The Third Place Winnipeg was founded by sisters Alana, Sydney, and Jane MacDougall with a simple but meaningful goal: to create a welcoming space where people can gather outside of home and work to connect, create, and build community. Located in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District, The Third Place offers workshops, wellness classes, art-making sessions, and creative programming designed to bring people together while encouraging artistic exploration and personal growth.
What is your business called and what does it do?
The Third Place Winnipeg. In sociology, a third place refers to a place to spend time that is neither home nor work. A place that is welcoming and comfortable, where regulars visit and commune with friends and strangers.
Whether you choose to join a workshop, yoga class or community art-making evening, we hope some part of The Third Place can be for you what it is for us.
What made you want to do this work?
As three sisters who lived away from our hometown of Winnipeg for some time, we returned in search of community and a place where we could do the things we loved together. A workshop, wellness, and art studio, the fourth floor of 66 King Street is now very much our third place.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We wanted to create a place for creatives to connect in person, share skills and knowledge, and build community.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
All are welcome at the studio. Our demographic primarily consists of individuals with emerging or established artistic and/or wellness practices.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Some of our programming is free to the public, including our “Bring Your Own Art” weekly creative co-working evening. We also offer paid workshops and classes for people who want a guided experience or to develop their skills.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
The Third Place is located in the heart of downtown in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. We operate on the fourth floor of a large warehouse building.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
We would recommend that a prospective patron ask one of our regulars to describe their experience at The Third Place. The answers will range from “I made a friend and a lasting connection” to “I learned a new skill, committed to a new routine or rekindled my creative interests.”
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
When it comes to running The Third Place, we really enjoy building connection within our community, learning from one another and having the space to pursue creative interests and bring our ideas to life.
A challenge we face is being able to balance our day jobs with all that we want to do at the studio.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Not a joke in the conventional sense, but we always find it funny when people say they have no artistic ability – as if it is something you either have or don’t, rather than something that is developed with practice. Some have more natural aptitude than others, but if you hadn’t had years of instruction in reading or math, you might not realize you had the capacity to do those either. These are taught in a structured way from the time we are young, so we often forget all that went into developing skill and understanding that now feels instinctual. We hope everyone will give themselves the grace to learn like you would any other skill.
Where can we follow you?
Stay up-to-date by following along on Instagram or via our website. If you’re local to Winnipeg or visiting the city sometime soon, feel free to join our newsletter list by emailing thethirdplacewinnipeg@gmail.com.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
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@breathworkwithcas. Space holder for breath, sound, rest – accessible and community-centred care.
Kevin Batenchuk. Artist, Surfaces and Forms in Concrete, Everything Original.
