries with at the local Co-op, or the people you pass walking through town. It’s accidentally running into the Old Crow principal in the Whitehorse (capital of Yukon) airport and discussing the opportunity gaps her students face in STEAM learning. One of which is having a science lab but no science teacher. Another is having 3D printers and other education technology that no one feels equipped to teach with.
It looks like spending time out on the land because land is culture. It’s accepting a ride up Crow Mountain to see the expanse of trees and earth covered in Reindeer lichen where the caribou graze. It’s taking many, many walks through the town and not straying further afield because it’s grizzly bear season in the woods. It’s spending time on the river banks listening to the sounds of the just-forming ice floes grazing against the shore. It means being able to speak with awe and wonder about the land and waterways that you’ve borne witness to, with everyone you meet.
It looks like taking time to localize your activities. In Nunavut we teach a lesson using the micro:bit’s light sensor and talk about how arctic ocean kelp need to store sunlight when they can capture it because they will spend half the year under the ice pack getting no light at all.
Here in Old Crow we spent time walking along the river banks to identify that Arctic willow grows plentifully so it becomes the star of our same micro:bit lesson. In the face of a changing climate, rivers in permafrost zones (like Old Crow) are expected to meander and deviate from their roots as their permafrost banks melt and degrade which could have massive downstream ecological impacts. Instead, plants like the Arctic willow have expanded their ecological ranges, flourishing and growing bigger in places they never have before. The effect of this is called arctic greening which strengthens the river banks and prevents erosion. Here the lesson becomes about the incredible resiliency of the land.
It looks like co-designing all of our lessons all of the time. It means adjusting lessons on the fly based on what’s working and not working in the room. It means many hours of prep work between lessons to make sure each session builds seamlessly on the last, especially since we had the chance to teach every student in the school three times!
It means when a 9-year-old says she really, REALLY wants to learn how a button works – you change your code and your next lesson to include buttons. It means checking in with teachers and students to see how the lessons are going and incorporating their feedback. Whether it’s pivoting away from using the buzzers in the Grade 6 to 8 class because they hate the sound, to leaning into the same activity in the Grade 9 to 12 class because two students tell you, “that was pretty cool.”
When you do that, teachers tell you that one of their students accomplished something that the student didn’t think was possible for them to accomplish, “That was really an ‘aha’ moment for me and for him!”
Students in the notoriously too cool for school Grades 6 to 8 say, “wait that’s cool,” and “this is actually fun!” and the younger students in Grades 1 to 3 ask one another what they’d rate the activity out of 10 and one says, “it’s an 8.5” while the other says, “For me? 10 out of 10.”
It looks like being a part of the community for more than just the work that’s brought you there.
It’s helping the kindergarteners get ready for recess, and offering condolences for an Elder who has recently passed. It’s even about taking meetings with the First Nation, the school, and anyone in town who wants to know what you’re carrying around in that colourful big box labeled Ampere.
Community delivery looks like accepting welcome and kindness wherever it is offered. From getting a ride into town from a stranger in the airport, to listening to stories from a local Elder, to jumping on the back of a 4-wheeler (ATV) to get a ride into school on a cold morning, to listening to and learning words of the local language. Yakhaii means “northern lights” in the Gwichʼin language while Mahsi Cho means “thank you”.
To the community of Old Crow, Mahsi Cho.
Ampere’s Lifecycle
Have you heard about Ampere’s Lifecycle? It illustrates how we support learners in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities at every stage of life and learning. Our Lifecycle includes:
- Advocacy – Showing up for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
- Mentorship – Amplifying voices and building capacity
- Production – Enabling creators and leaders
- Employment – Developing local, sustainable STEAM careers
- Resources – Providing fair access for all learners
- Education – Delivering hands-on, tech-driven learning
In Old Crow the Community Delivery Team provided Advocacy, Mentorship, Education, and Resources to local learners during their October visit!
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]]>The post STEAM in Motion: Checking in from Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay, Nunavut appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>By Sal Kennedy, Digital Skills Educator – Community Travel Team, Ampere
Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay are two of the most northern communities in Nunavut, both located in the High Arctic.
Pond Inlet – Mittimatalik (“the place where Mittima was”) is nestled between glaciers and snow capped mountains. It is home to a diverse range of marine and terrestrial wildlife, the Nattinnak Cultural Centre, the Qiqitani School Operations headquarters, the local tourism industry, a military base and a growing population of 1500+ people. It’s a real metropolis in relation to other “nearby” communities!
Pond – Mittimatalik has a special relationship to Resolute Bay – Qausuittuq (“the place with no dawn”). Its people are descendants of forced migrants from Inukjuak, Nunavik (Northern Quebec), relocated by the Canadian Government during the Cold War to establish sovereignty of the North, as well as the descendants of three families from Pond who were sent to teach the Inukjuaq Inuit how to survive in the High Arctic.
Experiencing three months of both total darkness and midnight sun, Resolute Bay’s 183 permanent residents are as famed for their resilience in the face of extreme cold and polar bears as they are for their hospitality as a tightly knit community. Regardless of size, we met successful self-taught entrepreneurs, brilliant teachers, lifelong learners, and Elders who held great Knowledge, who all contribute daily to the health of this special community.
Visiting both hamlets this September, the Community Delivery Team was reminded of how meaningful engagement is built over years, and how much our return can mean for individuals.
We spent our days delivering the Danielle Moore Ocean Conservation Kit in schools and Adult Digital Skills in the community. Our evenings, however, were for deepening relationships.
While spending time with returning participants from previous workshops, we hiked, hunted, swam, sang and laughed until well after dark. We also sat in grief with those who had recently lost loved ones – folks that we had met – and shared memories that brought tears and joy.
These experiences were undeniably granted because returning to the communities showed our commitment to friendships, birthing new depths to two-way learning. We had never felt more like members of a northern community, even if only part-time, and we look forward to continuing to find ways to support one and others‘ growth moving forward.
Ampere’s Lifecycle
Have you heard about Ampere’s Lifecycle? It illustrates how we support learners in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities at every stage of life and learning. Our Lifecycle includes:
- Advocacy – Showing up for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities
- Mentorship – Amplifying voices and building capacity
- Production – Enabling creators and leaders
- Education – Delivering hands-on, tech-driven learning
- Resources – Providing fair access for all learners
- Employment – Developing local, sustainable STEAM careers
In Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay the Community Delivery Team provided Advocacy, Mentorship, Education, and Resources to local learners during their September visit!
The post STEAM in Motion: Checking in from Pond Inlet and Resolute Bay, Nunavut appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>The post Four Nunavummiut Awarded 2025 Danielle Moore Scholarship appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association), in partnership with the Moore family, is pleased to announce that four Nunavummiut have been awarded the 2025 Danielle Moore Scholarship. Each winner will receive $3,000 in financial support towards their ongoing education.
The 2025 Danielle Moore Scholarship winners are:
- Alayna Ningeongan of Rankin Inlet
- Katelyn (Starr) MacLean of Coral Harbour
- Marcia Angalik of Arviat
- Megan Kilabuk of Pangnirtung
The Danielle Moore Scholarship, exclusively available to Nunavummiut, assists recipients with ongoing formal and informal education and skills development. The scholarship was established in 2022 in memory of Danielle Moore, who taught at Ampere’s Iqaluit Makerspace. Danielle was traveling to Kenya to represent Canada at the United Nations Environment Assembly aboard flight ET302 when it crashed in Ethiopia. To date, Ampere has provided $36,000 in scholarships to 13 recipients in her name.
“It was a pleasure to read this year’s applications for the Danielle Moore Scholarship. It’s inspiring that so many Nunavummiut youth are aspiring to do amazing and impactful things for their communities,” says Ryan Oliver, Founder and CEO of Ampere. “From pursuing systemic change in education and environmental policy to teaching Inuk youth the value of STEAM, Danielle’s legacy will continue to live on in the work done by the recipients.”
Danielle dedicated her life to education and the environment, weaving technology and digital skills into everything she did. Each winner exemplifies what she stood for, learn more about them below:
Alayna Ningeongan of Rankin Inlet is pursuing a Master’s in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and University of Saskatchewan (joint program). Alayna is interested in supporting Inuit youth to express themselves, pursue careers and solve community issues by using technology creatively and confidently through digital story telling, robotics or policy engagement.
Katelyn (Starr) MacLean of Coral Harbour is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta. Katelyn’s plan is to return to Nunavut and work in educational policy to help shape programs and systems that reflect Inuit knowledge, language, and values.
Marcia Angalik of Arviat is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program at Nunavut Arctic College. Marcia is working to become an Inuk educator in order to help the next generation of Nunavummiut grow with confidence, knowledge and cultural pride.
Megan Kilabuk of Pangnirtung is pursuing a certificate in Environmental Technology at Nunavut Arctic College. Megan’s goal is to support sustainable development, environmental conservation, and community resilience in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges in Nunavut.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to the Moore family and Ampere for establishing this scholarship honouring Danielle Moore’s legacy. I’m committed to making a positive impact in Nunavut, and this scholarship will be instrumental in helping me achieve my educational and career goals,” said recipient Megan Kilabuk.
Applications for the 2026 scholarship will be announced early in 2026. More information is available on the Danielle Moore Scholarship page.
Contact
Robyn James
Senior Director of Marketing
[email protected]
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]]>The post Canada Learning Code merges with Ampere to expand digital literacy for all appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>Lindsay, Ontario, 15/09/2025 – Two of Canada’s leading non-profits, Canada Learning Code and Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association), are joining forces to expand opportunities for people of all ages to thrive in today’s digital world. Through this merger, the two organizations bring together their shared strengths in democratizing access to technology, delivering hands-on learning, and co-designing with communities to ensure that digital literacy is accessible for everyone.
Ampere, a non-profit that works alongside rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, is known for activating opportunities that strengthen and cultivate valuable STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) skills. While Canada Learning Code (CLC), Canada’s leading national charity championing digital literacy education, delivers tech training and career development programs for people who are underrepresented in technology — with a strong emphasis on gender equity, newcomers, and Indigenous and racialized communities. Together the organizations will be a driving force in championing STEAM learning, access to technology, and innovative pathways to careers.
From a partnership built on years of collaboration, Ampere and Canada Learning Code have a long standing history as allies since their early days.
- 2018 – Ampere, as the Pinnguaq Association, opened its first Makerspace in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Canada Learning Code staff ran programming and helped train local Makerspace staff for the first few weeks
- 2019 – Ampere, as the Pinnguaq Association, hosted “Grow With Google” in partnership with Google and Canada Learning Code in Iqaluit.
- 2021 – Ampere launches the “Danielle Moore Scholarship” in memory of former colleague of both CLC and Pinnguaq, Danielle Moore. This is a scholarship targeted at Nunavummiut entering STEAM or teaching fields in post secondary. Over 15,000 has been awarded since its launch.
- 2023 – Ampere adopts the K-12 Computer Science Curriculum Framework from Canada Learning Code. The K-12 Framework provides guiding principles and taxonomy for the development of Computer Science Curriculum across Canada
“Ampere and Canada Learning Code have been intertwined from the very beginning. We each were incorporated just one month apart, growing side by side, and supporting each other as friends and allies along the way.” says Ryan Oliver, CEO of Ampere. This merger isn’t just a partnership, it’s a reunion and a natural fit that brings us back together to achieve even more”.
As part of the merger, Melissa Sariffodeen has stepped down as CEO of Canada Learning Code and Ryan Oliver has been appointed the new CEO. CLC programs and partnerships will continue without interruption, ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing support for learners and communities.
“We are thrilled to have Ampere continue the work of Canada Learning Code”, says Melissa Sariffodeen, former CEO of Canada Learning Code. “Their proven expertise and shared commitment to bringing access and empowerment of technology to equity deserving groups make them the ideal partner to grow our impact and prepare more learners for the future.”
To follow along the journey of Ampere and Canada Learning Code, stay connected with Ampere on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin @AmpereCanada or subscribe to the Ampere newsletter.
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 Makerspace and Skills Hubs 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.
About Canada Learning Code
Canada Learning Code is Canada’s leading national charity championing digital literacy education for all. Canada Learning Code brings accessible computer science to communities around the country by partnering with educators, designing resources and delivering learning experiences, so everyone can create with technology.
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]]>The post Ampere’s STEAM Fest returning to Lindsay in August 2025 appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>Be curious, get messy and make something amazing while celebrating innovation, creativity and community on Aug. 16 at the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace.
Lindsay, Ontario, 29/07/2025 – Community members of all ages are invited to engage with science, technology, engineering, art and math at Ampere’s Kawartha Lakes Makerspace for STEAM Fest, a day of family fun and learning.
Saturday, Aug. 16, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Ampere invites everyone to celebrate innovation, creativity and community at their world-class Makerspace & Learning Centre located at 12 Peel St., Lindsay.
Those who attend can expect engaging, STEAM-based activities, live music from local artists, Indigenous storytelling, giveaways, interactive games, access to a sensory safe space and more.
“STEAM Fest 2025, our second annual Level-Up Festival, is a chance for us to connect with community members and organizations, people of all ages and backgrounds, learners at every stage of life, as we embrace the power of science, technology, engineering, art and math in our daily lives,” says Ryan Oliver, founder and CEO of Ampere.
“It really is all about getting to know our friends and neighbours and seeing STEAM in action while having fun.”
All of the activities for STEAM Fest will take place on Ampere property – inside and outside of the Makerspace located at the corner of Peel and William streets.
Special thanks to community partners who are helping to make this event possible, including Kawartha Lakes Economic Development, Kawartha Lakes Pride, Lindsay Downtown BIA, Autism Resources Kawartha, Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, Kawartha Lakes Public Library, Matty G Digital, Kawartha Lakes CFDC, Launch Kawartha, FLATO Academy Theatre, Water Depot and Lindsay Wildcats Basketball Association.
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.
Contact
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]]>The post Call for Applicants: 2025 Danielle Moore Scholarship appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>20/06/2025 – (Iqaluit, Nunavut) – Ampere (formerly the Pinnguaq Association), in partnership with the Moore family, is proud to announce the call for applications for the 2025 Danielle Moore Scholarship, where funding is awarded to one or more Nunavummiut to support formal or informal education and skills development. Applications are now open, and the application period continues until 11:59 pm on August 8, 2025.
Launched in April 2022, the Danielle Moore Scholarship honours the memory of its namesake. Danielle taught at Ampere’s Iqaluit Makerspace and dedicated her life to education and the environment, and wove technology and digital skills into everything she did. Danielle was travelling to Kenya to represent Canada at the United Nations Environment Assembly aboard flight ET302 when it crashed in Ethiopia.
In 2024, four Nunavummiut were awarded the scholarship, each receiving $3,000 in financial support for their ongoing education. Haily Arnaqjuaq of Sanirajak was a first year student of an Indigenous STEM program at Lakehead University. A third year student, Candy Ivalutanar of Naujaat, was in the Nunavut Teacher Education Program at Nunavut Arctic College. Aura Kwon of Iqaluit was a first year student at University of Toronto pursuing their Bachelor of Music, with a focus on Music Education. And Kara Campbell, also of Iqaluit, was in their second year at Dalhousie University, pursuing their Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) in Undeclared Pre-Vet.
“We are delighted to once again be able to offer this scholarship in partnership with the Moore Family, which not only improves the lives of Nunavummiut but carries on the impact that Danielle made across the territory.” says Ryan Oliver, Founder & CEO of Ampere.
Pinnguaq has partnered with the Moore family to provide funding to maintain the Scholarship for at least ten years and is in talks with potential partners to expand not just its longevity but also its scope. In 2022, Pinnguaq established a charitable foundation that accepts donations for the scholarship. Donations can be made at go.pinnguaq.com/foundation.
Applications for the 2025 scholarships are now open until 11:59 pm on August 8, 2025. The Scholarship is available exclusively to Nunavummiut to support formal or informal education and skills development. Full application criteria and instructions as well as learning resources Pinnguaq has also created in Danielle’s memory, can be found at https://amp.ca/grow/high-school-students/scholarships.
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, 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.
Contact
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]]>The post Ampere announces Power Up Cup, an inclusive e-sports tournament for youth in Kawartha Lakes appeared first on Ampere Association.
]]>Lindsay, Ontario, 02/07/2025 – Youth across Kawartha Lakes are invited to join Ampere for an inclusive e-sports competition, Power Up Cup, battling it out at the Kawartha Lakes Makerspace in pursuit of prizes and glory.
Power Up Cup, hosted in partnership with Treaty 4 Esports (T4E), is a two-day Fortnite tournament offering young gamers of all experience levels to come together to play the game in a safe environment, make some friends and have fun.
“This tournament is all about uniting the community for the common purpose of playing, learning and growing together,” says Ryan Oliver, founder and CEO of Ampere.
“We are grateful to be part of the Kawartha Lakes community. Working with Treaty 4 Esports to host this inclusive and welcoming tournament, where players are safe to be who they are while doing what they love – gaming – is a chance for us to thank the youth of this community for embracing us so fully for so many years.”
The tournament – running in the afternoons of August 27 and 28 – includes two age brackets: 8 to 13 and 14 to 18. Participants age 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. There is no registration fee. Players will only be competing against other Power Up Cup registrants; there is no online play with anyone other than those in the Makerspace.
A firm believer in the power of play with respect to learning, Ampere is excited to offer youth an opportunity to further develop usable life skills like agency, experimentation, planning and evaluating. It’s also a chance to engage in problem-solving and communication while practicing interpersonal skills in this group setting.
When it’s not their turn to play, participants will engage in hands-on activities with Ampere’s expert STEAM educators, keeping the fun flowing while players are away from the screen.
Treaty 4 Esports is a First Nation family-run organization consisting of Tristan, Shenika and Jory Keshane.
“T4E aims to bring all treaty people together through video games & e-sports,” says Tristan Keshane, who notes that non-Indigenous individuals are still considered Treaty people.
“We travel to rural & remote Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan, hosting e-sports events on games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex & various sports games for Indigenous youth. Our events provide a safe space for Indigenous youth to compete, connect and build community. At T4E we say video games & e-sports are a positive alternative to the obvious. Through Ampere’s, formerly Pinnguaq’s, mentorship & support, we’ve expanded our reach and created more meaningful experiences for the communities we serve.”
Registration for Power Up Cup is now open at go.amp.ca/power-up-cup. Spots are limited so those interested are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.
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, 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.
Contact
The post Ampere announces Power Up Cup, an inclusive e-sports tournament for youth in Kawartha Lakes appeared first on Ampere Association.
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