What began as a small school project has evolved into a major community event at École St. Thomas.
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Hundreds of families gathered for École St. Thomas’s fifth annual STEAM Night, an evening dedicated to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
Principal Chantale Salt said the event began as an initiative from the school’s parent council.
“About five years ago, our school community council wanted to bring some STEAM activities into the building,” Salt said. “We started by bringing in the Telus World of Science from Edmonton with a mobile planetarium, and it’s just kind of evolved from there.”
The Saskatchewan Science Centre and local partners hosted interactive booths in the gym and foyer.
Students participated in activities ranging from engineering demonstrations to art projects, with appearances from community groups including the RCMP and local musicians.
The day began with a full-school assembly, followed by workshops for Grade 4 and 5 students, before opening to families in the evening.
Salt said attendance has steadily increased, with about 300 people attending last year’s event. Final numbers for this year were not immediately available, but she said turnout appeared strong.
To encourage participation, students used bingo cards to collect stamps at each booth, which they later exchanged for books.
Salt said the format helps ensure students explore a variety of subjects.
“It gets them to try everything,” she said. “And it shows that learning doesn’t have to be just textbooks or essays—it can be hands-on.”
Popular attractions this year included virtual reality stations and interactive science demonstrations, such as static electricity experiments showcased by the Saskatchewan Science Centre.
Salt said the event is designed to reflect different learning styles while also exposing students to potential career paths.
With organizations like the RCMP demonstrating forensic techniques and local industry partners presenting engineering concepts, students can see real-world applications of what they learn in school, she said.
The event also included participation from students at Holy Rosary High School, who helped run several booths.
Salt said that gives younger students a glimpse of future opportunities.
“It’s wonderful for our students to see what they can do when they get to high school,” she said, noting the goal remains simple: to make learning engaging and accessible for everyone.
“It’s just to promote learning and show that learning is fun,” she said.
Community partners support STEAM learning
Partners including the Lloydminster Public Library, Holy Rosary Raiders, and Lloydminster Museum and Archives supported this year’s event. Other contributors included BAR Engineering, Integra Engineering, APEGA, the Saskatchewan Science Centre, and the RCMP.
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