St. Pat's inspires student innovation
Power of Ideas Tour makes stop in Yellowknife
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknifers have a chance to get inspired by science this week at a one-time exhibition being hosted at St. Patrick High School tomorrow and Friday.
Grade 6 students Dylan Snaggs, left, and Jeremiah Vital-Abel take part in Hour of Code at Weledeh Catholic School on Dec. 9. Weledeh students are expected to take part in this week's Power of Ideas Tour at St. Patrick High School, which will include coding workshops. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo |
The Power of Ideas Tour is a mobile exhibition travelling to 60 different communities across the country as part of Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations.
"It's all about inspiring kids," said Thana Rahim, a physics teacher at St. Pat's and organizer of the local event.
"It's a celebration of 150 years of innovation in Canada."
The events are put together with the help of the Perimeter Institute and Actua, and include presentations, workshops and interactive activities around science, technology, engineering and medical (STEM) subjects.
Tomorrow, students from Yellowknife's Catholic and public school boards who are in Grades 6 to 12 will have a chance to take part in activities at the St. Pat's and Weledeh Catholic School gymnasiums, as well as at the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre, Rahim said.
The exhibition will teach students all about "physics, cosmic speed, black holes," and is intended to show them how science can be fun, Rahim said.
A "Maker Mobile" will also be on display – a space that offers up hands-on workshops around things like coding, design and 3D printing, she said.
The Power of Ideas Tour also includes presentations on the history of innovation in Canada, according to the Perimeter Institute's website.
"We want to show the youth that with one idea, they could do so much," said Rahim. "Not everyone has this opportunity to watch and see all these interactive presentations. We are lucky to have it, and I would love my kids and all the kids in this community to see it."
Rahim said she has been teaching physics in Yellowknife for 11 years. In 2010, she was one of 25 Canadian physics teachers selected to participate in an international physics workshop with the Perimeter Institute.
Since then, she has kept in touch with the organization.
When the opportunity for communities to host the Power of Ideas Tour came up last June, Rahim said the organization reached out and asked if she wanted to host a Yellowknife stop.
"We are very grateful," Rahim said, adding she feels honoured that St. Pat's is hosting the event.
She said she hopes the activities will encourage students to achieve their goals.
"It all starts from one idea," Rahim said. "If a few kids get inspired, that is more than you can ask for."
The Power of Ideas Tour will be open to the public for free on Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the St. Pat's gymnasium.
