Background.
As varied as telecommunications where Mark designed IVR systems to flipping burgers for a red-haired clown in Sweden, The Corner Coworking is a culmination of many experiences and careers. Originally from the ‘World’s Most Liveable City’, Mark moved to Canada in 2000 for winter sport and has made Cochrane his home for almost 10 years.
Why coworking?
As a remote worker back in 2016, Mark had a yearning to interact and connect with like-minded peers. Getting out of his home office from time-to-time was necessary, but the local cafes were just not that conducive to high levels of productivity. Good coffee, of course they have. Wi-Fi, privacy and security were another matter.
Mark went looking for a coworking space in Cochrane, as he’d experienced the benefits of coworking on a few occasions previously. To his dismay we didn’t have one!
In July 2016, Mark started the Cochrane Coworking Community Meetup group. At our first event he met five local coworkers, some of whom are still active members. The group grew rapidly. Somewhere around 50 members, Mark knew we’d reached the tipping point and set about determining the feasibility of creating our own space.
Working with some very smart people both locally and within the greater coworking community, we developed a business plan and found a location for local entrepreneurs and contractors to be inspired and to inspire others.
Two years after our very first Meetup, and approaching 170 members, we have an incredibly strong local community of business professionals seeking a place to connect and collaborate. And now we have a space in which they can do just that.