Community. Collaboration. Culture. Connection. Coworking.
We returned to our three-day, in-person format for our 10th annual Canadian Unconference, where we gathered on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, to spark new ideas and learn from each other, as well as from guest speakers and experts across Turtle Island.
312 Main – Vancouver’s Centre for Social and Economic Innovation hosted our 2024 Unconference and Workshops on October 7th and 8th, 2024.
We explored Vancouver on October 9th, touring some of the best coworking and collaborative spaces across the city. We each shared our unique experience and practices to help build, manage, and grow thriving collaborative communities.
If you’re interested in: coworking, collaboration, community hubs, creative and cultural spaces, placemaking, networks of mutual aid, communal care, coliving, co-operative models, distributed and remote work, entrepreneurship, community-led economic development, supporting local businesses, systems change, building partnerships and alliances, making great change and meaningful connections – the Coworking Canada Unconference is for you. Join us for the ONLINE EDITION October 30th 2024.
EST. 2012
We believe coworking is a verb.
It’s intentional. It’s an action. It’s an international movement.
The knowledge, experience, and expertise we’ve gathered by coworking in Canada over the past 20 years is now leading and shaping the way we work around the world.
Our collaborative practices have grown from and upon those developed by artists, academics, activists, women, caregivers, and especially the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Together we all share resources, provide guidance, and help to create effective strategies for navigating partnerships, strategic alliances, and building resilient communities. We’re empowering authentic and creative collaborations in this new work landscape.
We welcome contributors and participants from around the world, in the spirit of coworking.
Join us for the ONLINE EDITION – October 30th 2024
ONLINE EVENT
COWORKING CANADA
2024
ONLINE EDITION
OCTOBER 30, 2024
The 10th annual Coworking Canada Unconference took place at 312 Main October 7-9, 2024 in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The theme this year was “The Power of Collaboration: Building Thriving and Impactful Coworking Communities”. In addition to hearing from experts and thought leaders, we had the opportunity to lead and contribute to these conversations.
We can’t wait to share the 2024 Unconference highlights with you, as we gather online with our colleagues and coworking friends from around the world.
Join us for the ONLINE EDITION of Coworking Canada – October 30th, 2024.
Explore the agenda 👇
OCTOBER 30th: Coworking Canada ONLINE EDITION
ONLINE EVENT LINK WILL BE SENT TO TICKETHOLDERS OCTOBER 30th
AGENDA LISTED IN PACIFIC TIME (PT) *CHECK YOUR TIMEZONE*
8:00 AM – COWORKING CANADA 2024 BEGINS
Co-hosts: Ashley Proctor, Hector Kolonas, & Tony Bacigalupo
8:15 AM
Welcome
DTe’ta-in (Sound of Thunder) Shane Pointe – Musqueam Knowledge Keeper
8:30 AM
Coworking Canada & the International Coworking Movement
Ashley Proctor – Creative Blueprint
8:45 AM
Community-Driven Social & Economic Development
Am Johal – SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement
9:00 AM
Brave New Work
Jason Wong – Beta Collective & YVR Prep
9:15 AM
Vancouver’s Coworking Landscape
Jason Wong – Beta Collective, Monique Cherrie – Makeshift Workspace, Stirling Bell – Pavilion Cowork
9:45 AM – BIO BREAK / INTERACTIVE
10:00 AM
Spotlight on Calgary
Jerome Morgan – Innovate Calgary Social Innovation Hub
10:15 AM
Coworking by the Numbers
Stirling Bell – Pavilion Cowork
10:30 AM
The Science of Flexibility: Third Place Solutions
Denise Brouder – SWAYworkplace
10:45 AM
The Business Case for Placemaking
Emma Avery – Happy Cities
11:00 AM
The Power of Collaboration: Creative Space & Community Land Trusts
Brian McBay – 221A
11:30 AM
Collaborative Kitchens: Feeding the Future
Nathan Lawr – 10C Shared Space
11:45 AM
Beyond the Core: Coworking in Rural Communities
Brandon Houston – Collingwood Foundry, Erin Scarlett – The Fountainhead Network, Justin Powers – Sierra Shared Spaces
12:15 PM – BIO BREAK / INTERACTIVE
12:30 PM
Balancing Self-Care for Coworking Leaders
Iris Kavanagh – Women Who Cowork
12:45 PM
Designing for Collaboration
Jerome Chang – BLANKSPACES, and Marcus De Verteuil – INBOX booths
1:05 PM
A Vision for the Future – Interactive Conversation
Kia Rahmani – Optix, Ralph Baddour – HiVE, Alanna Imbach – Vibe Coworks
1:30 PM
Thanks and farewell: VIDEO
Tony Bacigalupo & Hector Kolonas
1:45 PM
Closing Remarks: Collaborative Poetry
Ashley Proctor – Coworking Canada
2:00 PM
OPEN DISCUSSION
Reserve Your 2024 Tickets
Vancouver, BC
COWORKING CANADA
2024 Unconference & Tours
OCTOBER 7-9
The 10th annual Coworking Canada Unconference took place October 7-9 2024 in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
The theme this year was “The Power of Collaboration: Building Thriving and Impactful Coworking Communities”. In addition to hearing from experts and thought leaders, we had the opportunity to lead and contribute to these conversations.
We can’t wait to share the 2024 Unconference highlights with you, as we gather online with our colleagues and coworking friends from around the world.
Join us for the ONLINE EDITION of Coworking Canada – October 30th, 2024.
Explore the agenda 👇
CONFERENCE VENUE: 312 Main – Centre for Social & Economic Innovation
312 Main St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 2T2
8:30 AM – REGISTRATION OPENS
Join us for coffee, tea, and introductions
9:15 AM – COWORKING CANADA BEGINS
Welcome
DTe’ta-in (Sound of Thunder) Shane Pointe – Musqueam Knowledge Keeper
9:30 AM
Coworking Canada & the International Coworking Movement
Ashley Proctor – Creative Blueprint
9:45 AM
Community-Driven Social & Economic Development
Am Johal – SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement
10:15 AM
Brave New Work
Jason Wong – Beta Collective & YVR Prep
10:30 AM
Vancouver’s Coworking Landscape
Jason Wong – Beta Collective, Monique Cherrie – Makeshift Workspace, Stirling Bell – Pavilion Cowork
11:00AM
Community Connections
Interactive
11:15 AM – BIO BREAK
11:30 AM
Spotlight on Calgary
Jerome Morgan – Innovate Calgary Social Innovation Hub
11:45 AM
Coworking by the Numbers
Stirling Bell – Pavilion Cowork
12:00 PM
The Science of Flexibility: Third Place Solutions
Denise Brouder – SWAYworkplace
12:15 PM
The Business Case for Placemaking
Emma Avery – Happy Cities
12:30 PM – LUNCH
1:45 PM
The Power of Collaboration: Creative Space & Community Land Trusts
Brian McBay – 221A
2:15 PM
Collaborative Kitchens: Feeding the Future
Nathan Lawr – 10C, and Panelists TBA
2:45 PM
Beyond the Core: Coworking in Rural Communities
Brandon Houston – Collingwood Foundry, Erin Scarlett – The Fountainhead Network, Justin Powers – Sierra Shared Spaces
3:15 PM
Balancing Self-Care for Coworking Leaders
Iris Kavanagh – Women Who Cowork
3:30 PM – BIO BREAK
3:45 PM
Designing for Collaboration
Jerome Chang – BLANKSPACES, and Panelist TBA – INBOX booths
4:15 PM
A Vision for the Future – Interactive Conversation
Kia Rahmani – Optix, Ralph Baddour – HiVE, Alanna Imbach – Vibe Coworks
4:45 PM
Day One – Closing Remarks: Collective Infrastructure for the New Work Landscape
Ashley Proctor – Coworking Canada
5:30 – 8:30 PM – NETWORKING RECEPTION
10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
VENUE: CRAFT Beer Market (Vancouver False Creek)
85 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver, BC
UNCONFERENCE VENUE: 312 Main – Centre for Social & Economic Innovation
312 Main St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 2T2
8:30 AM – REGISTRATION OPENS
9:00 AM
Welcome to the Unconference
9:15 AM
Voting for topics and sessions
9:30 AM – UNCONFERENCE SESSION 1
ROOM A
Workspace Operations Workshop
Jenna Macken – Optix
ROOM B
SPEAKERS TBA – Community Building Workshop
ROOM C
The Coworking IDEA Project
We’re holding a ‘brave space’ for our collective Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility work (IDEA).
ROOM D
TOPIC TBA – Breakout Discussion
10:45 AM – BIO BREAK
11:00 AM – UNCONFERENCE SESSION 2
ROOM A
PANELISTS TBA – Impact, Partnerships, & Strategic Alliances Workshop
ROOM B
SPEAKERS TBA – Collaborative Technology
ROOM C
TOPIC TBA – Breakout Discussion
ROOM D
TOPIC TBA – Breakout Discussion
12:15 PM – LUNCH
1:15 PM – UNCONFERENCE SESSION 3
ROOM A
PANELISTS TBA – Mastermind Workshop – Ask a Coworking Expert
ROOM B
SPEAKER TBA – Marketing & Promotions
ROOM C
Breakout Discussion – Building & Strengthening our Relationships with Indigenous Partners
ROOM D
Breakout Discussion – Rest as Resistance: Sustainability for Catalysts & Caretakers
2:30 PM
Collaborative Unconference Recap
2:45 PM
Closing Remarks
Ashley Proctor – Founder, Creative Blueprint & Coworking Canada
3:00 – 4:00 PM OPEN COWORKING
312 Main
4:00 – 7:30 PM
Take yourself to Happy Hour or Dinner with friends. Explore Vancouver, or take a break to catch your breath.
7:30 – 10:00 PM CLOSING RECEPTION
INBOX BOOTHS SHOWROOM
228 W 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1J4 (2nd floor)
MORNING MEETING POINT:
312 Main – Centre for Social & Economic Innovation
312 Main St, Vancouver, BC, V6A 2T2
Morning Tour
TOUR #1 DESTINATIONS
9:00 AM
312 Main – Centre for Social & Economic Innovation
312 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
10:00 AM
HiVE Vancouver
420 W Hastings St Unit 300, Vancouver, BC
10:45 AM
SPACES Gastown
151 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
11:30 AM
Pavilion Cowork
400–22 East 5th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5T 1G8
12:15 PM
Explore Mount Pleasant
over lunch
Afternoon Tour
TOUR #2 DESTINATIONS
1:30 PM
YVR Prep
5279 Still Creek Ave A5, Burnaby, BC
2:45 PM
221A
825 Pacific Street, Vancouver, BC
3:45 PM
Granville Island Tour
Meeting Point: TBD
5:00 PM – Safe Travels Home!
2024 Speakers & Guests
DTe’ta-in
Musqueam Knowledge Keeper
DTe’ta-in (Sound of Thunder) Shane Pointe is a Musqueam Knowledge Keeper, whose motto is “Nutsamaht!” (We are one). Te’ta-in is a proud member of the entire Salish Nation, the Pointe family and the Musqueam Indian Band. In addition to being a grandfather and a great-grandfather, he is a facilitator, advisor, traditional speaker and artist.
Ashley Proctor
Creative Blueprint
Creative Blueprint has inspired a global network of coworking catalysts and change makers for the past 20 years. Ashley co-founded Coworking Canada, the Coworking Ontario, and Coworking Toronto collectives, The Coworking IDEA Project, and the Coworking Health Insurance Plan (COHIP). Ashley worked to develop 312 Main: Centre for Social and Economic Innovation, OCADU’s Xpace, the CB Studios in Toronto and Seattle, The Foundery Buildings, and the international Coworking Alliance Summit.
Am Johal
SFU’s Office of Community Engagement
Am Johal is Director of SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, Co-Director of SFU’s Community Engaged Research Initiative and is host of the podcast, Below the Radar. He is the author of ‘Ecological Metapolitics: Badiou and the Anthropocene’ (2015), co-author with Matt Hern of ‘Global Warming and the Sweetness of Life: A Tar Sands Tale’ (2018) and ‘O My Friends, There is No Friend: The Politics of Friendship at the End of Ecology’ (2024).
Denise Brouder
SWAY Workplace
Denise is the Founder + Head of Data & Insights at SWAY – a B2B learning & development consultancy specializing in optimizing performance in hybrid work models through behaviour change. SWAY uses a data-driven and modular approach to building high-performing teams at the world’s leading companies.
Brian McBay
221A
Brian McBay is Executive Director of 221A, a Vancouver-based cultural research and cultural space operator. Under his leadership, 221A and 221A Artist Housing Society operates a growing network of over 140,000ft² across nine properties that provide non-market artist housing, artist studios, and cultural programming. Brian is part of a new generation of leaders in the cultural sector aiming to advance the public appreciation of the arts while also reversing deepening inequality, xenophobia and colonialism in Canada.
Iris Kavanagh
Women Who Cowork
A globally recognized leader and speaker in coworking since 2008, Iris Kavanagh has operated multiple brands in diverse markets, co-founded the League of Extraordinary Coworking Spaces (LExC) and Women Who Cowork, and inspired audiences worldwide with her insights on the transformative power of community-based workspaces. Iris coaches coworking leaders to create thriving communities that serve as catalysts for human potential and grassroots economic development.
Jerome Morgan
Innovate Calgary
Jerome supports Innovate Calgary’s social innovation portfolio as Associate Director of the Social Innovation Hub. Jerome is also the Director of Innovation & Lead Consultant at Wood Buffalo Strategy Group – a consulting agency that specializes in organizational strategy, business development, innovation, future-focused leadership, and complexity.
Erin Scarlett
Fountainhead Network
Erin Scarlett is the Co-Founder of The Fountainhead Network, a coworking & media space that offers a diverse range of services, including podcast production, coworking memberships, and creative collaboration opportunities. Based in Port Moody, BC, Erin has grown TFN into a vibrant community for entrepreneurs, content creators, and small businesses. Erin is known for her hands-on approach, managing various aspects of TFN, from strategic partnerships to member engagement, and is passionate about fostering innovation and connections in the coworking space industry.
Jason Wong
Beta Collective
The challenge of being a “parentrepreneur” inspired Jason to open Surrey’s first coworking space, the award-winning Beta Collective. Beta Collective has helped hundreds of startups and non-profit organizations get their start since 2014, and motivated Jason to pursue other shared economy ventures, most recently a commissary kitchen for small-scale food producers called YVR Prep. Jason is also involved with DIVERSEcity, a board member at the BC Small Business Roundtable, a director of the Burnaby Board of Trade, and a co-founder of the CoworkingBC Society.
Monique Cherrie
Makeshift Workspace
Monique Cherrie is a respected entrepreneur and founder, with 5 years of experience operating the much-loved Makeshift Workspace in Vancouver, BC. Monique has also served as the Chair of Coworking BC – British Columbia’s Coworking Collective. Monique joins us to share her personal coworking journey, and will provide us with more context to understand the unique coworking landscape across Vancouver.
Brandon Houston
Collingwood Foundry
Brandon has been a part of the coworking industry since 2011, having opened and operated multiple spaces. Currently the Founder of The Collingwood Foundry, a thriving coworking community that supports entrepreneurs and remote workers living in the South Georgian Bay area of Ontario, he continues his work to support entrepreneurs and build entrepreneurial ecosystems in small towns through his work as a consultant. He also sits as a Councillor for the Town of Collingwood bringing his entrepreneurial and economic development experience to the public sector.
Emma Avery
Happy Cities
Emma is an urban planner, storyteller, and designer at Happy Cities, a Vancouver- and Halifax-based consultancy that uses the science of wellbeing to create healthier, happier, more inclusive communities. She has a multidisciplinary background in anthropology, journalism, and urban geography. Emma leads communications at Happy Cities, translating research and best practices into compelling stories that show the power of urban design in influencing human wellbeing.
Kia Rahmani
Optix
Kia Rahmani is the CEO and Founder at Optix, with nearly 15 years of experience in the coworking industry, spanning service, technology, and operations. His extensive background gives him a deep understanding of the coworking and flex space landscape.
Kia is dedicated to improving experiences for people and empowering operators to run forward-thinking, successful businesses.
Jenna Macken
Optix
Jenna Macken is the Customer Success Team Lead at Optix, where she has guided over 100 coworking owners and operators in seamlessly integrating technology into their spaces.
With her extensive experience, Jenna is highly skilled in setting up coworking operations for success, ensuring that every client achieves their goals with confidence.
Stirling Bell
Pavilion Cowork
Stirling oversees all growth and sales for Pavilion Cowork – a locally owned, elevated coworking operator with two locations in the heart of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, in Vancouver, BC.
Stirling was introduced to the coworking industry while working in commercial office leasing with Colliers in the Shanghai office in 2014. After returning to Vancouver, Stirling leveraged his brokerage experience to assist IWG (Spaces/Regus) with various headlease transactions. Drawn to the advantages of coworking, he transitioned to a full-time role at IWG, where he managed enterprise client sales and drove regional portfolio growth.
Jerome Chang
BLANKSPACES & LExC
Jerome Chang is a licensed architect based out of Los Angeles. He founded BLANKSPACES in 2008 and today operates a half dozen coworking spaces. In 2011, he co-founded LExC, the League of Extraordinary Coworking, a 501c(3) non-profit organization of several dozen like-minded coworking owners and over 150 locations. In 2023, he founded People of Coworking, an initiative to improve diversity on stage in our coworking industry. Jerome was made in Taiwan, grew up on the East Coast and now resides on the Left Coast.
Alanna Imbach
vibe coworks
Alanna Imbach is a passionate champion of innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. As the founder and CEO of Vibe Coworks, the Kitsap Peninsula’s largest coworking community, she has redefined how people work and connect outside of Seattle. Alanna also plays a pivotal role in supporting the US Navy’s transition to flexible workspaces in the Puget Sound region and collaborates with NavalX Pacific Northwest Tech Bridge to connect non-traditional entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop cutting-edge technologies that address national security challenges.
Nathan Lawr
10C Shared Space
Nathan is the Community Operations Lead at 10C Shared Space, a shared community hub that includes coworking, shared office and event space, as well as a shared community kitchen. In this role, he has witnessed the magic of shared kitchens firsthand, seeing how they can be integral building blocks for healthy and vibrant communities, and can help local food systems grow and prosper.
Justin Powers
Kernville Cowork
Justin Powers is the founder of Kernville Cowork and Sierra Shared Spaces, and has been redefining the impact that coworking can have in rural communities since 2018. Nestled in a small mountain community in the Southern Sierra Nevadas, and surrounded by world class whitewater, mountain biking, climbing, and more, Kernville Cowork started as a place where you can Work Where You Play. Sierra Shared Spaces is focused on launching rural community hubs that can serve the diverse needs of rural communities, beginning with an ambitious community hub project in Lake Isabella.
Hector Kolonas
Syncaroo & TWIC
Hector Kolonas is a co-founder of Syncaroo, creating opportunities to make workspaces more manageable, rewarding, accessible and flexible through interconnected technology. Hector also produces a weekly newsletter called This Week In Coworking, highlighting some of the news, trends and shifts others may have missed. Hector will be co-hosting the online edition of Coworking Canada on October 30th 2024.
Tony Bacigalupo
New Work Cities
Tony is the founder of New Work Cities – connecting, educating, encouraging, and inspiring people everywhere to join, start, host, or support collaborative communities of empowered workers. Tony brought coworking to New York, as the Mayor of New Work City – Manhattan’s first dedicated coworking space. His report The State of Belonging – explores how we each can play a part in solving the crisis of disconnection. Tony will be co-hosting the online edition of Cowokring Canada on October 30th, 2024.
Ralph Baddour
HiVE Vancouver Society
Ralph is an experienced entrepreneur with a background in founding and leading tech startups in both Canada and France. After relocating to Vancouver, he transitioned to the funding side of the equation, first leading an investment cycle for a hybrid corporate-government fund before launching a micro-VC firm focused on expanding access to early-stage risk capital in Western Canada. A strong advocate for social entrepreneurship, Ralph serves on the board of the charity Employ to Empower and chairs the board of the HiVE.
and You!
coworking enthusiasts
The Unconference is designed for participation – we all have something valuable to contribute! Bring your ideas, your experience, and your unique expertise to share, as we will be learning with – and from – each other.
Want to join us? Register now.
Scholarships are also available.
Justin Powers
Kernville Cowork
Justin Powers is the founder of Kernville Cowork, a coworking space in a small mountain town in the Southern Sierra Nevadas. Surrounded by world class whitewater, mountain biking, and the Sequoia National Forest, Kernville Cowork was built to be a place where you can Work Where You Play. Justin is currently working on expanding the impact of rural coworking with the creation of a new nonprofit Sierra Shared Spaces.
TICKETS
2024 Unconference
What do our past participants say?
FAQ
Questions?
Please read the FAQ section to get the most out of your Coworking Canada experience. Still have questions?
CONTACT US
A: Yes! This Unconference is produced by Coworking Canada and Creative Blueprint, and we encourage participants from across Turtle Island and around the world to participate. The event is meant to connect collaborative people from all regions and nations. All are welcome!
A: Yes. We introduced the Scholarship Fund back in 2015, and we have been committed to making Coworking Canada affordable and accessible ever since.
Thanks to generous support from our Sponsors and Partners, we are able to offer some complimentary tickets to the Coworking Canada Unconference and the Coworking Canada Retreat each year.
If the cost of admission is the only thing preventing you from participating, we invite you to apply for a Coworking Canada Scholarship.
COMPLETE THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION HERE.
Canadian Coworking Alliance members and Partner Organizations are provided with discount codes to significantly reduce (or eliminate) the cost of admission. Ask your Coworking Collective for more details.
A: We are always seeking value-aligned Sponsors, Partners, and Co-Creators.
Interested in Sponsoring Coworking Canada?
Please contact: Ashley Proctor
Interested in contributing to our Scholarship Fund? We introduced the Scholarship Fund back in 2015, and we have been committed to making Coworking Canada affordable and accessible ever since. Please Contact Us for more details on supporting access for all attendees.
Interested in Co-Creating a portion of the Coworking Canada Unconference? It wouldn’t be coworking without the CO. We’d love to work with you! Please share your details here, and we will be in touch.
A: Yes! Many of our audience members live in remote regions, across a global landscape, and we know it is not always feasible, medically or financially possible, or even environmentally responsible for everyone to participate in Coworking Canada events in person.
For this reason, we are documenting the majority of the Coworking Canada Unconference, and we are making it available during an online event – October 30th, 2024.
Tickets to the ONLINE EVENT are now available.
This is also a great opportunity to share your in-person learning with your members, partners, or other stakeholders after returning from Vancouver, BC. Please purchase a VIEWING PARTY ticket to share or screen Coworking Canada with a larger group.
Sponsors & Partners
It takes a dedicated team of value-aligned sponsors, partners, collaborators & volunteers to keep the coworking movement and this event thriving.
Thank you for all you do to support Coworking in Canada ♥
Contact Us
Still have questions? We'd love to hear from you!
A commitment to Truth and Reconciliation across ‘Canada’
With gratitude, mutual respect, and reciprocity, we acknowledge the ancestral home, culture, and oral teachings of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to be able to visit and explore this unceded territory during the 2024 Unconference events, and we are honoured to learn from and along with all those who call this land their home. Our organization is committed to learning and knowing the Truth, and to working towards Reconciliation as we build strong and meaningful relationships and partnerships with the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis from across Turtle Island.
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Coworking Canada, 3 Borden Street #301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2M8