The HiVE is abuzz with community, resilience, and growth

When Ralph Baddour first joined the HiVE as a member in 2018, he didn’t imagine he would end up leading this long-standing organization in Vancouver through one of the most challenging times in coworking history. He just wanted a place to work and to meet new people.

But as a Board Director since 2020, and President since early 2021, he, along with the rest of the Board, has since witnessed and collectively guided the community through a pandemic, a financial crisis, and now, just a couple months ago, a relocation. His story reflects the HiVE’s dedication to creating a unique space in Vancouver’s coworking scene, one that thrives on its community and values.

Vancouver’s longest-running not-for-profit coworking space

The HiVE opened its doors in Vancouver, Canada, in 2011, making it one of the earliest coworking spaces in Western Canada, if not the first. Baddour, who moved to Vancouver from Montreal, joined as a hot-desker and was drawn to its unique atmosphere.

“The HiVE was founded by environmental architects and engineers, sustainability advocates, and tech nerds,” Baddour recalls. “There was a diversity in the space that you just didn’t find at WeWork or other emerging coworking spots at the time.”

The decision to join was easy for Baddour. After relocating to Vancouver, a city where he didn’t know anyone, and looking for a place to work, Baddour found the HiVE, a nonprofit organization that focused on building a community, not just renting office space. It was a natural fit.

A community in (a global) crisis

Like many coworking spaces, the HiVE was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We don’t own our space,” Baddour explains. “And as a purely member-funded organization, we operate with thin margins, month-to-month, without a reserve fund.” As membership dwindled and work-from-home became the norm, it seemed like the HiVE’s story was about to end.

In July 2020, the Board of Directors and executive team called a general meeting to discuss the future. “The motion  tabled was to shut down,” Baddour says. “The organization just didn’t have the funds to keep going.”

But the HiVE community wasn’t ready to give up. “I was one of the few who went to the meeting in person; most of us were attending on Zoom. When it was asked if anyone wanted to try to keep the HiVE going, eight members raised their hands,” he says. Baddour was one of those people, and later tasked as the one to lead emergency negotiations with the landlord to help the space survive.

With (more than) a little help from their friends

One of the things that kept the HiVE alive during those early months was the extreme loyalty of some of its members. “We had a few permanent desk members who kept paying their dues, even though they weren’t coming in,” Baddour shares. “Some of them were paying just because they believed in the HiVE and wanted to see it survive.”

That sense of community, where coworkers are “members” rather than just clients, is what sets the HiVE apart. “When you join, you sign a membership agreement. It’s not just a desk-share or rental contract. You’re part of a nonprofit society — part of something bigger.”

The HiVE also benefited from last-minute government support. “In the Fall of 2020, the Canadian federal government put in place a rent subsidy for businesses and nonprofits, which helped us get through those crucial mid-pandemic months,” Baddour says. But it wasn’t just government assistance or financial negotiations that saved the HiVE — it was the community’s commitment.

The HiVE makes a (direct) move

This past summer, as July turned to August, after overcoming obstacles and the lingering impacts of the pandemic on its balance sheet, the HiVE made a bold move — both from a business and physical perspective. The coworking space relocated a few blocks West, a bit closer to Vancouver’s central business district and historic Waterfront station, but downsizing to half the square footage to drastically reduce the rent. “Vancouver’s real estate market is one of the most expensive in North America, and commercial space is no exception,” Baddour says. “We just couldn’t afford to stay where we were.”

While downsizing could have been seen as a step backwards, for the HiVE it has surprisingly rejuvenated the organization. “Curiously, now, the space feels more like the old HiVE again,” Baddour explains. “There’s more lunchtime chat; people are sitting closer together and interacting more. It has reinvigorated the sense of community.”

The move wasn’t just a financial necessity. It was also a community-building endeavor. “We didn’t hire movers; we moved everything ourselves! A lot of members volunteered. They helped to lift chairs, supplies, disassemble and reassemble tables, and all sorts of other tasks that got us to the new space. That’s what the HiVE is all about — people coming together, pitching in.”

The HiVE as an (accidental) incubator for nonprofits

As the HiVE has evolved over the years, it’s become more than just a workspace. It’s grown into an informal incubator for small nonprofits. “We’ve seen a few groups start out as hot-deskers, then grow into organizations taking up a few permanent desks at the HiVE, and, in a few cases, teams that expanded to up to more than a dozen individuals,” Baddour says. One group, focused on environmental impact assessments, followed just that path, growing into a well-respected organization garnering large contracts and government grants before eventually moving out to get their own office.

While losing these growing organizations can be bittersweet, Baddour sees it as a testament to what the HiVE can offer as a rich environment to grow. “We’ve been able to provide a safe space for these groups to realize their potential. Perhaps we can build on that and become more like an incubator down the road, specifically for nonprofits or social impact-focused ventures.”

The buzz behind HiVE’s Desk Bee program

One of the unique aspects of HiVE is its “Desk Bee” program — a creative solution that blends community spirit with operational efficiency. 

It’s all about trading time for workspace access. “Our reception desk is run entirely by volunteers, or Desk Bees,” Baddour explains. “In exchange for volunteering one morning or afternoon per week, these members get hot-desking time in the space.”

However, it’s not a casual arrangement. “There’s an interview process because we need people who are trustworthy, good with reception tasks, and great with people,” Baddour says. “We also have a formal barter agreement that outlines the responsibilities.”

For the HiVE, the Desk Bee program is a critical piece of the puzzle. “These volunteers essentially become part of the staff, and they do it at no cost to our organization. That’s a huge help with our super-tight budget,” Baddour adds. The Desk Bees not only contribute to the day-to-day running of the space but also further strengthen the sense of community that makes the HiVE a very special place.

The decision to switch to Coworks software

The HiVE didn’t always use Coworks space management software, but the decision to switch has made a significant impact on the way the space is managed. Baddour reflects on the early days, saying, “We first discovered Coworks when it was a young startup out of Techstars, but we didn’t adopt it until late 2022.”

What made Coworks stand out for the HiVE was the responsiveness of the team. “We had a question, and we’d get a reply right away,” Baddour recalls. “As I recall, we made a feature request when we weren’t even clients yet. A month later, it existed.”

This level of attention was a breath of fresh air compared to other software providers. “This group from across the continent, in North Carolina, was more responsive than companies in our own backyard,” he says. “That responsiveness was really what prompted us to switch to Coworks.”

Today, HiVE members use Coworks to book hot desks, meeting rooms, and keep up to date with announcements and events. “We even allow non-members to book our meeting rooms through the platform,” Baddour adds. “It’s turned out beautifully, and the mobile app and web platform helps us keep everything running smoothly.”

What’s new (and what’s next)

With the move behind them and the community reinvigorated, Baddour is optimistic about the future of the HiVE. “I’d love to see the HiVE become a convening place for emerging community groups,” he says. “Whether it’s social impact meetups or software development groups, we want to be the place where people come together to collaborate.”

There’s also hope for reconnecting with the broader coworking community. “We’re  planning on taking a more active role to represent the HiVE at upcoming events, such as conferences and local business associations,” Baddour says. “It’s a chance to network, share our story, and learn from others who are navigating similar challenges.”

HiVE’s sweet science: a deep commitment to community

Throughout the ups and downs, it’s clear that the HiVE’s greatest asset is its people. “The thing that makes the HiVE special is the community,” Baddour says. “We’re here because people believe in what we’re doing. It’s not just about having great coffee or a prime location. It’s about the relationships we build and the impact we have through the ambitions and accomplishments of our members.”

As the HiVE looks to the future, Baddour and the rest of the Board and team remain focused on what’s always made the space unique: its commitment to fostering a community where people from all walks of life can come together, collaborate, and create something meaningful.

For Baddour, it’s personal. “I started out as just a guy who was hot-desking. Now, I’m proud to work with an amazing Board as we lead the HiVE through exciting times. But through it all, the community has been our foundation. That’s what keeps us going.”