Pinnguaq is getting all “steamed” up about an upcoming summer street festival it is hosting in downtown Lindsay.
The not-for-profit educational organization is holding a celebration on August 29 to mark the opening of its new community hub, located at 12 Peel St. in Lindsay. The festival encompasses elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM).
“We are very hopeful and excited to show off a new capital project in downtown Lindsay,” Ryan Oliver, CEO and founder of Pinnguaq, told kawarthaNOW. “We are excited to share in the good vibes and showcase what this building can be not only for our organization but for the community as a whole.”
The public can expect to see food vendors, bouncy castles, and a variety of STEAM-based activities running throughout the afternoon.
“We will have live bands and lots to eat,” Oliver added. “The public will see a celebration and we’re hopeful they will join in.”
The event precedes “STEAM School,” a new program which Pinnguaq is offering in September to children in grades 4 through 6 who are specifically interested in STEAM subjects. Offered two days a week beginning September 10, the school encourages students to explore real-world challenges and apply critical thinking, as they delve into STEAM subjects.
The Level-Up Summer Street Festival runs from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, and offers family-friendly fun, Pinnguaq said.
“Embracing a playful approach to learning, Pinnguaq is thrilled to invite the public to the festival, a celebration of (STEAM) education in the Kawartha Lakes and the opening of their new community hub in downtown Lindsay,” a media release noted.
Members of the public can tour the 3,500-square-foot makerspace, enjoy hands-on STEAM-powered programming for learners of all ages, and visit a tech exploration station. Attendees can also embrace play in a video game lounge or express their creativity in the chalk art zone.
“This street festival has something for people of all ages.”
Pinnguaq partnered with O’Neil and Carroll, a Downeyville/Lindsay-based contractor, and Home by Tim + Chris, a Fenelon Falls-based design firm, to make the hub a reality.
The makerspace will be home to after-school programming, drop-in programming on weekends and, of course, STEAM School next month.
In addition to the Lindsay makerspace, Pinnguaq operates a makerspace in Iqaluit, and supports a makerspace network from Curve Lake First Nation to a growing number across Nunavut, including Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet, and Saniarjak.
“We’re so excited to be moving to downtown Lindsay and look forward to celebrating the launch of the new hub with this family-friendly, STEAM-powered festival, along with our friends, learner community, partners and local businesses,” Oliver noted.
Originally from Lindsay, Oliver worked for almost nine years for the territorial government in Nunavut, where he founded the not-for-profit Pinnguaq Association in Pangnirtung in 2012 to provide Nunavummiut youth access to technology through games.
Pinnguaq now works alongside rural, remote, Indigenous, and other communities, and strives to deliver programs for people of all ages to cultivate STEAM skills through innovative technology, art, and play. It offers “world-class” makerspaces, maker kits and activities, and works with educators to introduce children to a STEAM-based curriculum that brings learning to life.
For more information about Pinnguaq and its programming in Kawartha Lakes, visit www.pinnguaq.com or follow along on social media at @pinnguaq.
