Wrenford Polytechnic opens new fabrication shop for community workshops
Wrenford Polytechnic is opening the doors of the Tamarack Building to the public this fall, launching a series of weekend fabrication workshops for Wrenford residents. The initiative aims to bring hands-on skills training in welding, metalwork, and basic shop safety to community members outside the college.
The new community fabrication space is located in the Tamarack Building, home to the School of Skilled Trades & Transportation. The area features dedicated welding bays and new fabrication equipment, recently upgraded to support both student instruction and the new public programming.
Workshops will cover introductory welding, metal fabrication, and shop safety. These sessions are designed for beginners with no prior experience, though the college notes that participants must be at least 16 years old to work in the shops. Students under 18 will need a signed consent form.
"We built the Tamarack Building to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople, but we also believe those tools and that knowledge belong to the community," said Wade Hutchinson, Dean of the School of Skilled Trades & Transportation. "These weekend workshops are our way of sharing that space and helping residents build something with their own hands."
The workshops run on weekends throughout the fall term. Registration opens on the Continuing Education page. Participants are required to bring their own liability insurance and sign a facility use agreement before their first booking.
Wrenford Polytechnic has a long history of serving the region. Opened in 1967 as the Wrenford Institute of Technology, the college has grown from its original Mill Street woollen works location to its main Benchlands Campus and its downtown Mercer Street Campus.
For more information about the college, visit About Wrenford Polytechnic.