Upstairs, Downstairs
When they first started looking at properties in Canmore, Kathy and David Foxcroft hadn't planned on ending up with the world's shortest commute…but they're delighted they did.
"We were just thinking about a weekend place," explains Kathy, "but when Spring Creek introduced us to the Live/Work Studio concept, it was a perfect fit - not only for our business and David's studio but for our lifestyle."
Before moving into their Spring Creek studio in November 2008, Kathy and David lived in Cochrane (where David also kept a studio) and operated FrameCo Custom Picture Framing in Calgary's Inglewood district. "It was a lot of back and forth," says David. "All that time in the car - it can really start to wear on a person. Until I stopped commuting, I had no idea how much of a drain it was on my time and energy."
Now, the commute from home to work for Kathy and David is the flight of stairs from their home to their studio - the location of the Foxcrofts' satellite framing shop, The Edge Gallery, and David's new art studio.
"Suddenly," says Kathy, "there are a lot more hours in the day…a lot more time not only to focus on our business but to enjoy the things that make Canmore so special. The outdoors are an integral part of our lifestyle, and nature at its finest is literally right outside our door."
Although the Foxcrofts drive a couples times each week to their framing store in Inglewood, their primary focus now is on building their business in Canmore.
"The location is great," says David. "Just an amazingly beautiful five-minute walk from downtown. And it feels like the entire community is on our side. Residents seem eager to support local businesses, and we feel like we're building our business just by meeting people on the street."
"Spring Creek has been behind us 100%," adds Kathy. "In March, they supported and helped organize The Edge Gallery's Grand Opening. We got a lot of great exposure and had a phenomenal turnout - over 200 people!"
As their Canmore business gains momentum, the Foxcrofts are eager to see others embrace Spring Creek's Live/Work opportunities.
"We believe the concept will really take off," says Kathy. "In fact, a renowned local artist, Virginia Hemingson, is about to open a new gallery right across the street. In time, many will look back and say, 'If only I'd been a part of this when I had the chance!'"
