Work at CSI for the day with our new Lounge Pass!

Next Economy Conversations

Our monthly tête-à-tête with industry leaders 

Around the world, there are movements calling for systems change: a world that is sustainable, equitable, and prosperous for all. But what will that world look like, specifically? How are we each going to play a role in defining those specifics? Next Economy Conversations, our newest event series, brings the people building systems-level solutions into conversation so we can answer those questions, and learn from their successes and failures.

Join us at the next Next Economy Conversation

learn more about our past guests

CSI Spadina in the ground floor kitchen, looking out towards the lounge and meeting rooms. In the foreground is a kitchen counter, with waffles, toppings, and glasses of coffees and teas. In the background, CSI CEO Tonya Surman is speaking into a microphone on the left. In the middle and on the right, a variety of people stand and sit, listening to her speak.
One of the keys to CSI's magic is our Community Animator Program (CAP) and, specifically, the Community Animators themselves! Through this program, we've worked with more than 1,000 exceptional individuals who have each brought a little something different, and a little sparkle, to our spaces. And we're so glad to have had them in our community, because we've learned that each and every one of them has some exceptional talents, skills, and experiences to offer the world!  
Third floor lounge of CSI Spadina. In the foreground is a light blue loveseat sofa. In the background, we see two people working separately at coworking desks and tables. On the ceiling is a chandelier; to the right, a progress Pride flag.
The CSI staff team includes Pride veterans, newcomers, and everywhere in between! This year, as we celebrated Pride in our spaces and with our member community, we turned to our staff team to learn what Pride means to them. Some experienced it for the first time this year and were awash in the joy; others delighted in the fact that Pride remains such a fun celebration decades later. Others noted the increasing corporatization, which draws our attention away from the central premise of Pride - a protest.
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CSI is many things - a coworking space, a non-profit organization, and a launchpad - but, first and foremost, we are a community. A community of innovators, of changemakers, of neighbours, of people putting people and planet first. And the awesome work that our members do, each and every day, never ceases to amaze us! So of course, we do our best to highlight our members whenever possible. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Molly Bannerman, Director of Women HIV/Aids Initiative (WHAI), a community-based response to HIV and AIDS among cis and trans women in Ontario. Below is an edited summary of our chat, where we discussed the work of WHAI and their latest Collective Action Community Change report.
Canadian Innovation Week Banner
It's Canadian Innovation Week 2023! This year, we're celebrating with our members and highlighting the world changing work that they do. We're spotlighting just a few of our thousands of members here in the themes of Canadian Innovation Week 2023 - be sure to come by our spaces or join our community to meet the rest of our innovators!
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Generally, when we see or hear media about climate change, we’re faced with images of destruction: natural disasters, crumbling infrastructure, rising global temperatures and falling levels of polar ice. And sadly, those are all realities - but there’s another reality, too. The communities coming together to envision, work for, and implement a better and brighter future. To close out Earth Month, we spoke to two people in our community about the role that connection, art, and joy play in the climate sector.
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At CSI, we're proud to share a common, core value with all of our members - putting people and planet first. And so, it should come as no surprise that our members have a lot going on for Earth Month! From mindfulness retreats to individual actions to statements on human rights, there are a variety of ways to get involved with our members' work this April.
A group of CSI Community Animators is gathered around the large table in the CSI Spadina ground floor kitchen
Happy International Women's Day to all the women-identifying folks out there! CSI is a women-led organization, and just over 50% of our staff identify as women, so it's safe to say that at CSI, we're celebrating women all year long. Today, we asked our staff to highlight some of the women who inspire us every day. Here are the people whose cultural, social, economic, or political achievements inspire, encourage, and motivate us to continue putting people and planet first.
Cocktails from ZERO Cocktail Bar
We spoke with Regent Park entrepreneur Gail Lynch, CEO and Experience Designer of ZERO Cocktail Bar, about building a non-alcoholic bar and her experience as a Black woman entrepreneur. 
Celebration at the CSI Community Living Room
It’s been almost a year since we announced the official opening of the CSI Community Living Room - a community experiment that provided a platform on which community initiatives could thrive, a new innovation in our 10th year in the Regent Park community.

Part of the CSI Connects Initiative

CSI Connects helps you build the relationships and collaborations to make change happen. Come to learn, share, make friends and allies. It’s as much about learning as it is about fostering belonging, cohesion and community resilience.

Community Animator Program

Community Animators sit in a circle on the ground floor of CSI Spadina, listening to two hosts speak from the center couch.

Are you a social entrepreneur, an innovator, or seeking to gain new skills and opportunities?

7 hours a week. Unlimited Hot Desk coworking access. We are recruiting our next cohort of Community Animators (formerly known as our DECA Program) for CSI Annex and CSI Spadina. Applications for the fall/winter 2023 Community Animator Program cohort are now closed. If you’d like to apply for the waitlist, please send us an email.

Are you looking for a community who values changing the world and having fun doing it? Do you love meeting new people, solving new problems every day, and making sure our spaces flow? Does the idea of engaging in community building sound right up your alley?

Would you exchange 1 day a week for a fantastic free workspace, access to an incredible community, plus training, development, and resources? If the answer is a resounding YES, the Community Animator Program is perfect for you.

WHAT IS A Community animator?

Our Community Animators (CA) used to be known as DECAs (Desk Exchange Community Animator), but we thought that this was a more accurate name to reflect our secret sauce!

CAs welcome people as they arrive and are the first faces people see when they arrive at a CSI location. They foster a welcoming culture and they set the tone for the rest of their experience. They work with our members to help build and create connection and collaboration.

You exchange your time as a CA for unlimited access to CSI’s coworking locations and full access to membership resources – a $500+ value! You are a connector of ideas and people, helping to build and foster an incredible community – you are the heart of the CSI community.

The commitment: Exchange 7 hours on a dedicated day, once per week, for a 6 and a half month term.

The benefit: Free CSI membership, including unlimited hot desking and 10 meeting room hours, and inclusion to a vibrant, innovative community. You’ll also have access to training, development, networking and events.

CAs have the opportunity to develop and experience community engagement efforts, develop and contribute skills, and deepen their connections with their cohort and the CSI community, all while learning the behind-the-scenes magic of almost two decades of social innovation and the art of animation. 

WHY BECOME A Community Animator?

No pressure, but CAs are the glue that keeps the CSI community together and the glitter that makes it sparkle. This program is perfect for anyone wanting to learn about social innovation by immersing themselves in it. CSI is a network of networks with over 2,500 members. On any given day, you could meet someone who will change your life. Some CAs have gone on to start their own companies. Others have joined organizations working out of CSI. Some have found their next big opportunity and create their own network. A handful have even become full-time CSI staff. CAs have used their experience as Animators to support their goals. Where will your CAP experience lead you? 

WHO BECOMES A Community Animator?

CAs are diverse in every way. They have varied backgrounds including race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, ability, and religion. But they all have excellent customer service, radical hospitality, organization, communications, and problem solving skills. And perhaps most importantly, a commitment to approaching tasks and projects with sincerity, care, fun, and goodwill.

Part of the CSI Connects Initiative

At CSI we connect the community to each other with convenings and communities of practice, socials, networking, and animation. Learn more about our approach here.

CSI Amplifies

Spread the good work

We want to tell the world about you! 

One of the perks of being a CSI Member is the ability to broadcast on CSI’s content channels. We’re happy to share your news, events, and opportunities on our social media platforms, newsletter, and blog!

Please note that this form is only for CSI Members and alumni. If you haven’t joined CSI yet, take a look at our membership options.

Submit Your Work to Our Comms Team

Ready to share your opportunity with us?

Don’t forget to include a short written explanation of your shareable, relevant links, and the deadline to share by date!

A few administrative things to keep in mind:

  • It will take 3-4 business days to process your entry
  • Due to the high volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee promotion of all entries across all platforms
  • Sharing your information with us at least 2-3 weeks in advance will help ensure timely promotion