The sewing lab sponsored by Soaring Circle for Indigenous students at Algonquin College officially opened on January 16, 2026.
Up to now, Soaring Circle has created 22 sewing labs in remote indigenous communities at the intermediate and high school level, reaching about 5,000 indigenous students and teachers. With the addition of the sewing lab at Algonquin College, the program can now be available to hundreds more.
The new lab is equipped with state-of-the-art Janome sewing machines, sergers and an embroidery machine. Soaring Circle is also providing the program with textiles, curriculum support, and mentorship from Indigenous creators and global brand experts. Indigenous students who have grown with a sewing lab in their community high school will be able to feel at home and to see that the doors to college and to careers in fashion are open to them. The red parka worn by the girl in the photo is an example of the beautiful parkas made in the sewing lab.
Rotary Club of Ottawa-Stittsville has strongly supported Soaring Circle's sewing labs, especially the successful program in Kitigan Zibi, Quebec.
www.soaringcircle.ca