‘Best of both worlds' in new downtown co-working, daycare facility

Alex Carnio was self-employed when she had her first child. Like many new parents, she opted not to take maternity leave and struggled to balance a dedication for her business while raising a new daughter.

This, coupled with what she called a “childcare crisis in Kelowna,” are driving factors behind her new venture, ProducKIDvity, the city’s first daycare and co-working centre.

“We tried to find a solution as working parents where we could have the best of both worlds - still being able to work and excel in our careers but being able to spend time with our kids and trying to lessen that guilt,” she told Kelowna10.

ProducKIDvity is a place where new moms and dads – be it entrepreneurs or employees - can take advantage of a second-floor co-working space while their children attend daycare downstairs. The single location eliminates the rat race of making several daycare drop-offs.

The location has both desks and offices for rent, and the ability to bundle that cost with daycare expenses to save money. Drop-in workspaces and daycare will also be offered for people who want to slide in and work for a few hours periodically throughout the week. The childcare centre will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays, and offer meal service thanks to a café being taken over by the redevelopment.

“Being able to just pop downstairs is huge. Without that, you have to drive to and from daycare, waste all the productive time you have in a day, and that makes things really challenging,” Carnio said.

Early uptake is overwhelming, she said, with many parents sharing photos of obscure home setups, like laptops near cribs, and telling dreadful stories of contending with toddlers while trying to work.

Alongside eliminating these situations, Carnio hopes to help build a community of career-oriented people who want to spend more time with their kids.

“If you want, you could have lunch with your kids every day,” she said.

On a higher level, she anticipates ProducKIDvity will be an economic stimulant. Not only will it employ nearly 20 people, but she hopes it will allow women, who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic – some branding it a ‘she-demic’ – to enter back into the workforce and find a healthy work-life balance.

The space is located on Leon Ave. and Carnio hopes it can help revitalize the street and backfill a historical lack of downtown daycare spots.

The facility is anticipated to open in February.