Tucked away in the historic McKenney building on the corner of 104 St. and 101 Ave, you’ll find habitat etc. The small shop specializes in home and personal goods, with an emphasis on merchandise created by local artists and Canadian companies. It is a curated and conscientious source for products  that impact the local economy and environment. NextGen got the chance to meet with Annie Parent, owner of habitat etc and chat about the advantages of starting a business in Edmonton.

Annie Parent began habitat etc. as a creative outlet from her day job. What started as an idea to balance her creative interests with her passion for business became a stand at the City Market Downtown where she sold terrariums. It was an alternative to a storefront while she was growing her idea. “The concept,” she says “ is local, small batch, artisanal brands and supporting local makers.”

The new store is a stone’s throw away from the old stand on the growing commercial block of 104th St. Parent says, ”I was originally looking elsewhere in the city, and then this became available. It was right by the market which I was so used to going to, so it was perfect.” Now that she has expanded to the permanent space, she teaches terrarium workshops and hosts events like weaving classes and a shoe shining and boot care social.

When asked about starting a business in the Edmonton marketplace, Parent said that both the city and her neighboring businesses on 104th St. have been very supportive. “I remember going to Startup Edmonton events and feeling very encouraged about my idea. Those resources are really easily found in Edmonton. I am from Ontario originally, and I find that it is not as easy to navigate there. Once I established my business on 104th St. I was so welcomed into this community. I would say that is unique, how right away I was a part of it and supported. The tweets that went out and the social media response from the other stores on the street went way above what I expected.”

Annie Parent’s advise to the budding Edmonton entrepreneur? She says, “I went over idea after idea after idea but nothing really stuck. And finally there was that one idea that I couldn’t get out of my head and couldn’t find reasons why not to do it, so I worked away at it. I remember telling friends that ‘I never think it’s not going to happen.’ Once you find that idea that stays with you, that’s the one to just go after.”

Our second #YegIdeaXchange is happening next week!

Latitude 53
Thursday, March 19
6:30 pm | Drinks, eats and social space
7:00 pm | Panel discussion begins

Hashing it out with Edmonton’s creators, makers, innovators and YOU!

Edmonton’s NextGen hosts #YegIdeaXchange  - Urban Form in Edmonton

#YegIdeaXchange is a free event but please RSVP and let us know you’re attending!

This is the second in a three part dialogue series held by the Voice Working Group of Edmonton’s NextGen.

A panel composed of local creators, makers, and innovators will speak about their ideas, projects and insight around Urban Form and City Building in Edmonton. The panel will encourage attendees to get involved in and shape the evening’s discussion, leading to a real dialogue allowing participants to hash out issues, opinions, and ideas surrounding Urban Form and City Building in Edmonton.

The panel:

Chris Dulaba (@CALLIDUSDevMgmt) - Callidus / Beljan Development
Simon O’Byrne (@Simon_OByrne) - Stantec Consulting
Jarrett Campbell (@jarrettcam)- Brookfield Residential & Oliver Community League President
Carmen Douville (@CarmenDouville) – Instructor, Industrial Design, University of Alberta
Jeff Chase (@chase_jeff) – City of Edmonton

Ever wonder what Edmonton will look like in the next 10 to 20 years? Talk to Chris Dulaba. As the founder of Callidus Development Management+Advisory, and Placemaker at Beljan Development Corporation, Chris is directly involved in the changing face of the City. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with him and learn more about what projects he’s working on, what changes he sees ahead, and his advice for Edmonton’s next generation.

1)    What projects do you currently have ‘in the works’?

“We have a lot of projects in process right now, including:

• The Crawford Block: north of Whyte Ave on Gateway Boulevard. This is a development that retains the old Crawford Block as a historic resource, and includes the addition of 40 micro-suite apartments above ground-oriented commercial.
• St. Claire: a mixed-use project in the Forest Heights neighbourhood. We are proposing the development of 27 rental apartments above main floor commercial.
• Lynnwood Shopping Centre: renovating the existing southern portion of the building and adding a two-story office/retail building.
• The redevelopment of the Healy Ford site.”

2)    How has Edmonton changed since you first started working in urban planning?

“Over the past decades, Edmonton allowed outward growth using the ‘pay as you go’ approach. The continued outward growth happened quickly, which has led to an infrastructure deficit. Now, we’re seeing the City better align new growth with its long-term costs to service these areas—with transit, police and fire, maintenance, etc. The infill market is in its infancy, but growing. People are also starting to place a greater value on neighbourhoods that are closer to employment and transit.”

3)    What are Edmontonians looking for today?

“Today, people have a different perspective on where they want to raise their family. A growing proportion of the market wants to live in urban locations and mature neighbourhoods. The younger generation is demanding more and thinking bigger. They see Edmonton differently and for them, mediocrity is not acceptable anymore.

The Baby Boomers are also becoming more focused on walkability. They’re looking to downsize, be closer to their families, and are looking for services in locations they are already familiar with.”

4)    What do you feel differentiates Edmonton from other cities (such as Calgary) and what future opportunities do we have?

“Edmonton seems to be more ‘down to earth’ than other cities–we’re defining our own selves as a diverse city. We’ve just started to hit the ‘hockey stick’ curve in terms of development and interest in our downtown. I believe that large projects such as the arena district have the ability to transform the perception of downtown. There are huge opportunities for Edmonton–we’re just starting to come to our own.”

5)    What advice do you have for Edmonton’s next gen?

“Build your network with people that you can rely on. My network gave me the ‘push’ to go out on my own. It’s important to get your name out there; go to events or participate in activities that you have an interest in. Eventually, opportunities will come your way without even trying. Always keep your reputation in mind as well–a strong reputation is an asset to building your career and it is something that you cannot buy.

Something else I discovered in my own career path is that you may have an overall vision, but don’t be afraid to take a risk to change or alter it. I learned that you might set out a specific path, but there will always be forks in the road. Making a decision that somewhat deviates from your original path can take you to your ultimate goal.”