Workshops 2023

Keynote with Al Simons

Juno Award-winner Al Simmons demonstrates, with hilarious results, how the various instruments of a symphony orchestra make music. The principles of sound waves, vibrations, resonance, and pitch are clearly explained as Al plays his bizarre homemade versions of stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. In typical Al-style, he manages to coax music out of tin cans, soda straws, garden hoses, plastic drink bottles, rulers, coat hangers, and even a turkey baster.  He explains, by way of hilarious example, the science behind the music and how his crude instruments are similar to their more expensive counterparts. Al's performance is an exploration of his inventions. He demonstrates a variety of his creations, from a spring-loaded-kitchen-utensil hat to a smokin' smoked salmon, and talks about the trials and tribulations of being and inventor.  What do you do when your invention fails?  Each failure is a step towards success.  Al explains that some of his inventions were accidental or serendipitous, while others were painstakingly planned out on paper, created as a prototype and then methodically constructed.

(1 performance daily from 1:25- -2:00  p.m. This workshop can accommodate 200 students)

Paper Towers with West K Thinkgineers

What can you build with 30 sheets of paper and a roll of tape? Could your structure withstand an earthquake, a hurricane an ice storm? Could your structure support a can of beans? Paper Towers is an introductory challenge in the world of STEAM, accessible to students from K-12, that teaches participants about Structural Engineering, structural shapes, the Design Loop and working as a team.  

(3 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Boat Float with West K Thinkgineers

How many golf balls do you think you can float with a single sheet of paper and piece of aluminum foil? I can tell you it’s more than you think if you are willing to try and fail and try again. Boat Float is an introductory challenge in the world of STEAM, accessible to students from K-12, that teaches participants about, trial and error, the Design Loop and working as a team. 

(3 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Catapults with West K Thinkgineers

Who would have thought that some popsicle sticks a bottle cap and binder clip could knock down a tower and save the kingdom from an evil Dragon…well it’s true! Catapults is an introductory challenge in the world of STEAM, accessible to students from K-12, that teaches participants about Mechanical Engineering, Simple Machines, Forces, the Design Loop and working as a team. 

(3 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

KenKens with Kira Burkett

KenKens are a fun math puzzle with a challenge for students of all ages.  Students in grades 1-12 are invited to this session to learn how to solve these fun puzzles.  Similar to Sudoku, KenKens require students to logically place numbers on a grid - but KenKens also require students to solve math equations in the process.  The easiest puzzles are grade 1 friendly while the most advanced puzzles require factoring 3-digit numbers, so there truly is a challenge available for everyone!  If your class already has experience solving KenKens we will modify the session so that your class creates their own puzzles for others to try!

(3 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Unusual Flying Things with Terry Bilyk

Understanding Bernoulli’s principle as it pertains to flight may be difficult. Also, how do the forces of gravity, lift and thrust effect flight? Unusual Flying Things explores these principles and forces and how they relate to flight. Paper airplanes, helicopters, straw gliders, and tubers are a few of the “Unusual Flying Things” that you can make and fly to learn the science behind their flight.

(3 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Minecraft Workshop with Joel Serrano

In this lesson, students will complete a challenge to examine the houses of the three little pigs, and then build a house for a fourth little pig using better, stronger materials that will be more durable against external forces. Students test their fourth structure by using TNT and see if the 4th Little Pigs house survived the simulated attack.

(2 Workshop daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20 students)

Scratch Workshops with Toni Koznechov

In this workshop, students learn how to build your very own machine learning model! Students will discover how to identify cyberbullying using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data. Students will be introduced to block-based coding through Scratch, the perfect way to develop your coding skills. This session is geared towards students in grades 4 to 8. 

(2 Workshop daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20 students)

Scratcher Workshop with Jayboogz

If you're passionate about music and want to learn how to scratch using turntables, then this workshop is for you! With the guidance of our expert turntablist, Jayboogz, you'll learn how to use turntables and learn the techniques of scratching. This workshop is perfect for anyone who loves music and wants to challenge themselves! 

(2 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 10 students)

DNA Biotechnology with Let's Talk Science

This workshop is for high school students to learn about forensic sciences. They will explore how different pieces of evidence from a crime scene investigation can be analyzed, such as using chromatography, footprint/fingerprint analysis, and chemical analysis of samples. They will also use DNA fingerprinting to analyze suspect DNA samples.

(2 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Acrylic Pour with Jenifer Arjoon and Sheena Gurm

This workshop is for middle years students to learn about properties of fluids, like density, viscosity, and flow rate, as well as math, with acrylic pour art! Leading this workshop are Gr8 students from Amber Trails, teachers Jennifer Arjoon and Sheena Gurm, and University of Winnipeg professor, researcher, and neuroscientist Dr. Renee Douville. This is also an opportunity for participants to connect with a local neuroscientist! Students will be able to choose any theme and use it as an inspiration for their artwork, such as cells, universe, diverse living things etc. 

(2 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

Rube Goldberg Machine with Michael Bilyk

The most complicated, convoluted, chain reaction, designed to do the most mundane of tasks; that’s right, I’m talking about a Rube Goldberg Machine. Bland soup? Spend the day setting up your classroom with wacky contraptions and simple machines to add a pinch of salt and flavour to any meal! A Rube Goldberg machine can be adapted to be an introductory, moderate, or even advanced level creation in the world of Engineering and STEAM education. Accessible to students from grades K-12, Rube Goldberg Machines teach participants about Mechanical Engineering, Simple Machines, Forces, the Design Loop and working as a team. 

(2 Workshops daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)

3D Modeling with Tim Gysel

With the emergence of 3D modeling, there has been an increase in demand for modeling skills. Students will learn 3d modeling techniques to design and construct their own ideas. Utilizing 3d software and 3d printers, students will gain basic skills required to create projects designed during the seminar. Students will gain problem solving skills, as well as think sustainably when preparing to create their design. With skill-appropriate software students can make their ideas come to life.

(1 Workshop daily. This workshop can accommodate one class of 20-26 students)