They don't actually use the term coworking, and I'm glad they don't. Others including media do call them coworking, but without an actively engaging community, they are just a business centre.
There isn't much community there at all. There are some people that go there with some regularity, but from what I understand one can't use the space for more than 40hrs/mo (that's not a lot to run a business!) and with that low frequency and high turnover it is hard to really get to know your coworkers, much like a cafe. They aren't coworking, they are work space with services, much like an executive suite or business centre. I had a personal connection with one of their senior managers who was developing the space though he didn't tell me until they were ready to launch, and the space is an 8min walk from our door. A little too close for comfort both personally and in terms of business. When they were about to open they approached us under the guise of wanting to collaborate, but offered nothing that they could do to bring traffic into our space and all what we could do to bring traffic into their space. Our members could hold meetings there, our members could get a discount there, our members could host events there, etc. And I blatantly asked what they could do to bring us traffic, and they were dumbfounded and almost insulted that I would ask such a thing. I actually asked them not to open their space but rather offer some loans or bursaries that the other coworking facilities can access to develop their own spaces, call it sponsorship if they want, but invest in us rather than take away from us, but they weren't open to that idea t all. So much for collaboration. Over all I've made peace with their existence here. We can change on the fly, innovate around them, do far more for our members on a personal level, and offer an independent space without blasting advertising in their faces every time they enter the space, everywhere they look, and every time they log on to the internet. If people want a coworking experience, they come find the real coworking spaces in Toronto. If people want a fancy workspace without commitment, they can consider going there. I know that CSI has a relationship with them that seems to work, so maybe Eli or someone else can chime in about that. To my knowledge they (the bank or the business centre) don't work with any other coworking spaces here in Toronto. r. *____________________ rachel young *[email protected] *Find us in person:* Camaraderie 102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor Toronto, ON M5C 1K9 (647) 861-4350 *Find us online:* Website/blog <http://camaraderie.ca> and Newsletter<http://bit.ly/camaraderienewsletter> Google+ <http://bit.ly/CamaraderiePlus>, Twitter<http://twitter.com/camaraderie> , Facebook <http://bit.ly/9zv3Fx>, and LinkedIn<http://bit.ly/CamaraderieGroup> *Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! * *May 27, 2012 is the next FLCTO. * *Stay in the know at http://bit.ly/freelancecampTO<http://bit.ly/freelcancecampTO> * *Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? * *Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program <http://bit.ly/CTOPassport2012>* *for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.* * * On 26 April 2012 17:46, Aliza <[email protected]> wrote: > Hey everyone, > > The ING coworking space in Toronto just came through my Google Alerts: > > http://www.ingdirect.ca/en/networkorange/index.html > > http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/26/4444492/media-advisory-ing-direct-celebrates.html > > I'm really impressed by the design and non-profit focused cafe, as well as > the fact that they let community groups use the meeting space. I'm curious > how popular the space is... how much "community" there really is there... > and what the general public's take on the space is. Can anyone up in > Toronto speak to this? > > Thanks! > > *Aliza Schlabach* > Founder, Coworking for Parents > www.CoworkingForParents.com <http://www.coworkingforparents.com/> > <[email protected]> > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Coworking" group. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/rnwOiZxQ1AUJ. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
