In the busy hustle of North Park, the sound of saws, sanders, and screwdrivers is about to bring something new to life.
MakeSpace, a new 3,000-square-foot creative hub tucked below Bluebird Self Storage, is shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind gathering place in Victoria – part cafe, part workshop and all heart.
The not-for-profit space will open in phases starting this weekend, with a soft launch of its neighbourhood cafe on Saturday (July 12) at noon. The full maker space – complete with woodworking, fabrication, and ceramics studios – is expected to follow by early November.
“This will be a place where people can come together to access tools, mentorship, skill-building workshops, and a creative community,” said Jenny Farkas, president of MakeSpace Society and the driving force behind the project.
She’s not kidding.
Farkas – who has called North Park home for most of her life and spent two decades on the neighbourhood association – has been building much of the space herself.
Since getting the keys on Feb. 1, she’s been in the building nearly every day, putting up walls, constructing furniture, and bringing the vision to life with help from local maker Dan Hewson and a tight-knit crew of volunteers.
“It’s broken into three sections,” she said. “The cafe is the centrepiece, and on one side is the woodshop, and on the other – fabrication and ceramics. That’s where the magic will happen.”
The idea, she said, is to fill a gap that’s only been growing: the lack of accessible, affordable creative space in cities.
MakeSpace is designed to serve folks who often find themselves shut out of traditional industries – especially BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, women, and youth – and give them the tools, training, and community they need to create, build, and explore.
A $55,000 grant from the City of Victoria’s Cultural Infrastructure Fund, in partnership with the Victoria Tool Library, is helping to fund the build-out. But the project still needs about $200,000 to fully open the studios by fall 2025.
“Every day, people are coming out of the woodwork, offering their skills and support,” said Farkas. “This is a first-in opportunity for community builders to help us make space – for creativity, for connection, and for a more inclusive economy.”
For Farkas, the project is personal.
After years of watching artists and makers leave the city or struggle to find places to work, she wanted to offer something different – and bring people together in the process.
“I really believe in the idea,” she said. “And I got to bring in some of my closest friends and people I trust to help shape it. Each one brings something different to the table. That’s what makes this whole thing work.”
Makers will have the option to book the space for various lengths of time, with Farkas emphasizing that creativity is key to its success.
“Regardless of whether people are here for a day, a month, or long-term, we’re just so excited to see what gets created here,” Farkas said. “The potential of this really makes me excited.”
