During my six years working as an Education Assistant at Selkirk Secondary School in Kimberley, I always found the 3D printer room intimidating. I thought I can avoid it forever. Who needs to learn this new technology, anyways? Not me. But what happened when I changed my job and became an OT Assistant at the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services? Well, you guessed it: I had to learn 3D printing as one of my first new tasks! Specifically, I am talking about the Bambu Lab program at YXC Makerspace in Cranbrook.

Not only have I not heard about Makerspace before, but I could not even think such places could exist in Cranbrook. When I first entered the building, I was immediately in awe. I got greeted not only by the friendliest staff, but also an atmospheric “nuovo décor”, a hip mixture of color mixed with wood elements, modern open spaces and light fixtures that tell a story. Needless to say, I am a “co-worker” at this place today. But let’s not run ahead.

Let’s talk about learning 3D printing! The staff informed me that they have information sessions, and the easiest way to start learning is to sign up to one of these sessions. I felt at ease immediately. The very first word I added to my 3D print vocabulary during the info session was “filament”, which has quickly escalated to the different types of filaments such as PLA, ABS, PETG and TPU. And I also learned how to enable supports and how to slice the plate. But before anyone gets cold feet, I would like to add that it will make sense quickly! Quicker than I even expected. After the info session, I booked another session with one of the kind volunteers at Makerspace and the third time I was flying solo: I was already teaching the program to others. And let’s not forget about the best part of 3D printing: holding the first print - Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber - in my hands. That’s right, this is a technology that produces tangible results, which is way better than just sitting in front of the computer for hours.

Therefore, I highly recommend the YXC Makerspace to anyone who would love to venture in the world of 3D printing, regardless of your age.

We recently had the opportunity to visit the YXC Makerspace in Cranbrook to learn how to use their 3D scanner for a project we were working on- and the experience was absolutely fantastic. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel welcome. They were not only incredibly friendly but also impressively knowledgeable about the equipment and the creative processes involved. We worked closely with one of their Maker Champions, who trained us on how to properly use the 3D printer. Their approach was clear, hands-on, and patient- making it easy to grasp even some of them ore technical details. The space itself is well-equipped, clean, and thoughtfully organized. With everything from high-quality 3D printers to laser cutters and design workstations. It’s clearly a place built to empower creativity and innovation, whether you’re a beginner or someone with more experience in digital fabrication. Overall, YXC Makerspace is a gem in Cranbrook’s creative and tech community. We left not only with the skills we needed but also with a real appreciation for the people who keep this space running. We’ll definitely be back, as we already have a bunch of ideas for futures projects.