OXBOW — A new co-working space in Oxbow is providing women with a place to connect, collaborate and grow their businesses.
Her Place CoWork, founded by Kristen Reed and Kim Friesen, opened in September 2024 with the goal of creating a supportive environment for women in southeastern Saskatchewan. The founders, both new to the area, recognized a gap in resources and opportunities for women to network and support one another.
"I moved to the area from Regina a few years ago, and … I was just feeling a little isolated from working at home," said Reed, who is a realtor and works remotely. "I essentially just wanted to connect with other women in the area."
Reed shared her idea with Friesen, who was immediately on board.
"We had keys to a space within a week or so and started from there," Reed said.
"Both me and Kristen aren't from here, so we noticed that there was a huge lack of initiatives for women in the area. So that's something we wanted to bring in," Friesen added, who moved from Melfort.
The space, located in Oxbow’s old school building, is designed to be welcoming and flexible, and it’s also beautiful, Friesen noted.
"It's a pretty casual environment. It's set up to look like a home," Reed said. "We've got a big kitchen table, another dining table and then cozy, comfy couches and chairs."
The space is also highly adaptable, allowing for different configurations depending on events and work needs.
"We have this space where we're able to bring in more tables for craft nights or rearrange things for yoga sessions. It's really versatile," she added.
There is eight full-time spaces available, but if women utilizing the coworking space work part-time, it can be upward of 10-20 spots, Reed said.
Women can access the space through memberships or day passes.
"For a full-month membership, that will give you 24-7 access. You get a key, and you can come and go as you please," Reed explained. "A month's membership is $60, a three-month membership is $150, and a day pass is $15, but your first visit is free."
Membership includes amenities such as coffee, tea and water, creating a comfortable atmosphere for work and collaboration.
Beyond co-working, Her Place CoWork focuses on community events aimed at empowering local women, helping them network and grow.
Events range from business workshops to creative gatherings to yoga sessions and more.
"We've been doing all kinds of different events, from crafts and paint nights to social media workshops," Reed said. "We did a content collective a couple of weeks ago where women were taught how to pose in front of a camera and shot content for each other."
Other workshops have included vision board nights, yin yoga sessions and sound healing workshops, with plans for a variety of events and also more in-depth business development sessions in the future.
The focus on women-only was intentional in the oilpatch region of Saskatchewan.
"Guys always have their watering holes and things like that, but in my experience, there really wasn't a place where I could go and connect with other women," Reed said. "By being just for women, it's more approachable. It really embraces our feminine energy and allows us to create and collaborate together."
Business owners noted that Her Place CoWork is still evolving.
"But we're still in the very early stages," Reed said. "Right now, everything is going right back into the business to help promote it, grow it and keep the doors open."
The founders are working to expand their membership base and increase event offerings to ensure sustainability.
Friesen emphasized their vision for growth.
"Essentially, we want this space to be a hub where women can come, create, collaborate and share," she said. "Hopefully, we can all learn and grow from each other personally and professionally."
Her Place CoWork also has an ambassador component, as they are looking to engage with more women to help them grow.
"We're looking to connect with other women in the area that are looking to grow and promote their businesses," Reed explained. "We want to find other women that are like-minded and want to also share within this space. Hosting events where they can become profitable as well is something we're excited about.”
An example of this is their recent content collective event, which provided both learning and earning opportunities.
"We brought in a social media gal who hosted the event, and the money that we brought in, she was able to take home a profit from that," Reed said. "And then other women learned from her in how to market their business. They were able to get content that day that they could share on their social media right away. It was a win-win for everyone."
The founders hope to expand their reach beyond Oxbow and also attract women from different professions and interests who can benefit from the unique environment Her Place CoWork offers.
"It's definitely been well received. We would like to grow it some more," Reed said.
"And it's about bringing communities together as well," Friesen added.
Women interested in joining or attending events can reach out via Instagram or Facebook, where Her Place CoWork regularly shares updates and upcoming opportunities.
