Innovation centre ready to open in Vernon

Jul 8, 2020 | 2:16 PM

A new innovation centre and entrepreneur workspace is set to open next month in Vernon.

The facility, next to the Marten Brewpub and Grill on 30th Avenue, will feature 2,400 square metres of meeting and coworking space, and looks to become a hub for emerging and established freelancers and entrepreneurs to collaborate, learn and grow.

The basement is a potential future link of the grassroots creative campus initiative with community partners.

The idea for the centre started with local stakeholders and took hold thanks to local and federal funding and project management by Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO).

“This is a grassroots Vernon project that has seen many individuals and organizations work incredibly hard. To see the walls go up and the lights coming on, it’s amazing and we’re so thankful for their support and the support of our board, because this was a big leap,” General Manager of Community Futures Leigha Horsfield said.

Support for the unhoused

Sleeping outside for a cause: Vernon pair backs homeless outreach

14h ago

Youth Mental Health Care

VJH Foundation commits $500K for Foundry North Okanagan

18h ago

Theft of Tools, Merchandise

Police searching for suspects in theft investigation

18h ago

Concept design of Innovation Centre. (submitted photo/CFNO)

CFNO said with both in-person and virtual opportunities taking shape, members of the Innovation Centre community and Vernon’s ‘hidden’ (home-based) workforce can connect and let ideas take root, an important factor as people look for a place to belong post COVID-19. The events of recent months and new ways of working have also fuelled growing demand for a co-work space.

“We are fielding a lot of queries and we’re hearing people say with family at home more of the time, they need another place to work and focus, and this way they also get that check-in time with their peers,” Kazia Mullin, business services manager at CFNO, said. She added the centre will open with an evolving health and safety plan to ensure the wellbeing of guests and community members.

“We are so looking forward to seeing how members of our tech community with connections and experience will inspire others, including youth and Indigenous people, to take their business ideas forward,” she said.

Accelerate Okanagan, a non-profit organization that supports technology driven ventures, will manage the centre..

Vernon resident and longstanding member of the local tech community, Jessica Wicks, is the Accelerate Okanagan community lead based in the centre.

“We are very committed to leveraging the feedback of the Vernon community to continue making this a centre they are proud of,” Wicks said.

The centre will continue to encourage collaboration with organizations such as The Okanagan Science Centre, Okanagan Regional Library, Vernon Arts Centre, City of Vernon, Okanagan College, School District 22 and others.

The project is supported in part by Western Economic Diversification Canada.

by Pete McIntyre

View Comments