Why The World’s Largest Workspace Company Has Its Eyes On Atlantic Canada
DARTMOUTH—A leader from the world’s largest workspace company says the changing landscape in Atlantic Canada will make it one of the company’s most important markets over the next five years.
Wayne Berger, the chief executive officer for the Americas at IWG, says growth and innovation in Atlantic Canada could mean dramatic changes in how people in its cities work.
IWG will partner with Office Interiors and Cabco Communications Group this spring to open its first Spaces-branded flexible workspace in Dartmouth.
Spaces Burnside will offer 14,000 square feet of flexible workspace in Office Interior’s newly constructed building on Ralston Avenue.
RELATED: Cabco, Office Interiors Moving Into New 30,000 Square Foot Building In Dartmouth
But Berger says the new office is just the beginning of what he says will be a significant investment by IWG in Atlantic Canada—a region he says is at the top of his mind.
Berger oversees about 1,000 IWG locations in North America.
“And I will tell you, through everything that I do I’m seeing what’s happening in Halifax. Halifax and Dartmouth, it’s on my map,” he says. “We are seeing that shift in the local economy and innovation and I think it’s like it’s really exciting. It’s very opportunistic.”
Berger says IWG is focusing on Atlantic Canada for a couple of reasons. The first is that workforce trends spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic are most prevalent in the region.
With companies increasingly relying on remote work, employees have realized they can do their jobs from anywhere. Many of them have moved to Atlantic Canada to take advantage of the cost of living and lifestyle.
“I can go to a great place like Halifax… for a fraction of the price of a downtown Vancouver or a downtown Calgary or a downtown Toronto, and have a better life for myself and my family,” Berger says.
Berger says even people who work and live in Halifax are looking for a flexible workspace.
“They’re able to work ubiquitously today versus in the past where they may have to leave their neighbourhood or also just travel across the bridge or go downtown.”
Berger says that trend is further supercharged in places like Halifax because the city has done an excellent job diversifying its economy.
IWG has operated in the HRM, under its Regus brand, for decades. Berger says its clients in the city are starting to shift away from the traditional financial and insurance sector to “a lot of innovative companies.”
“We see, without exaggeration, tremendous opportunity in Halifax. What’s happening in Halifax and Dartmouth is this fundamental shift in a diversified economy, with a more innovation-based economy and more knowledge-based workers being attracted to the province,” Berger says.
Those companies are more likely to stick with a hybrid working model, meaning demand for flexible spaces will continue to rise.
Berger says IWG plans to add “literally dozens” more locations in Atlantic Canada over the next five years.
“It’s a significant growth sector for us,” he says.
Trevor Nichols is the associate editor of Huddle, based in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].