Helping rural entrepreneurs connect in High River by sharing workspace is the goal of a new program.

Rural on Purpose has chosen High River to launch Canada’s first Coworking Takeover Week—a pilot project that will run from April 23rd to April 27th, 2018—highlighting the growing global trend of shared workspaces.

It is the first time this project will be done in Canada.

It is a chance for businesses that have under utilized space to offer it up to people who are home-based workers to meet, collaborate and work alongside one another - while connecting with the High River business community.

Angela Groeneveld, business development specialist for the Town of High River says, it is very exciting to be part of the project.

"We are very excited to do this because it really aligns so much with the downtown," said Groeneveld. "It is very innovative in thinking and with the broadband initiative coming forward this is the future."

She adds that this is another way to market High River to the next generations work force.

"We have been told over and over, in all the studies that this is the future."

At an information meeting on March 19th, people considering leasing out their space and people looking to rent space learned about how to get involved.
 
Groeneveld says, if you decide you have a space available you would like to diversify and share and bring in a new revenue stream or if you are looking to use space like this Coworking Takeover Week they would like to hear from you.

"If you are someone working from home, freelancer, minor home based business or a major home based business or you are in the MLM marketing business, if you just want some exposure, and want to connect in an entrepreneur eco system, we want to hear from you, we want to know what your needs are and we can help to connect you to those places."

Rural on Purpose will also use this project to try to encourage people from other communities like Okotoks and Calgary to take advantage of this unique working experience to come to town and try it on for the week.