There was a winding lineup to get into Vancouver’s first ever Mini Maker Faire last Saturday morning. It was worth the wait. The Great Northern Way Campus was filled with items to feast your eyes on.

Inside the faire there were tantalizing lights and sounds drawing people to the interactive booths. Art and science had found a meeting place and it was a party.

Exhibits ranged from the delicious to the environmental. Visitors could get a 3D printer to print their faces in chocolate or icing or they could pedal a stationary bike to generate power.

Faire goers could try their own Maker skills at workshops. Workshops covered model airplane building, knot tying, circuit bending and more.

Bikes glowing with electroluminescent (EL) wire were on display. Visitors could make their own with an EL wire bike kits available for purchase from cycEL. Luke Closs of cycEL said, “I have this vision of 100 glow bikes in the city. They’re so pretty.”

One of the most attention-grabbing creations was Panterragaffe, a giant pedal-powered two-person walking machine. Its Makers from Metro Diverse Services describe Panterragaffe as a “walking bicycle.” The two riders must work together to steer it. Estelle Fritz of Metro Diverse Services said, “Every time we do a demonstration it’s fun watching the children’s faces.”

The Vancouver Tool Library, a volunteer-run non-profit group that will open its doors this July, was represented at the faire. It will provide members with access to power and hand tools for home renovations, bike maintenance and yard/ garden work. Home projects that might have once needed a professional will be a library membership away. The Tool Library will let you keep track of what you borrow on their website.

“You’ll be able to login online and see which tools you have out and which ones are due,” said volunteer Cam Powell. They are planning to have a space for cyclists to work on their bikes onsite.

The Hackery, which provides computer repairs and recycles laptops, desktop computers and flat screen monitors, hosted an exhibit with a stack of three spinning bike wheels. When powered by pedals, the wheels lit up with the message “Buy Less, Fix More.” Brian Dick of the Hackery explained that the message on the wheels was meant to emphasize reuse of products before replacement. “A lot of people just toss things aside, but what happens to them?”

Among the outdoor exhibits were eatArt’s electricity generating bikes. These stationary bikes powered lights when pedaled by volunteers and onlookers keen to jump in and give one a test ride. These bikes will be generating power again on Saturday, July 16 at eatART's Power the VAG.

I left Maker Faire with my mind bubbling with all the new ideas that had just surrounded me. Being part of a crowd with so much creative energy was a great experience. If attendance has anything to do with it, there will be another Vancouver Mini Maker Faire!  

You can see the full selection of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire photos taken by David Niddrie here.