Terrace & Hazelton

On May 29th, more than 200 Grade 7 students from Hazelton, Kitwanga, Terrace, and Kitsum Kalum came together to take part in the annual Maker Day, hosted at the Northwest Trades and Employment Training Centre. This exciting, hands-on event gave students the chance to explore future career opportunities, especially in skilled trades and local industries.

Throughout the day, students rotated through a series of interactive stations led by trades professionals and career mentors. These sessions gave them the opportunity to work with real tools, ask meaningful questions, and engage in activities that sparked curiosity and inspired career exploration.

We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors and presenters for sharing their time, passion, and expertise:

Thornhill Fire Department, Skeena Wild, Trowel Trades Training Association, Elite/DKI, Piping Industry College, Terrace RCMP, Progressive Ventures, Westernjet, BC Construction Foundation, Technicon, A & J Roofing, Acuren, Hartman Electrical, LNG Canada, Coast Mountain College, Carey Mann, CDN, BC Emergency Health Services, and RONA Terrace.

Your involvement made a lasting impact—helping to ignite curiosity, confidence, and motivation in the next generation of learners. Events like Maker Day plant the seeds of possibility, helping students recognize their strengths, interests, and future potential. They also provide a valuable lens through which students can focus their studies, build confidence, and overcome barriers with a clearer sense of direction.

Thank you for helping us shape futures—one meaningful experience at a time.

Kitimat

Two weeks after the Terrace Maker Day, NTETC staff brought the Maker Day experience to students in Kitimat. A total of 190 Grade 6 and 7 students from MEMSS, Nechako, Kildala, and St. Anthony’s gathered at Nechako Elementary for a hands-on day of exploration and inspiration. The event was another great success, uniting local businesses and organizations to showcase a wide range of career opportunities.

This incredible day wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the community, including:
Coast Mountain College, Piping Industry College, BC Construction Foundation, Kitimat RCMP, Kitimat Emergency Services, Technicon, Westernjet, Rona, EECOL Electric, CDN Controls, LNG Canada, CIMS, Rio Tinto, Leeann Ferguson’s Painting, Acuren – LNG, Maryka & Tatianna, and CMSD-82’s Shawna Wilson & Stephanie Vossen.

An important outcome is the collaboration between schools. Events like this allow students to connect in a non-competitive, meaningful environment—something that doesn’t happen often. Maker Day creates a space for shared learning and discovery among peers from different schools who may find common interests and spark future passions.

Another meaningful aspect of Maker Days is the opportunity it provides for younger students (K–5) to witness learning in action. As older students dive into hands-on activities, younger classes are brought in by their teachers to observe the excitement and creativity unfold. While we can’t measure exactly how many future interests are sparked in these moments, we know they leave a lasting impression.