Okotoks entrepreneurs and remote staff have a new way to avoid the commute.
After a soft launch in December, The Corner Coworking Okotoks has opened up in the second floor of the Arts and Learning Campus above the Okotoks Public Library.
“It’s a shared workspace targeted at people who either work at home, freelancers, small startup businesses, and they can all use the space, share the rental costs as well as equipment, janitorial,” said Kerri Ann Colby, community manager of the Okotoks location. “Everything right down to the cost of coffee is included in a membership.”
The business was started in Cochrane five years ago, and now operates four locations there with a mix of office and warehouse space.
The expansion into Okotoks makes it the town’s first coworking space with drop-in and month-to-month options.
“The beauty of coworking is there’s no long-term lease commitments or anything like that,” Colby said. “It’s 30 days' notice if you were a full-time member, but there’s also options for casual (drop-in) and part-time members (five days per month).
“There’s lots of flexibility in the coworking model.”
Since the coffee started brewing, the workspace has attracted members in each category, Colby added, ranging from small business owners and freelancers to employees working for a non-profit based out of downtown Calgary.
Near the front are simple desks for drop-in usage, with full-time users getting a dedicated desk or office and locking cabinet, as well as 24/7 access. Just off the kitchen is a large space for seminars or gatherings and meeting rooms of varying size.
The location follows on a global trend, with business research firm Mordor Intelligence projecting a 5.5 per cent growth in co-working space nationwide, even as cities like Calgary see record vacancy rates in traditional offices.
With growing traction for the model, The Corner was started by Cochrane resident and former tech industry worker Mark Eaton.
“We’ve started an opportunity for business to get started and grow in Okotoks,” said Eaton.
“I think as we came out of the pandemic was really when we started to see that growth in Cochrane ... it’s people who were sick of the commute into downtown Calgary, or they were sick of doing all their work at home, and we accommodated that and grew.
“The proximity of Okotoks to Calgary, just like Cochrane, where we’re really leveraging the same sort of opportunities, it’s folks who don’t want to do that commute, so let's give them an opportunity to work, live and play in their hometown.”
Colby was one such person, who after selling her business, Rebel Bean Roasters, took a job working remotely before starting at The Corner.
“It sounds like it would be the greatest thing, but as it turns out, it’s not for everybody, and it wasn’t for me,” Colby said. “I missed the connection to the community and the potential for socialization, and that’s something that coworking offers.
“Even coming one day a week to put on pants and come in and socialize with people makes it worthwhile.”
The operation isn’t just for administration, however, as Eaton offers warehouse space out of the Cochrane locations, with similar plans in Okotoks as well.
“The warehouse side is the same concept, but in a warehouse, so rather than sharing desks, chairs, coffee and WiFi, it’s sharing a warehouse space with other small businesses that are growing out of their garages and basements,” Eaton said, addint it's been very popular.
“Working together to store, make and sell local products.”
More information about The Corner Coworking can be found at https://thecornercoworking.ca.
