Try-A-Trade®

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Ever wanted to try to make something that would show up in a movie, animation or video game? Now’s your chance! Use the computer provided and follow the instructions on the table to build your very own snowman from digital clay. When you’re done we will make sure to showcase your work on our large screen collage!

Ever dream of your perfect home floorplan? Make your dreams a reality with an interactive Architectural Technology software demonstration!

Ever wondered how dents magically disappear from cars? Now’s your chance to try it yourself! Using the Glue Pulling Repair (GPR) method, you’ll work with a hot glue gun, plastic tabs, and specialty pullers to remove dents from steel and aluminum panels—just like the pros in the auto repair industry.

We’ve got protective gloves ready for those using the glue gun, so you can get hands-on with confidence. No experience needed—just bring your skills and see if you’ve got what it takes to restore a smooth, dent-free surface!

Learn the important skill of tire changing and wheel balancing and you will never find yourself stuck on the side of the road!

Cupcake Frosting!

Try your skills at frosting a brownie! Learn how to properly hold a piping bag and how to properly use frosting. 

The People’s Wall

Try your hand at laying some bricks and help build The People’s Wall!  

Get hands-on with woodworking, metalwork, and soldering in this multi-skill challenge! Try out three exciting trades in one interactive experience:

🔹 Woodworking – Assemble a custom drink coaster with a cork inlay, smooth the edges with a router, and use a wood-burning stamp to imprint the RDP logo!
🔹 Soldering – Put together your very own RDP keyring, using a soldering iron and heat shrink plastic to seal the deal.
🔹 Plumbing Skills – Get creative by bending ¼” copper tubing into a unique decorative shape using real plumbing tools!

Experience three different trades in one stop—create something, take it home, and discover new skills!

The Try-A-Trade® area of cabinet making has been a ongoing project since 2010. Come to our Try-A-Trade® to use all sorts of machines like CNCs, bandsaws, routers, vacuums and sanding equipment. You’ll have the opportunity to take home the creation you make.

The Canadian Armed Forces utilizes some of the largest, heaviest and highest tech equipment in the country, all which has to be operated and maintained by highly qualified operators and technicians.

The Canadian Armed Forces will be featuring equipment from the Army, Navy, and Air Force with technicians from a wide variety of military occupations including Vehicle Mechanics, Marine Technicians and Aviation Systems Technicians.  Technicians will be showcasing equipment and maintenance activities on various items of military gear and, along with demonstrations, there will be videos and 3D virtual reality tours of our naval ships as well as other large vehicles on display enabling you to truly experience the Canadian Armed Forces.

Come by and talk to our military technical experts, they will be happy to answer all your questions.

Try a virtual paint sprayer to get the feel of what Car Painters do on a daily. 

Canada Regional Council of Carpenters (CRC)’s Try-A-Trade® provides wooden stencils for you to trace on wooden blocks. Get your chance to use a scroll saw and cut out your shapes under the supervision of trained professionals. Use a spindle sander and a drill to finish your cut out, then take your creation home with you!

Also check out our Scaffold Structure, it is two stair towers connected by a bridge for display and for students or attendees to climb the stairs stand on bridge and then exit.

In this electrifying contest, two individuals face off in a race to assemble a complex circuit. They must navigate the maze of wires and components with precision and speed to be the first to complete the circuit and sound the alarm. Only one can emerge as the winner and claim the prize in this showdown of skill and strategy. Will it be you?

Thomas Skinner will have a desktop CNC mini mill for students to try their hands at the world of machining!

Think you’ve got what it takes to be part of an elite pit crew? Now’s your chance to prove it! In this fast-paced challenge, you and your team will race against the clock to change a tire on a Corvette, just like the pros do in a high-speed pit stop.

Gear up with safety equipment (steel toe covers, smocks, gloves, and safety glasses) and get hands-on experience using a jack, torque wrench, and lug wrench. It’s all about speed, precision, and teamwork—can you handle the pressure?

Put the pedal to the metal and see if your crew can claim the fastest pit stop title!

Plate Decoration with Dessert Sauces

Learn to use dessert sauces to create beautiful plate presentations.

Spark creativity and use the Electrical trade to create Twirling Polar Dancers and Index Card Flashlights.

Do you have an eye for design and dream of creating eye catching and trend making original pieces that everyone wants to be wearing? Come and try your hand at the MC College Fashion Design and Apparel production booth using recycled materials to create your first masterpiece.

Have you ever dreamt of working for yourself in a booming and ever evolving industry where you can use your passion to create a successful career? Become the next hairstylist and start your future in the beauty industry! Come test out your styling skills alongside our talented instructors learning the ins and outs of Up do styles, heated styling and braiding techniques. 

Step into our fashion fusion! Our gallery fashion show and DIY dressmaking activity combine the elegance of a runway presentation with the hands-on excitement of participating in the crafting of a collaborative garment.

Have you ever wondered how to build an electrical circuit? Finning’s Try-A-Trade® will test the hand skills of participants of all ages. Working alongside professional students will be able to connect up a simple series, parallel circuit to switch on a light and horn.

Glazier: Ever wonder what a glazier does? Now’s your chance to try firsthand the glazing trade of working with glass. You’ll get to create and take home your very own Inukshuk made of glass. 

Roofer: Explore new heights in the trade of roofing! We’ll have shingles ready to be stapled onto a makeshift roof. 

Power Line Technician: Learn how communities are powered with the Powerline Technician trade. You will have the opportunity to make a powerline technician button and check out the tools and personal protective equipment that powerline technicians wear.  

Ironworker: Want to be a part of building iconic buildings and bridges? Try out a virtual reality headset to strap -in to a day in the life of an Ironworker. This workshop is hosted by the Alberta Construction Training Institute (ACTI). 

This is your chance to learn about being a Heavy Duty Mechanic and Truck Transport Mechanic as you go through different stations including: electrical soldering, hydraulic operation, electrical testing, hand and power tool identification, and equipment displays.

Learn about and construct common electrical circuits that are used every day. Safely wire switches, receptacles, and lights on our Try-A-Trade® circuit boards. The opportunity to prepare yourself for a career in the electrical trade can start here. Our PACT (Pre-Apprenticeship Apprenticeship Candidate Training) provides students with the knowledge and skills to begin a safe and successful career in the Electrical Trade.

It’s a race to the finish line and only your industrial control Skills will get you there! Compete in a two-player game that will advance an object by correctly inputting a sequence of button pushes.

Laser Shaft Alignment

Come and try your luck in aligning equipment, using a tablet and fun technology.

Plug into the world of IT Network Support and learn how to make ethernet cables for connecting to a wired network.

Step into the exciting world of advertising! Put your photography skills to the test by framing the perfect shot and capturing compelling visuals just like the pros. Or, challenge your peers in the ultimate illustration showdown to see who has the sharpest eye for design. Think you have what it takes to create something unforgettable?

Teachers will patriciate in a hands-on trade-based activity where they will explore the common connections between various trades and concepts found in K-12 mathematics and science. Teachers will use different tools and instruments utilized in a variety of trades and match them to concepts found in the K-12 mathematics and science curricula. These concepts include fractions, decimals, place value, measurement, force, mechanical advantage, estimation, angles, degrees, area, perimeter, pressure and simple machines. After participating in this activity teachers will have additional insights and resources to assist them in establishing authentic connections between the mathematics and science of the classroom and the mathematics and science of the skilled trades

Hone your creative skills with MacEwan’s Bachelor of Design! At our interactive button-making station, you’ll learn about the design process from concept visualization to creating a finished product. Learn more about our four pathways in Visual Communication, Digital Experience, Illustration, and Photo, Video & Motion Graphics and find out what it takes to join our degree program from MacEwan Design instructors!

Build A Koozie!

 Cut Koozie shape out of Flat Sheet Armaflex. Glue Koozie together & leave with a bottle of water for your own Koozie! 

Ever wonder how everything gets made? By ROBOTS! Jog on over to see a miniaturized production line with a robot arm that gives out stress balls!

Hula Hoops!

A Try-A-Trade® Classic! Using standard Plumbing tools and materials to make a Hula Hoop you can hula home with!

Attention all beauty enthusiasts and aspiring estheticians! Are you looking to add a new skill to your repertoire that will set you apart in the world of beauty? Look no further than the exciting world of eyelash extensions!

Imagine being able to transform someone’s look by enhancing their natural beauty and giving them the perfect fluttery lashes they’ve always dreamed of. With eyelash extensions, you can do just that. This service is all about creating beautiful, natural-looking lashes that will leave your clients feeling confident and beautiful.

With the popularity of social media and the desire for the perfect Instagram-worthy selfie, more and more people are turning to eyelash extensions to help them achieve the perfect look. As a skilled eyelash extension artist, you will be in high demand and able to provide this popular service to a wide range of clients.

Not only is this service incredibly rewarding, but it is also a great way to build your business and expand your skillset. Whether you are a student looking to earn extra income or a seasoned beauty professional looking to expand your services, eyelash extensions are a must-try service.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for an eyelash extension course and start your journey to becoming a skilled and sought-after beauty professional today!

Take your selfie’s to the next level with the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trade! Use trade tools and materials to bend a copper picture frame holder, and get a selfie with an ice sculpture! Participate in a science demo as well. 

Trades and art can go hand in hand! Create a beautiful candle light shadow caster by using Sheet Metal tools and materials.

See how technology and sustainability shape the future of construction! Using Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), you’ll digitally build a project with cmBuilder, a 3D logistics planner, solving challenges before construction even begins. Then, get hands-on with real environmental protection tools, like water turbidity and pH testing, to learn how we minimize our impact on water systems and surrounding communities. From high-tech planning to eco-friendly building, discover how innovation is changing the way we construct a better world!

Groove into the Sprinkler Systems trade by using standard tools and materials to “groove” pipe!

Get up close with real heavy equipment and see the tools of the trade in action! Check out a Spyder crane in person and explore how it’s used for precision lifting in tight spaces. Plus, get hands-on with auxiliary equipment like a personnel basket and rigging gear, learning how these essential tools keep worksites safe and efficient.

Whether you’re into big machines or just curious about how things get lifted and moved, this is your chance to see and experience the world of cranes and rigging!

Do you have what it takes to be a Steamfitter/Pipefitter? Test your Skills with this Build Your Own Bottle Opener and find out!

Ever wanted to see your initials come to life in metal? Here’s your chance! Work alongside our design drafting team to create a custom design of your initials, which will then be etched into a metal puck using a high-tech milling machine. But the fun doesn’t stop there!

Once your puck is ready, you’ll drop it into our precast concrete PLINKO game for a chance to win a prize! Along the way, you’ll get an inside look at the design, manufacturing, and erection process that brings projects to life.

Create. Compete. Win. Are you ready to make your mark?

Get ready for an energizing experience with EPCOR! Dive into the world of power, water, and wastewater utilities as you embark on thrilling activities designed just for you. Put on a virtual reality headset and step into the shoes of a hero with a vault rescue simulation, test your skills with a switching demonstration, suit up in personal protection equipment, explore weld samples, and get hands-on with electrical instrumentation and pumps. Get ready to power up your future!

A lot of work happens behind the scenes with video and audio production. Get your start with broadcast equipment demonstrations from NAIT’s Radio and Television program!

Wondering what it’s like on a construction site? Check out the PCL Construction Try-A-Trade to try out our VR Goggle to experience the future of construction and use one of our simulators and start building! The PCL Try-A-Trade® is a way of engaging students, transporting them to your industry and inviting them to safely experience skills that are practiced in day-to-day, on the job activities at your company. The PCL Try-A-Trade® opens minds, breaks barriers, and demonstrates enthusiasm and professionalism that leaves a lasting impression—fueling students’ desire to branch out and explore the endless career opportunities available to them.

PCL Construction is committed to ensuring every worker goes home safely every day. In an industry where hazards are a daily reality, traditional training methods—like static presentations and lectures—weren’t enough to prepare workers for real-world challenges. To address this, PCL partnered with Pixaera to implement immersive Virtual Reality (VR) safety training designed to increase engagement, enhance knowledge retention, and significantly reduce serious incidents and fatalities (SIFs). With VR technology, workers can experience real-life construction hazards in a risk-free environment, allowing them to develop critical decision-making skills that save lives.

Welding is the process of fusing metal together with heat and electric current to create anything your mind can dream of, along with extensive employment opportunities in the welding trade. Students will be able to try first-hand and experience the art of welding through an augmented/virtual reality welding simulator. Realistic, innovative technology will provide students an immersive experience with welding processes at The United Association Local 488’s Try-A-Trade booth.

Ever wanted to take control of a crane or heavy equipment? Now’s your chance—no license required! Step into a VR simulation and experience what it’s like to operate massive machinery used in construction and industrial projects. Feel the thrill of lifting, moving, and maneuvering with precision, all in a safe and immersive virtual environment.

Think you have what it takes to be a pro operator? Come check us out in Hall A!

Magic 8 Ball Demonstration

A website running a virtual Magic 8 Ball, ask it a question and it will return a result.  We will provide diagrams showing the architecture as well as a general page layout.  Users will be able to view the code in a read only format.

Ready to spark something amazing? Step into the world of welding and try it for yourself! After a quick demo from our experts, you’ll get hands-on experience using the MIG welding process to create your own small weld.

Then, take it to the next level—weld your name into metal and leave your mark! With multiple welding stations set up, there’s plenty of time to learn, create, and experience the heat of the trade.

Come give it a try and see if you’ve got what it takes to be a welder!

Jardeg’s interactive space offers a hands-on peek into the world of welding, pipefitting and more. Test your skills at our welding booth, experience the thrill of a construction site through virtual reality, and get hands-on with our engaging piping module. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover your potential in trades—discover a new passion and skill set today!

Pipefitting
o Pipe Fittings are a Piping component that helps in changing the direction of the flow, such as elbows, tees, and valves. Participants will learn how to change a valve with an interactive piping module.

Welding
o Welders join or sever metals in beams, girders, vessels, piping and other metal components, make metal parts used in construction and manufacturing plants, and weld parts, tools, machines, and equipment. Welding usually involves applying heat to metal pieces to melt and fuse them together. Welders use different welding processes and fillers depending upon the type of metal, its size and shape, and requirements for finished product strength. Participants will learn how to weld a small diameter pipe.

Ironworkers are integral to the construction trade erecting and installing steel components at heights. Safely explore walking a virtual beam three stories in the air.