The BMO Collaboratory
Unleashing the Creativity & Wisdom of Community for Healthier Generations
At Vivo, we believe in striving for wholistic health that is shaped and co-created by communities. That’s why we built the BMO Collaboratory: a dynamic space designed for curiosity and courage. Here, we explore, test, measure, and scale innovative solutions that support healthier people, communities, and the planet.
Collaboratory
def: Co-llab-or-a-to-ry
noun: /kəˈlabrəˌtôrē/
An open-minded, common space for minds of all backgrounds to unite, share, create, hold respectful discourse, design, dream, and develop solutions for healthier generations.
Etymology: Collaboration + Laboratory
From Insight to Impact
Using the power of design thinking, we partner with government, academia, industries, charities, social enterprises, non-profits, and groups to redefine community standards. Together, we empower communities to shape their own paths to being active, connected, resilient, and prosperous, on their own terms, with their own voices.
We dive deep into understanding unmet community needs and social issues. Then, we co-create, prototype, and evaluate solutions, delivering positive impacts that empower, enlighten, bring joy, inspire action, and are cherished by the very community that created them.
Collaboratory Services
Partnership Rentals: Conducting community action-based research, creating and building physical or digital projects; engaging the community’s perspective on local issues or sharing your research or knowledge dissemination with others including public lectures, events, conferences, webinars, podcasts, exhibits and interactive showcases.
Vivo-Driven Initiatives: Partnering with others to implement multi-year funded projects that drive and measure population change across physical, social and environmental health and well-being.
Youth Skill Development: Offer 22nd-century leadership skills training to increase the employability of young people ages 15-29 through our Youth Ambassador Program.
How it Works
Convening: We bring together individuals, communities, and organizations to work on solutions for shaping healthier generations
Place Making: We explore, co-create, test, and bring the community’s ideas to life to deliver new kinds of healthy living solutions inside and outside of our walls with partners
Building Capacity: We equip and empower 21st-century mindsets, skill sets and practices for people, communities, and organizations to learn, grow and thrive
Thought Leadership: We share and stand up and out for new ways of thinking and doing through evidence and human-based insights and opinions on the issues communities value and are facing.
Collaborators
Vivo is proud to work with the following leaders of innovation in our community:
- Mount Royal University
- University of Calgary
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- City of Calgary
- Calgary Adapted Hub
- Suncor Energy Foundation
- RBC Foundation
- BMO
- Alberta Government
- Dtalks Institute
- Parks Foundation
- Hive Development Ltd.
- Human Insights Ltd.
- Alberta Health Services
- Telus Spark
- Brookfield Residential
- Calgary Public Library
- Momentum
- North Calgary Community Association
- Creating Coventry & Harvest Hills Hub
- Habitus Collective Ltd.
- Active CITY Collective
Current Projects
Vivo is a hub for research and innovation to get people moving and connecting more. We help our community co-create solutions they value for living their best life.
Past Projects & Learnings
Vivo has collaborated with the community and strategic partners on several comprehensive research projects to assess the impact of healthy living drivers such as play, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity both within the walls of Vivo and in the larger local community.
BMO Collaboratory Reservations
The BMO Collaboratory is an open-minded space that anyone from government, academia, businesses, charities, social enterprises, non-profits, and community organizations can use to spark and work on new ideas, convene others to listen and learn more, generate and scale initiatives around positive social impact locally and nationally.
It could look like: conducting community action-based research, creating physical or digital projects; engaging the community’s perspective on local issues or sharing your research or knowledge dissemination with others, including lectures, events, conferences, webinars, podcasts, exhibits and interactive showcases.
The 2,000 sq ft. space is open and bright and offers:
- Gathering space for 40-50 people
- Tables and chairs for 30-36 people
- Mobile whiteboards
- TV’s and conference abilities
- Variety of tools for planning and tinkering sessions
- Sink for water and supplies
Vivo Policies
Please read Vivo’s Policies prior to using the facility.