“As a former Government employee, I understand how difficult a long commute can be.” says Kemptville Campus Board Chair, Brian McKee. “Kemptville Campus is a great location that’s centered around supporting our community. We are just minutes from businesses and services in downtown Kemptville—meaning workers can invest back into our local economy during their free time instead of commuting.”
Mayor of North Grenville, Nancy Peckford, has been advocating for flexible work arrangements since the return to office announcement earlier this year. She noted the changes North Grenville has had over the past four years, stating “We noticed that during and since the pandemic, people were choosing to relocate or remain in North Grenville day-to-day because working conditions changed. The relationships that were built with local businesses during the pandemic could be sustained under a more flexible work model.”
Local businesses have felt the effect of the call for back-to-office. Shelley Mitchell, representative of the Kemptville BIA, showed support for the initiative noting “a local co-working space could support the efforts of the BIA in maintaining a vibrant downtown that is the heart of our community. It’s so important for members of our community to feel connected.”
Representative from the Chamber of Commerce, Will Pearl, mentioned “Another facet of this space, could be for new businesses who need an affordable area to work, bounce ideas off colleagues, and work together with all required amenities, including Wi-Fi.”
An example of what a potential co-working space can look like was provided by LAUFT CEO Graham Wong. After recognizing the high demand for neutral, comfortable meeting areas for businesses, LAUFT strives to create unique and functional co-working spaces across Canada.
The floor was then opened to attendees to voice their opinions and ask questions to the panel of speakers. Feasibility was discussed, as well as potential next steps, all of which were taken into consideration of the panel.
Mayor Peckford assured her continued support for a coworking space, wrapping up the discussion saying, “Quality of life and a robust local economy are absolute priorities. We’re extremely interested in how we can leverage this space among other possibilities, to ensure that fewer people have to leave our community and their families every day.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Marta Zwart
Marketing and Events Coordinator
mzwart@kemptvillecampus.ca