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Five Questions with David Messer of the City of Guelph
This Innovation Series features some of the inspiring people working on smart solutions in communities across Canada
March 7, 2023
Story
October 3, 2024
by Evergreen
for the Community Solutions Network
This Innovation Series features some of the inspiring people working on smart solutions in communities across Canada
Brian Pottle is the executive director of Katinnganiq Makerspace Network, one of four winning projects in the federal government’s 2019 Smart Cities Challenge. He is also an Inuk from Nunatsiavut (Northern Labrador) and a long-time advocate of post-secondary education in Indigenous communities.
Makerspaces are collaborative workspaces where people can create, learn, and share using digital tools, handheld tools, and electronics. They encourage hands-on learning, innovation, and community projects, often found in schools or public places like libraries and community centres. While makerspaces can be found across Canada, they are more common in urban centres.
To become a Smart Cities Challenge winner, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities made a strong case that makerspaces were essential to community wellbeing in Nunavut. Watch the five-minute video
Evergreen: Can you tell us a little about the Smart Cities Challenge winning project?
Brian Pottle: The Katinnganiq Makerspace Network (KMN) project was awarded a $10M grant prize for the implementation of makerspaces across Nunavut. The mission of KMN is to help create positive factors in the lives of Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) through the creation of makerspaces in communities across the territory. In particular, KMN’s aim is to help create a safe space for youth in Nunavut communities to learn about and explore STEAM subjects such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and math while building peer relationships and mentorships.
In my role as executive director of KMN, I oversee operations of the organization and the implementation of the project. This includes speaking at or attending events related to KMN, as well as being accountable and transparent with communities on funding opportunities.
What are the obstacles the project has had to overcome?
Initially, the biggest obstacle was impacts to travel and outreach due to COVID-19. This made it difficult to travel within the territory or get in contact with municipalities across the territory.
Once the COVID barrier faded, many of our community-level makerspace partners faced personnel turnover, and this continues to be worked on.
What have been the major milestones of this project since launch?
Since the vision of KMN is makerspaces in the communities across Nunavut, the major milestones of the KMN project include the partnerships with Pinnguaq Association in Iqaluit, the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, the Hamlet of Sanirajak, the Hamlet of Pond Inlet, the Hamlet of Kimmirut and the Qaqqalik school and the Nattilik Heritage Society in Gjoa Haven.
Beyond that, KMN has had good turnout with our open house events in collaboration with our community partners at the Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay makerspaces.
What would you like to see next for the project?
The biggest thing we at KMN would like to see is more makerspaces opening! With the KMN project having a limited timeline, we want to ensure that youth in Nunavut communities are afforded the opportunity to experience a makerspace in their hometown before the funding window closes.
What else are you working on right now?
Being a dad definitely takes up the largest chunk of my time! Beyond that, I am involved in a few advisory committees, with the National Research Council Canada, the Mastercard Foundation, and Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Good question! I usually find inspiration when surrounded by nature: the crashing woosh of ocean waves on the sides of cliffs, or the carefree chirping of birds in the woods. Or also in written works, for example, the biography of Albert Einstein.