The West Kootenay Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) is thrilled to unveil its brand-new Makerspace, a hands-on learning environment designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovation among teacher candidates. Located at the Nelson Learning Centre, the space has quickly become a hub for inspiration, exploration, and wellness. Not to mention, a great place to sew back on a stray button!
The Makerspace was developed by teacher candidate Brittany during their Community Field Experience, in response to a growing need for future educators to have access to creative outlets that support both their personal wellbeing and professional growth. “Teaching can be incredibly rewarding, but also demanding,” says Susanne Maguire, WKTEP program coordinator. “We wanted to create a space where teacher candidates could decompress, express themselves, and reconnect with the joy of learning through making. And we want to show our teacher candidates how to bring that hands-on, inquiry-based learning into their classrooms.”
Outfitted with everything from art supplies and robotics kits to textiles and sewing tools, the Makerspace invites students to experiment with materials and ideas. It’s not just about building things—it’s about building mindsets, grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning and shaped by values of inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability. The space encourages a maker mentality: a willingness to try, fail, adapt, and try again. This approach is key for modern classrooms, where flexibility and creativity are essential.
The Makerspace also supports course-based projects and extracurricular initiatives, making it a flexible tool for both academic and personal development. The WKTEP team looks forward to seeing the space evolve over the years. In the future, they even have dreams of opening it up to the community in some way, extending its impact and reach.
By nurturing creativity, resilience, and reflection, WKTEP’s new Makerspace is more than just a room—it’s a launchpad for innovative teaching and lifelong learning.
Learn more about WKTEP here.