Sitting atop Royal LePage, across from City Hall, you will find the new Revelstoke Coworking space. A 1,100-square-foot communal working environment where individuals, who generally work for different organizations, come to carry out their tasks in a shared space. A progressive model of work life that has caught on in major urban areas over the last several years has finally come to fruition in Revelstoke.

A founder of Revelstoke Coworking, Jean-Marc LaFlamme has had an interest in shared working spaces for a while. Providing marketing strategy for the largest coworking space in Cagary’s east end, The Commons, LaFlamme lent his knowledge and experience to the establishment of coworking in Revelstoke.

Growing in popularity, the coworking model has the potential to bolster economic development through supporting individuals with ideas, who want to contribute, and are seeking workspace. LaFlamme referred to the energy created by focused work. It acts as a source of stimulation for the surrounding environment, increasing productivity.

This kind of environment facilitates discussion and feedback, allowing members to seek advice from different perspectives that can aid in problem solving and subsequently build a more supportive community that encourages entrepreneurship and development of community initiatives.

The coworking model also provides members with collaboration opportunities from new relationships and cost savings from shared space.

Aspiring to be the cheapest coworking space on the planet, Revelstoke Coworking offers private offices starting at $100 a month, desk space starting at $50, and drop in rates for occasional users.

Since their official opening last month, membership includes an assortment of Revelstoke organizations, not-for-profits, start-ups, consultants, freelancers, and developers.

Existing as a not-for-profit makes sense for Revelstoke Coworking, said LaFlamme. It opens up funding opportunities and established a mutually beneficial relationship for owners and members based on positive values rather than profit.

The community can also benefit through the development and expansion of community initiatives. LaFlamme speaks of the possibility for organizations to expand their reach in the same way the North Columbia Environmental Society has grown new limbs of operation.

The next step in the development of Revelstoke Coworking is to attract visiting professionals and extend networks outside the community. LaFLamme also sees the space catering to workshops, retreats and other educational events.

Coworking spaces are said to have economic benefits by boosting creativity and quality of work. Deskmag’s annual Global Coworking Survey concluded that 71 per cent of respondents experienced a boost in creativity since joining a coworking space and 62 per cent said their standard of work had improved.

 

Revelstoke Times Review