New KWLUG meeting locations list

pnijjar

This blog entry collects possible new homes for KWLUG meetings. If you have some options to add, use the contact link to submit them.

Considerations

  • Parking?
  • Is bookable month after month?
  • Accessibility by bus? Walking?
  • Cost? (Free of charge is ideal)
  • Accessibility for disabilities? Wheelchairs?
  • Has a sound system?
  • Has a projector?
  • Has Internet access? Wired? Wireless?
  • Can accommodate 20-25 people per meeting?

Meta Resources

We went through this exercise when the Heuther Hotel got mad at us. There was a relevant discussion thread on kwlug-disc.

We went through this exercise again in 2019. Here is the discussion thread on kwlug-disc.

 

There is a site called SpaceFinder Waterloo which lists a bunch of rental spaces. Most of them cost money, however.

Locations to Investigate

These locations have been suggested but nobody has offered to follow up on them yet. If you would like to help then please volunteer to look into one or more of them.

 

Wilfrid Laurier University

Adam Glauser says that he can likely arrange gratis meeting rooms at Laurier

  • Somebody from Laurier needs to be in attendance
  • Laurier-specific activities like exams can take precedence
  • Transit access is good
  • Gratis parking is unclear

Shopify Plus

North

(formerly Thalmic Labs)

As of January 2019, North is not available, but Tim Laurence says that it is possible the space will become available within a few months.

Smile.io

Formerly SweetTooth

Vidyard

WLU Faculty of Social Work

Netsuite

(Eric Gerlach or Darcy Casselman might be contacts here.)

Igloo Offices

Treehouse Coworking Space

TriOS

Jason Eckert is a contact here. WWITPro uses this space.

The space is at Frederick and King. TriOS is willing to let us use the space for no charge.

  • There is a projector, with VGA input
  • There is enough space
  • Doors are locked by mall staff at 7pm, so somebody needs to mind the door

  • Parking is available in the parking lot. Free parking is questionable.

KW Innovation Center

We met here for 6 months. It is the old Boehmer Box building.

  • Access via thumbprint
  • There is a projector onsite but we could not always find it
  • Electrical outlets are scarce
  • The space itself is nice
  • They are no longer willing to book the space for free.

 

Locations Under Investigation

Somebody has started to look into these locations, and they have not been ruled out yet. Often there are details that are missing about them; please fill in details if you can.

Downtown Community Centre

Brian Bentley is the contact here, via the Bits and Bytes Computer Club.

  • Parking is available
  • Internet would either be City wifi or we would pay for Bits and Bytes internet
  • The room would hold 20-25 people
  • Bookings would be quarter to quarter, but we would likely be able to get the space consistently. (There are no promises, however.)
  • Central downtown Kitchener location (which is good and bad, given construction)
  • There is a projector available
  • The space is accessible

Option 1: become a part of Bits and Bytes

  • Bits and Bytes would become the owner/sponsor for KWLUG meetings
  • The Bits and Bytes board would have to approve any such arrangement
  • Attendees would be expected to purchase Kitchener Group cards ($18.30 for adults, $12 for seniors per year). There are some added benefits to these cards, but they would be mandatory for members. It would be up to meeting organizers to police this.
  • There could be discounts available on these cards for low-income members, but they would have to fill out paperwork.
  • There would be some cross-promotion of the group via the City of Kitchener
  • Technically people under 18 would not be allowed to participate (!)

Option 2: rent the space on our own

  • We would need liability insurance (approximately $3 per meeting)
  • We would need about $80/month to rent the space for 3 hours
  • Parking passes would be available to attendees
  • Nobody would have to buy Kitchener guest cards
  • If we got City of Kitchener Tier 2 funding we would probably solidify our chances of getting the space on a regular basis

44 Gaukel

  • This space holds about 20 people at most.
  • It is on the second floor but there is an elevator.
  • It costs money.
  • Paul looked into this.

Communitech

This would be at the Tannery building.

  • Maybe problems month after month
  • Free?
  • May need to switch end time to 8:30pm
  • Paul is the contact

Laurentian Room

This is at the Zehrs Laurentian, 750 Ottawa Street South.

The KW-RASC group uses this meeting space.

  • Maybe free? Nope. $75 per meeting.
  • Not that walkable, but good parking
  • Some wifi access available, but you need to authenticate with the captive portal.
  •  
  • Paul has made initial contact but needs to follow up

43 Queen Street South, Upstairs

This is a meeting room the floor above the Queen Street Commons.

  • Probably free
  • Probably available even if Paul cannot host
  • Must be out by 9pm sharp (probably a little earlier)
  • Not wheelchair accessible at all
  • Parking is horrible
  • No sound system
  • A projector is probably available
  • Wired or wireless internet should be available

First United Church

Here is a map. The address is 26 William Street West, at the corner of King and William in Waterloo.

The website is http://www.firstunitedchurch.ca.

  • Free of charge
  • Few constraints on time
  • It is a church
  • Noisy (lots of echo in the room)
  • No sound system unless we get the gym
  • Does have a projector
  • Lots of parking
  • It is a church
  • Has a kitchen
  • Good accessibility via public transit
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Bill Switzer is the contact.

University of Waterloo

  • Maybe free of charge? (Lori, Jeff)
  • Parking is bad

Kitchener City Hall

  • Stuart is investigating

Atomic Coworking Space

This is at 119 King Street W

  • Chris Craig is investigating

Kitchener Public Library

Waterloo Public Library

Probably Ruled Out

256 King

  • Owned by The Working Centre
  • Probably not available after hours
  • Parking will be an issue
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