Newmarket’s digital innovation hub, NewMakeIt, is launching a maker-mentor program with local seniors who are passionate about sharing their skills and knowledge in the skilled trades with the hobbyists and entrepreneurs who use the space.
“I think seniors are undervalued in our community and this is a way of allowing them to apply their skills and trades experience,” NewMakeIt member services coordinator Alex Kasatkina said. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone. It gives seniors a way to give back to the community and also allows them to connect with new makers and help them along with their projects.”
The makerspace is looking for seniors with crafting or technical skills that they would be able to put to use. Skills and experience with woodturning, using a lathe, painting or remodelling furniture would be of great use, Kasatkina said, adding that any experience working in a wood or metal fabrication shop would be welcomed.
As well, technical skills and knowledge of tools such as planers, jointers, and saws, or digital fabrication equipment such as CNC machinery is needed.
“We want to see what the community has to offer and we’ll base the program around their talents,” Kasatkina said.
This new maker-mentor program was inspired by the hub’s one senior mentor, Bryan Coughlin, who moved away recently. Kasatkina said that experience was a positive one and led to the idea of recreating it on a larger scale.
NewMakeIt has been working with the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place and Newmarket Public Library to raise awareness of the program and attract senior mentors.
Located at 621 Timothy St., NewMakeIt is a multi-functional coworking and makerspace-shared facility that features training, and industrial and digital workshops where a wide variety of member inventors and innovators can be found working on projects. It’s an environment in which collaboration, learning, creativity, and innovation are supported and encouraged.
The maker-mentor volunteers will be available several days per month to provide guidance and help to those working on projects on the shop floor. Mentorship could involve providing tips and advice on how to use a piece of woodworking or metalworking equipment, for example.
All NewMakeIt members have to do is show up on the day the mentors are scheduled to be at the facility and seek them out. The dates will be announced soon.
If you are a senior who would like to share your technical or crafting skills with others, NewMakeIt would like to hear from you.
For more information or to apply to be a maker mentor, call 289-841-1270, email [email protected], or visit here.
NewMakeIt is a not-for-profit organization that is funded by the Ontario government, Town of Newmarket, and the Regional Municipality of York. Monthly memberships start at $80, with discounts offered for longer monthly commitments.
