Communities don't just "happen"... they form and grow from the efforts of the initiators and connectors amongst them.
Cobourg is a strong example of this in many ways, but I want to specifically hone in on [Venture13][https://www.cobourg.ca/business-development/venture13-innovation-centre/] at 739 D'Arcy Street.
When I first "plugged into" the V13 community in 2018... I did not know what I was in for.
In 2018, I ran a service-based business where I helped small businesses with their website needs. I'd build websites for them, then adjust the code to help boost their exposure in search engines like Google and Bing.
My company consisted of me and a few part-time freelancers, and it was all remote. I didn't really know what I was doing business-wise, but I sold an in-demand service and my clients stuck around.
Toward the end of the year, I signed up for a private office to work from... but I got much more than I bargained for.
But before I get into what I gained from my time as a tenant at V13, let's talk about what made it all come together: the initiators.
The Role of Initiators
Communities live or die by the initiators that exist within them and the people who create momentum to pull others forward.
More often than not, without consistent hard work from these initiators, communities fade away and cease to exist for the future people who may very well need them.
A great example of this is Venture13’s recent revival of their Fireside Chat sessions.
These laid-back and free-to-attend sessions were a routine staple in V13 community programming prior to pandemic-era shutdowns. The momentum they had built around this initiative came to a sudden and forced stop due to external factors outside of their control.
And it’s not easy to regain momentum once it’s lost. The fact is, organizing meaningful events is hard work: choosing a relevant topic, finding subject matter experts, promoting it, preparing the venue, running the tech, and then actually hosting it - this takes serious commitment from people who care.
Yet once again, Venture13 showed its true colours: a commitment to community connection by investing time and energy into bringing people together.
Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality, and the Return of Venture13’s Fireside Chats
A couple of weeks ago, I saw a post from Daniel Van Kampen on LinkedIn about the return of Fireside Chats. Daniel is the Manager of Cobourg’s Economic Development Department, and Venture13 is part of what he oversees in his role.
His post immediately caught my attention. Tot just because Fireside Chats were back, but because this one was on Artificial Intelligence in the Hospitality industry.
I signed up immediately.
And the event didn’t disappoint. I walked away with great food in my belly, thought provoking ideas I could apply in my business and new business connections with interesting people in the community.
There’s something special about Fireside Chats. They combine structured learning with unstructured conversation, creating collisions of people and ideas that wouldn’t normally meet.
And it’s in those collisions that innovation begins.
These kinds of opportunities in Cobourg only exist because people are committed to building them. Because someone takes initiative. Because a community decides it cares about progress.
My Personal Connection to Venture13
Like I mentioned earlier, I joined V13 as a tenant in 2018.
My plan was simple: rent an office, close the door, and get work done.
But what actually happened was much more powerful: I became part of a community that believed in me before I fully believed in myself.
It wasn’t just other tenants. It was support from the Community Futures Development Corporation (now [NVenture][https://nventure.ca/]), the Town of Cobourg, local mentors, and other entrepreneurs who shared knowledge, experience, and encouragement.
Within months, I had more than an office. I had mentorship, referrals, peers who challenged me, and consistent access to real business education.
I went in looking for a workspace.
I left with a sense of direction.
My time at V13 was cut short by the pandemic, but the impact on my life has lasted to this very day. V13 gave me my true start in tech. It taught me how to build beyond myself. It opened doors to people, opportunities, and ways of thinking that changed my trajectory completely.
So why am I sharing this now?
Because the story of Venture13 isn’t just about a building. It’s about what happens when people invest in people.
It’s about what can happen when a town supports innovation.
When leadership chooses to build, not wait.
When community members show up.
When momentum is protected and passed on.
Initiatives like this are fragile. They don’t survive passively - they survive because people keep showing up for them.
So if you're reading this and you’re part of the Cobourg community, or any community, I encourage you to get involved. Attend an event. Start a conversation. Offer help. Share your expertise. Ask for help. Be someone who leans in.
Because that’s how communities grow.
That’s how new ideas take shape.
That’s how entire local economies evolve.
Takeaways
- Communities are built, not found. They grow because people take initiative.
- Momentum matters. Once lost, it takes work to rebuild, and that work is worth doing.
- Spaces like Venture13 change lives. Not because of the walls, but because of the people inside.
- Collisions of people and ideas drive innovation. Events like Fireside Chats create those collisions.
- Get involved. Even small contributions help build something bigger over time.