The post-high program is now full for the 2025/2026 school year
applications for the 2026/2027 school year will open early 2026
Do you want a career in 2D Animation, 3D Animation, Film, Game Design, VFX, or other digital media? Your pathway starts here! The Sisler CREATE post-high program is for high school graduates from across Manitoba that are under the age of 21. Register for Sisler CREATE’s post-high program now to begin your creative journey.
THE SISLER CREATE PROGRAM focusES on preparing students for working in the creative industry or pursuing post-secondary education in their chosen field.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Mr. Leduc (jleduc@wsd1.org). We highly recommend scheduling a tour to check out the program and meet the staff.
About the Sisler CREATE post-high program
Sisler CREATE’s post-high program is a free, intensive year of training offered to high school graduates in Manitoba. CREATE focuses on career and post-secondary pathways in 2D animation, 3D animation, game design, and film/VFX/Digital Design. Students work directly with industry mentors to develop the skills and professionalism to succeed in their chosen field.
FILM & MOTION GRAPHICS – Program Highlights:
Skills Bootcamp: Students join our program with a wide range of prior experience. To start the year, we bring everyone up to speed with a skills bootcamp designed to prepare you to take on your first mini documentary.
CBC Creator Network: All film cohort students spend the first semester creating short documentaries for broadcast on CBC through the CBC Creator Network. CBC staff deliver masterclasses and mentorship. Students are paid for their content.
Bell MTS/Fibe TV: During the second semester, some film students work with Bell MTS to create a short factual series for broadcast on Fibe TV. Students are paid for their content.
Narrative Filmmaking: Students who focus the second half of their year on narrative short film production will receive mentorship from industry professionals and have the chance to screen their work at a theatre event sponsored by IATSE 856.
SafeWork MB: Each year, students participate in the “Norm the Safety” video contest. Over the last three years, the CREATE program and its student participants have received over $16,000 in prizes from this contest alone!
Internships: Throughout the second half of the post-high year, students have the opportunity to be placed in a range of filmmaking internships at every stage of production, including office & pre-production, on set, editing, VFX, colour grading and more. Many of our internships have led to full-time employment in the year following completion of the program.
Client-based projects: Our students’ prominent reputation has led to many requests for client work from numerous organizations, such as True North Sports Entertainment, Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg School Division, and more.
Workshops: The film cohort regularly brings in industry mentors and leaders to host talks & workshops, including gaffers, camera operators, producers, cinematographers, directors, editors, union members and more.
Tours: We regularly tour facilities such as Frank Digital, William F. White, Big Sky Studios, Winnipeg Film Group, Urban Prairie Post, Red River College, CBC Studios, and a variety of active Film & TV productions.
Industry Access – Toronto: Since 2024 the film cohort has travelled Toronto to present their final short documentary projects at CBC National headquarters near the end of the school year.
2D ANIMATION – Program Highlights:
The Orange Tree Project: Student groups are mentored monthly by Nickelodeon animators as they create either an animated short film.
Arnon Manor Social Justice Project: A group of CREATE students are working closely with Arnon Manor (filmmaker and Senior VP of Visual Effects at Sony Pictures) to create a short, animated film on a social justice issue of their choice.
Jam Filled Mentorship: A group of CREATE students is receiving mentorship and masterclasses from Canadian studio Jam Filled Entertainment as they create a short film.
CREATE for the World: A group of students is working with mentor Jason Scheier (production designer for Paramount Animation) and Wacom Canada on the creation of a social-justice themed animation.
Industry Access – Los Angeles: Since 2023, 2D animation post-high students have travelled to Los Angeles to pitch/present their final projects at Nickelodeon Animation Studios. The mentors from other projects will be traveling to Nickelodeon to watch the presentations as well.
24 Hours Animation Contest: Groups of Sisler CREATE 2 D animation students participate annually in the 24 Hours Animation Contest. Sisler students consistently place in the top three in this international competition.
Skills Canada: Each year, groups of Sisler CREATE 2 D animation students participate in Skills Manitoba. For three years in a row, Sisler students won the gold medal in 2D Animation at Skills Manitoba and back to back years at Skills Canada.
3D & GAME DESIGN – Program Highlights:
Nickelodeon 3D Mentorship: Students receive monthly mentorship and masterclasses from Nickelodeon artists as they create a short 3D animated film.
REEL FX Animation: Students work with REEL FX to learn the 3D animation pipeline and create content with monthly mentorship from the studio.
CBC Kids and Ubisoft: Students create games for the CBC Kids website under the mentorship of both CBC and Ubisoft. Students are paid an honorarium for the games they create.
Skills Canada: Students complete annually in the Skills Manitoba competiton and many have gone on to Skills Canada.
Industry Access – Montreal: Since 2024, all 3D and Game Design students travel to Montreal to present their final projects at REEL FX Animation.