About Us

Toby Jenkins, creator of TechTown, a community services building located in the heart of the UW Research + Technology Park, has accomplished a phenomenal task. Open for business since January 2007, Toby’s facility is the physical embodiment of her vision. We talked to her to find out how she took her philosophy for healthy living and turned it into a viable and thriving business.

First of all, are you from the area?
“Not originally - but I am a University of Waterloo graduate. I returned 20 years ago to establish a career and I’ve been very busy raising my family. I have three children – 17, 15 and 11 and we love it here. Since my return I’ve watched things change a lot. Waterloo is growing up quickly and is becoming a very dynamic city.”

What were you up to before TechTown?
“I came to Waterloo as a commercial banker for Royal Bank and I managed a business unit in Cambridge. I left banking in the late ‘90’s to raise my children and volunteer on boards such as Waterloo Ventures, Grand River Hospital and Cancer Care Ontario. The most satisfying work came from my experiences on health care boards. I spent nine years on the Grand River Hospital board finishing as Chairman in 2004.”

What did you take away from your volunteer experiences?
“With my work with Cancer Care Ontario, I learned there was a big gap for the average person in the area of health promotion and disease prevention. I saw that there was an opportunity to help people take care of themselves better – while they’re healthy – to maintain good health. An idea started to take shape - there had to be other opportunities to inspire greater responsibility in keeping yourself healthy and active. But it took me a while to figure out what that opportunity might actually be.”

So how did you get from there to the creation of TechTown?
“The opportunity to build TechTown first came about when local technology CEOs and UW President David Johnston identified the need to provide services such as a fitness facility, healthy food and child care in a single location within the Research Park. I expanded that notion with the idea for a building that would accommodate other professional services - ones that would help people bring more balance to their lives. Other things came into play as well - like the fact that a lot of new people in the area were looking to meet other new people and there was a growing base of professionals who really wanted to network. The opportunity to start a fitness facility that focused on health - not just running on a treadmill – became immediately apparent. I wanted to provide value added services that were not available within a custom-designed facility. That was the key to the business plan and now it’s the reason for our success.”

What came next?
“Research! I started by looking for comparable professional services buildings. The first thing I found out was that they don’t really exist! The new building would have to create a sense of place and foster a sense of community – hence the name “TechTown”. It needed the space necessary for events and networking options. For the health club, I visited many fitness facilities in North America. I knew that I needed to offer facilities and services that differentiated us. It was also apparent that the design needed to be open, airy, light-filled and with customized ventilation. My research led to one conclusion - I needed to build something new that fit with my vision.”

So, now that it is here, what is in TechTown?
“We have just about everything you need to take some of the stress out of your life. Under one roof we have Columbia Lake Health Club, TechTown Café, Education Credit Union, Kids & Company - a full service daycare, TechTown Dentistry and Google. Anyone can workout in the morning, grab a cappuccino or protein shake and get cash at the ATM all on the way to the office. All the service businesses in the facility work together to provide premium services that value clients’ time. For example, Kids & Company and Columbia Lake Health Club have a child care arrangement for members and Columbia Lake Health Club and the Café make it easy for members to make quick purchases.”

What’s different about Columbia Lake Health Club?
“Columbia Lake Health Club is neither gym nor franchise. We respond directly to what our members want. We see opportunities and act on them immediately. For example, we recently added an incredibly successful dance program. We have golf, hockey and ski conditioning. We have fitness classes that go way beyond the franchise programs of the ‘80’s. Plus, because I designed the facility for comfort, every room has its own ventilation system. In fact, with each room operating on its own system, we are able to provide a room for ‘hot’ yoga. There are also hardwood floors, lots of natural light flooding in and more. “

What about the café?
“Because the café is not a franchise either, we work together to meet our customers’ needs. Not only do we have fresh healthy food choices, we know how important good coffee is to TechTown visitors. So – we have our own coffee roaster. On your way in for your workout you can stop by the café and have our beans roasted to your taste and it’s ready to go when you head out.”

Does the ultimate reality match the vision?
“Yes! A lot of the members at Columbia Lake Health have turned out to be new people who want to get to know other new people. At the same time, the club also attracts many who have deep roots in this region but were looking for a more comfortable environment with different services and more equipment. We have created a community meeting place for the tenants of the park and the professionals in Waterloo who want to meet and enjoy the company of likeminded people.”

Would you do this again?
“Would I ever! I’ve discovered a hidden passion inside me that I didn’t know was there. I have become an entrepreneur and it’s very satisfying. I love being “back to work” and believe that it’s important for my children to have a “working mom”. Plus I have learned so much through the whole experience of taking a vision – and making it a building, a community gathering place and a club that promotes a healthy living style. So yes – I’d do it again.”