Canada’s Largest Technology Park member companies can enjoy Wellness Wednesdays, Ice Cream Tuesdays, and even shred guitars at the battle of the bands
Recognizing that a holistic and healthy work environment involves much more than on-the-job innovation and productivity, the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) and its partners provide a variety of social events for the tech park’s tenants – events that help foster a special sense of community among tech park staff and member companies alike.
This past spring, KNBA took its community devotion to new heights. As part of Ottawa’s inaugural Innovation Week, KNBA hosted The Amazing Tech Trek: Kanata North, sending participants on a thrilling race through Canada’s Largest Tech Park. Participants stopped at companies in Kanata and solved clues that involved maneuvering robotic arms, achieving a hole-in-one, making a circuit board, and so much more. The event attracted 23 teams totaling 92 racers, and looks forward to making a triumphant return in 2026.
One of their other flagship events is Wellness Wednesdays.
“Wellness Wednesdays are a series of yoga classes where we bring in different yoga teachers from the community,” says Renee Groulx, a certified yoga teacher who volunteers with KNBA. “They started before the pandemic, and we brought them back after the pandemic when people started returning to work.”
A focus on community, along with physical and mental health
The goal of Wellness Wednesdays is to bring the community together to focus on both physical and mental health. Restorative sound bath and meditation sessions – which use sound frequencies to promote relaxation – are also regularly held either indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather and air quality.
“We call it a Wellness of Work Oasis, because it’s a nice break from a busy work day to come into a space of calm and community,” says Groulx.
Other events include a KNBA summer volleyball league that featured 26 teams this season; quarterly Tech on Tap networking events,; and a Tech Rocks battle of the bands, with musically inclined tech employees rocking out onstage.
“Community is vital to sustaining Kanata’s workforce, attracting new talent, and ensuring that employees can have a fulfilling life outside of the office. As one of our valued pillars, we’ve been devoting time to programming that involves fun, promotes active living, and connects attendees,” says Kelly Daize, Executive Director of KNBA. “From introducing new events like the Tech Trek, supporting old events like Tech Rocks, and reimagining flagship events like Volleyball, we are actively listening to our members to try and meet and exceed their dreams for what community looks like in Canada’s Largest Technology Park.”
Holding a range of events that cover a variety of interests for those in Canada’s Largest Technology Park is important, says Groulx. That’s because “the more the tech park offers its employees and its partners, the more people will feel like they’re part of the community and want to continue to invest in the community,” she adds.
From Ice Cream Tuesdays to charity golf tourneys
KRP Properties, a developer and manager of commercial real estate in Kanata North and a KNBA partner, organizes both its own events and co-organizes joint events with KNBA.
“The goal is to encourage our tenants to participate, to make their experience much more positive,” says Wendy Barron, KRP’s marketing and communications manager.
She says KRP’s Ice Cream Tuesdays – featuring a traveling ice cream truck visiting each of the tech park’s buildings every Tuesday, offering ice cream as a treat for its tenants – has been one of the summer’s biggest hits.
“It’s a small offering,” she explains, “but what we’re finding is people are coming down to the front door. They’re staying, they’re chatting with their colleagues. They’re happy. It’s such a nice community feeling just being together and enjoying the simple things. So we found it a very positive response.”
Another event, held annually in August, is the Red Dragon Charity Golf Tournament – something Barron says is KRP’s way of “saying thank you to our amazing tenants.
“It’s a day of connection and community – but most importantly, it supports a cause close to our hearts,” Barron adds. “To date, we’ve raised nearly $300,000 for Camp Quality Eastern Ontario, helping to provide life-changing experiences for children facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of something that makes such a lasting impact.”
Wesley Clover and KRP Properties are donating classroom space for the upcoming SkillsHub program that supports KNBA’s talent pillar. SkillsHub is an immersive, hands-on learning experience for high school students, designed to get industry in the classroom to ignite future careers in tech.
Part of supporting community also involves bettering public transportation. KNBA has been reaching out to members of the tech park to provide feedback on their commute and inform transportation solutions. In October, KNBA and project partners will launch the first medium-speed, all-season autonomous shuttle in Canada’s Largest Tech Park.
Making the return to the office fun again
With more organizations than ever returning to office post-pandemic, a little something extra is needed to make the experience more fun and social – and these events help to encourage that community spirit, Barron explains.
Working with KNBA, “we partner closely and support each other to strengthen the tech community in Kanata North,” she says. “It’s something special, and our goal is to bring more companies here and make this an even bigger community.”
By the Ottawa Business Journal.
