Invest in YOUR community now and for tommorow!
We're launching a major effort to build on top of an already amazing story. A self-sustaining local business and arts community center– one which can act as a hub of activity for anyone with
an independent disposition and a beacon for those who seek a chance to
build great things alongside the city’s best and brightest.
We’ve taken on a big beautiful 6200 s/f space on Dunlop Street East at Barrie's historic Five Points, and are rallying community support to help continue to grow the entrepreneurial community in Barrie. We're currently over 37 members and growing!
So here's the BIG ASK!
What we hope, through your generosity, to see funded:
- Security and keyless door systems so we can go 24/7
- New tools and tech (flat panels, conference tools, etc.), and improve the network
- Complete renovations and add extra lighting
- Basement renovations for new not-for-profit hackerspace, SimCoLab (upgrade separate entrance, expand ventilation system, electrical, furniture)
- Seed money for growth into adjacent spaces and additional locations around Ontario
- HVAC for backspace and loft areas
- Modernizing the windows for more efficiency and coziness
- Improve our infrastructure and programming for ongoing youth mentorship.
TCS is open to all, where startups, freelancers, students, digital artists and those who can work anywhere can gather to collaborate, socialize, teach, learn, play and work.
Together we’re building an affordable place where people can work happier, be more successful and thrive.
Here are some great events and programs launched/hosted and/or associated with TCS. (More programs and events are in the works!)![]()
IGNITE BARRIE - SimCoLab - SPARK - TREPTalks/TrepDesk - Small Business Success Workshops - Startup Drinks - Open Coffee - Coworking Ontario
Every member of The Creative Space has access to:
Coworking
Tired of working from home and talking to your cat all day? Grab your laptop and
drop in! Just show up, sign in, find a spot, say hi
to your neighbour, and get cracking!
Members of our coworking community are bright, hard-working,
successful, inspiring people to be around. They’re building software,
web sites, and businesses and helping to save our planet and lives. They’re designing, managing, concocting and tinkering.
Most importantly, they’re sharing, ideating and collaborating. At the
end of the day, everyone goes home smarter, happier, and more
inspired.
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Events
Barrie’s new space is home to countless events geared toward
helping people learn to be better independents and to connect with
others. This includes Meetups, workshops, brainstorms, classes,
discussion groups, fundraisers, publicity events, and more. We have even been the location for video and photography shoots.
By offering an extremely affordable and flexible place for people to
host their groups and events, we’re fostering the development of healthy
communities of people who share common interests.
Education
Education is long overdue for an overhaul, and we're starting to
experiment with creative new ways for people to teach and learn.
Our community space has a dedicated, expandable classroom (The Loft)
designed to facilitate community-powered education day and night. We’re
developing an educational platform on top of this, which will be
designed to connect people who want to teach with people who want to
learn. In doing so, people will have a way to develop their skills by
learning from their fellow peers.
This will also include a very unique Business Development Program and resource centre focused on mentorship for high school students on up...stay tuned!
Help Make This Happen
To date, The Creative Space has been an all-volunteer effort, powered
by members of the community who care. To make all this happen, we have
to navigate the crazy world of real estate,
construction and resources. To get across the
finish line will involve a diverse, wide-ranging effort. Please share this link. SHARE
Share the links
Connect your favourite blog with 1000's of fans and ask them to share the story. Ask your local media to consider talking about it (paper, radio, TV). I'll have some templated PR docs to use. Tweet, Facebook, etc....
Do a video
I'd like to ask each of you who have experienced the power of community, collaboration and networking at TCS to do a short vlog or allow me to video you during the campaign.
Do a blog post
Write a blog post to your audience.
More Ways You Can Help Join the Community! Nothing's better than having great people participate in our community. If you're interested in membership, head here: http://thecreativespace.ca/space-to-work/
Partnership / Sponsorship - The new space will allow us to partner with organizations who share common interests on special programs and projects.
Contact Chad if you're interested: chad@thecreativespace.ca or (705) 812-0689.
