FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

[North Bay, ON, Monday, December 1st, 2025] — The Near North Mobile Media Lab (N2M2L) is excited to announce it has received a $70,998 grant from the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Catapult Canada program. N2M2L is among the top projects selected to join the Catapult community, a cohort representing initiatives from coast to coast to coast, chosen from over 750 eligible applications with only 32 funded this round. This funding will support a series of new media arts workshops for newcomer and refugee youth not only in North Bay, but also in surrounding communities, including Callander, Bonfield, Corbeil, Nipissing Township, and East Ferris.

The New Voices Co-Design Lab workshops, taking place on Saturday afternoons, starting on January 27, 2026 and running throughout the year at the Near North Makerspace in downtown North Bay, will offer youth (ages 12-19) the chance to explore storytelling through photography, film, podcasting and zine making in a safe, supportive and hands-on environment. The goal is to help newcomer youth build skills and confidence, connect with peers, and share their voices through creative media projects. The Northeastern Ontario Multicultural Centre (NEOMC) joins the project as a key partner, supporting outreach and helping us connect with newcomer youth and the communities they serve.

More information about these free workshops, and how youth 12-19 can register: https://www.n2m2l.ca/new-voices-co-design-lab

About the Near North Mobile Media Lab
Near North Mobile Media Lab supports northern Ontario communities by facilitating workshops, mentorship, equipment rentals and project assistance in the area of digital and media arts, as well as presenting exhibitions, screenings and festivals.

About the Near North Makerspace
The Near North Makerspace is a welcoming creative hub for artists and makers to build, create, and connect. A place to tinker, experiment, and play with new materials and ideas, it fosters collaboration through an inclusive culture of making. Whether people arrive with curiosity or experience, the Makerspace offers space to share skills, spark ideas, and build a sense of belonging across generations and communities.

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Media Contact
Jameson Toye
Communication Officer
705-476-6402
[email protected]