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Creating a Local Brand - Canada 150 London

What began as a dream has blossomed into an award-winning social enterprise that reaches tens of thousands of people in Southern Ontario each year.

I am one of three co-founders of the MakerBus. Together with my two partners in the project, Kim Martin and Beth Compton, we have transformed a used school bus into Canada's first mobile makerspace and technology education classroom. We work with schools, libraries, and community groups to bring hands-on, innovative, education projects that encourage our community to embrace the creative process and to learn through failure.

 

From creating wearable technology fashion shows, to developing curricula based around 3D printers and drones, to attempting to break World Records, the MakerBus does it all. Starting with nothing more than an idea, I have helped raise thousands of dollars in crowd-funding campaigns and community donated to make this idea a reality.

 

Now after three years of hard work, we have built a social enterprise that makes a tangible difference in our community and reaches tens of thousands each year. In February 2016, the MakerBus had the privilege of training more than 1000 teachers/teacher-librarians in the Thames Valley District School Board in the use of emerging maker technologies.

I am one of three co-founders of the MakerBus. Together with my two partners in the project, Kim Martin and Beth Compton, we have transformed a used school bus into Canada's first mobile makerspace and technology education classroom. We work with schools, libraries, and community groups to bring hands-on, innovative, education projects that encourage our community to embrace the creative process and to learn through failure.

From creating wearable technology fashion shows, to developing curricula based around 3D printers and drones, to attempting to break World Records, the MakerBus does it all. Starting with nothing more than an idea, I have helped raise thousands of dollars in crowd-funding campaigns and community donated to make this idea a reality.

Now after three years of hard work, we have built a social enterprise that makes a tangible difference in our community and reaches tens of thousands each year. In February 2016, the MakerBus had the privilege of training more than 1000 teachers/teacher-librarians in the Thames Valley District School Board in the use of emerging maker technologies.