Fourteen years ago, a small group of builders on Innovation Alley set out to create a space where anyone could prototype, test, and build big ideas.
Today, the North Forge FabLab has become Canada’s largest fabrication lab thats publicly accesible, supporting founders, engineers, and innovators from coast to coast.
To celebrate 14 years of making, here are 14 FabLab facts you (probably) didn’t know.
1. AssentWorks Opened on October 27, 2011
It all began in a modest Winnipeg workshop called AssentWorks a grassroots makerspace that grew into a national hub for innovation.
2. A Royal Visit in 2014
In 2014, then-Prince Charles toured AssentWorks on Innovation Alley, spotlighting the prairies as a growing force in Canadian innovation.
3. The Birth of North Forge (2016)
AssentWorks, Ramp Up Manitoba, Eureka Project, and the Startup Winnipeg Program joined forces to create North Forge Technology Exchange, connecting fabrication, acceleration, and entrepreneurship under one roof.
4. 24/7 Access Since the Beginning
Our members have always had round-the-clock access to tools, machines, and materials because real innovation doesn’t stop at 5 p.m.
5. 3D Printing a Car (2012)
Co-founder David Bernhardt helped build a 3D-printed car long before it was mainstream proof that cutting-edge ideas start right here in Canada.
6. From Prototype to Production
Our vacuum forming machine once helped create a prototype that led to an order for more than 4 million products. Every big idea starts small.
7. We Had a Telepresence Robot (Before Remote Was Cool)
At one point, people could drive a telepresence robot through the FabLab from their laptops the ultimate remote tour.
8. Maker Requests Connect Builders and Dreamers
Through our Maker Request program, non-members across Canada can partner with skilled makers for custom designs and builds.
9. The Design Lab Does It All
From decals and banners to heat-transfer graphics, our in-house Design Lab helps startups and creators bring their brands to life.
10. Expansion, Floor by Floor
We started on the 3rd floor. Then came the 1st-floor Metal Room (2021), Design Space (2023), and Makers Market (2023)
11. Our Elevator Is Older Than Your Grandpa
Yes, it’s vintage. Yes, it still works. And yes, it’s a piece of Winnipeg history that carries prototypes and stories between floors.
12. From Assistive Devices to Aerospace Parts
Our members have prototyped everything including medical tools, consumer tech, and even aerospace components. That’s the power of an open-access fabrication lab.
13. National Growth with Federal Support
Early expansion was fueled by Western Economic Diversification Canada, helping us scale equipment and expertise to reach innovators nationwide.
14. A Founding Member Now Leads the Way
Today, Adam Palanuk, one of the FabLab’s original founders, leads the team keeping the spirit of Canadian innovation alive and thriving.
A Special Thank You
To our founders: Kerry Stevenson, Michael Legary, David Bernhardt, and Chris Johnson
To our first Director: Marney Stapley
To our current FabLab team: Adam Palanuk, Jeff Stobbe, Stephen Harwood, Emelia Nyarku, and Joceline Beltran
To our early volunteers, instructors, and the Ramp Up Manitoba and Startup Winnipeg communities.
And to our partners, including Western Economic Diversification Canada, who believed in the vision that has become Canada’s largest fabrication lab thats publicly accesible.
Most of all, thank you to every member and alum who trained, built, iterated, and shipped from our space. You made this lab what it is.
Build What’s Next
Whether you’re a startup in Vancouver, a maker in Winnipeg, or an inventor in Halifax — the North Forge FabLab is your partner in prototype manufacturing and advanced fabrication in Canada.
👉 Book a tour, become a member, or submit a Maker Request to start building today.
