Accelerate Okanagan’s new Community Curator, Špela Grašič, shares her first impressions
Photo: Contributed
I walked into the new building at the corner of Ellis and Doyle for the first time on April 7. This was the day after my second interview for the Community Curator position with Accelerate Okanagan – a role developed to help manage the Okanagan Centre for Innovation.
The interview panel had invited me to attend the grand opening and after party. I’m still convinced this was the unofficial third interview.
First Impressions of the New Okanagan Centre for Innovation
As I walked through those doors, I was tempted to simply stand in the middle of the atrium and slowly turn around, my arms spread wide. From the chalkboard wall at the entrance, to the magnificent living wall three steps in, to the stark white walls brimming with possibility, to the six-storey atrium, the building welcomed me in and made me feel like anything was possible. I felt like I belonged. (Hopefully the interview committee would agree).
The phrase “anything is possible” is painfully cliché, and I can just imagine my fourth-year creative writing instructor dropping his head in despair. Perhaps it would be better to say the centre has an air of uncertainty to it. I’m not talking about the uncomfortable uncertainty that paralyzes you in a chain of anxiety. Rather, I’m thinking of a sense of anticipation that while we may not be sure of what the future brings, we can feel the excitement and thrill of something new and wondrous.
There is an energy in that, an energy that I can’t help but feel that entrepreneurs and dreamers alike can relate to.
Photo: Contributed
What Does a Community Curator Do?
Many of you are probably wondering what a Community Curator does. That’s ok, I was too.
As the Community Curator, I’m responsible for building and supporting community in the centre as well as fostering engagement with the Okanagan community.
This includes everything from working with tenants and community members who would like to rent out the theatre and atrium, to giving tours of the building, to working with building owners to develop a communications and marketing strategy, to curating artwork on the atrium walls, to facilitating communication and collaboration between tenants.
In addition, my responsibilities include coordinating Accelerate Okanagan’s shared working spaces on the second floor.
I don’t think I’ll be bored any time soon, which works for me because I’m pretty sure this is the coolest job ever.
Photo: Contributed
Who Am I?
Prior to joining Accelerate Okanagan, I worked as a Marketer at Cheeky Monkey Media and as an Events and Media Assistant with the Faculty of Management at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus.
Before that, I was an English student with UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
On the weekends, and outside of work hours, you’ll find me exploring the woods with my border collie/shepherd cross, reading a book, climbing trees, or taking a nap, not necessarily in that order. Oh, and eating ice cream. You can never have too much ice cream.
If you haven’t met me yet, or haven’t had a chance to see the centre yet, please stop by the centre and say hi and get a tour.
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