November 2024

Kootenay Lake Innovation Centre (KLIC) is in its fourth year of operating a Non-Profit Society for Open Source Technology & Creative Coworking Space from the Kemball Building in Kaslo. Our community has the opportunity to blend creativity with business development in a shared space with innovative programs. We accommodate youth, older adults, creatives, non-profits, technologists and entrepreneurs to grow business with a new economy workforce.

Where? Kaslo, but part of the bioregional coworking and national innovation centre collective.

What? Creative and technology spaces tied together with fibre internet and programs that educate and develop resilient infrastructure for the wealth of the community and environment.

Who? Local professionals & partner organizations supporting critical community organization initiatives.

When? 2025 and beyond!

Why? Digital Technology with Artificial Intelligence is the number 1 industry on earth and BC is a national supercluster. Regenerative business is key to integrate the needs of society with integrity of nature. We need better civic engagement events around these topics and support the creation of affordable living so everyone can focus on, and invest in climate action.

How? We will support the community digital and regenerative transformation with our own application and infrastructure development. These products will replace many of the most used of mainstream proprietary applications and we will create new and major revenue streams for the region. Please read about the LightWeb. We will also attract new entrepreneurs to the smart regions to work with locals into the community. Our civic engagement platform will bring forward solutions to housing, food, energy, mobility and resilience.

Highlights

We have spent thousands of volunteer hours so far with successful programs
Launched the Kootenay Resilience Festival in 2024 to tackle critical solutions to housing, food, mobility & energy with bioregional experts and organizations. Read the recap!
Partnered with Kootenay Association of Science and Technology for startup programs
Partnered with Coworking BC and regional coworking spaces for operational and marketing support
Officially recognized as a member of the Canadian Accelerator and Incubator Network representing 100+ top innovation centres
Listed on an international network of coworking spaces called Deskpass
Completed 3 summers of weekend music shows with the Langham serving thousands with critical culture
Fully Funded and Launched the Kootenay Lightweb open source software and datacentre
We have supported 30 people into new careers with our digital technology program
We are continuing to write grants and corporate sponsors for programs, infrastructure, operations
We have letters of support from organizations including Selkirk College and Chamber of Commerce
Received a grant from the Province of BC of $1 Million Dollars towards building improvements for the Innovation Centre.
We have moved into room 108 until renovations are complete. Village of Kaslo new CAO and project manager will conduct construction management procurement and the resulting renovation will allow us to retain and support our members.

Team

8 board members

10 partners including The Langham Cultural Center, Selkirk College, Kootenay Associate of Science and Technology, Coworking BC, Canadian Accelerator and Incubator Network, Kaslo infoNet, Chamber of Commerce, Village of Kaslo

Hundreds of people who have attended events at the Kemball and support us in our initiatives

Space + Service Desires

Community Cloud with computing services including application development for local business
Comfortable furniture, phone booths, meeting technology, expandable spaces + lounge and kitchen
KAST Startup: connection to coaches + consultants in technology, marketing, operations etc.
Living Lab, including real affordable housing for locals and entrepreneurs who need to spend more on their business and less on living. Health, Wellness and Creative Spaces.
Kootenay OS Programs (below)

Action Plan

Launch open source software and datacentre program Lightweb and solicit community for support and feedback on next apps to develop
Monthly community engagement events and technology programs below
Fine tune business plan with revenue generating product and membership goals for program and operational funding from sponsors