A special thanks to three amazing teachers from Holly Meadows ES: Leslie Copeland, Mark Wilson and Tim Smith!  Thanks to Jan Olsen, a Principal with vision!  Thanks to Bill Trayling who connected us all to kick it off.  Thanks to all the TCSers who suffered through the noise to allow these students to experience this adventure of learning.  We will get together as leaders and see where this goes from here.  If you’ve been a part of this and want to share your thoughts, ideas, comment below!

If you’re curious about what we’ve been up to, come out to the culminating event on June 5, 2012 from 7-9 as IGNITE BARRIE kicks off with 10 grade 8′s share their burdens and passion in 5-minute presentations. There will be refreshments and a live DJ. Come be enlightened by these amazing youth!

In the past decade, coworking has been rapidly accelerating in numbers around the world.  Canada has birthed many spaces of it’s own, with Ontario leading the way, having 20+ spaces.  Since the coworking community is all about collaboration, we thought: Why not get space owners together for some brainstorming?

And so, May 4-5th we saw 11 attendees representing 8 spaces and 5 cities come to Barrie for the first Ontario Coworking Forum.

We had a great time teaching one another about coworking.  Topics included starting, managing and financing a space.  We talked about methods of funding, models of membership and leveraging our collective energy to see more press, more sponsorship opportunities and possibly some group buying power.

Alex Hillman from Indy Hall was slated to attend but he was busy with the expansion of his space.  So we got the next best thing:  Alex on Skype!  He was amazing, answering all our questions, being quite honest with his failures and offering some great insight and advice.

We put a survey out and we’ll post results bit later.  If you are an Ontario coworking space and didn’t hear about it, or couldn’t come, please send us a note as we’re planning to do something like this twice a year.  Thanks to all the people who attended!

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with Ward Councillor John Brassard about joining us one Tuesday for SPARK, as the kids doing the program are from Holly.  With this past week being all about BRAINSTORMING, we thought it would be great to have John send us a few ideas, issues in the Holly area for the students to chew on.  The three topics were a proposed skate park, the annexed land and library services in Holly.  The kids zeroed in on the skate park and the annex lands and came up with some great insights.  John dug in as well with the students, asking questions and getting some great feedback.  This is just one more example of how SPARK is working.  As we read their testimonials, we saw a common thread.  They love being asked their opinion as it relates to the bigger picture.  We sometimes think kids need to wait till they’re older to contribute to community/world issues, but they have great ideas now!  This week we’re talking about Social Stigmas around poverty, addiction and homelessness.  Special Guests: The Busby Centre

“Spark has affected me in a way that I am no longer completely focused on my problems but focused on how I can solve them. How I can change the world.” – Jessica

“I think Spark is an awesome program and it helps me get out of my shell, share what I want, but I’m still shy. I love how we are all there together to help each other with problems.” – Ashly

“The Creative Space visits have really opened my eyes to my surroundings and have made me realize there is a world of opportunity.”

“I like Spark because it drives you to want to change and stuff. I feel like it’s making us pick what we want to do in the future. The activities are fun and cool. They help you make decisions and be creative.”  - Griffin

“Spark has changed my view on the way I see life. I feel more compassionate about issues that not only affect myself as an individual but is also affecting my peers, the community or even the world.” – Megan

“Spark is a place to go when you have ideas. You don’t have to feel judged or pressured by your peers since they’re doing the same thing. It’s a comfortable environment to express your opinions and yourself.”

“Spark is Pro! I like Spark. It’s really fun. It’s fun ‘cuz we can be in a place where we can let our ideas out.” – TM

“Great experience with learning with the class. Skills that are useful for school and addressing problems.”-  JB

“I think that Spark is a creative project. It gets you thinking about a lot of stuff. I also think the logo is very cool as well.”

“The Spark Project has been really cool so far. I have enjoyed all the activities we have done and they have been very thought provoking. I am really looking forward to presenting the issue I have chosen from my BPM. I think it will be a great evening.”

“I like that Spark allows teens to open their minds to global issues and break through the status quo.”

“I like how interactive the program is and how everything is us and our ideas.”

“So far I have noticed I do like Spark. It’s been able to catch my interest, unlike many other activities. I have started to enjoy this project!!”

“The Spark project has been a really inspiring journey for me as a teacher. I have enjoyed the process of differentiating instruction to appeal and engage all my students. It has felt great to provide them with this unique experience and empowers their voice and ignite their passion for learning.” – L. Copland, Grade 8 Teacher

2 Workshops led by TCS Members!

Marc Hill from MH Connect – Marketing the Arts
Linda Dessau – Blogathon
If you missed these – Join the fun with our Small Business Success Series

DIANE PETERS

Special to Globe and Mail Update
Published Monday, Apr. 02, 2012 6:00AM EDT
Last updated Monday, Apr. 02, 2012 1:04PM EDT

In 2008, Chad and Sandra Ballantyne moved their marketing and Web design company, Rhubarb Media, into its first office – a 1,300-square-foot space in downtown Barrie, Ont., which they shared with another small company.

A year later, when the other company decided to move out, and Rhubarb was left with $2,100 in monthly rent to pay – and another year on the lease – the entrepreneurs called on the freelancers they worked with to fill the empty desks.

Mr. Ballantyne then read about co-working, a growing international phenomenon of sharing office space, realized he was already doing that, and decided to turn the space into a second business.

In January, 2009, the Ballantynes launched The Creative Space, easily filling the three desks they had for rent and, within a year, took over the upper floor of the same building, doubling their space.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE