How CanadaHelps Built a Strong Team Culture Without a Permanent Office
The Challenge
CanadaHelps is a public foundation with a mission to spark generosity and power positive change. By adopting a remote-first model, the organization enabled flexibility for its distributed staff.
But with this flexibility came a new challenge: how to build and support real connection, trust, and culture without a shared office. Virtual tools helped, but something was missing: spontaneous conversations, shared experiences, and human connection.
The Shift
CanadaHelps reimagined what “coming together” could look like. They leveraged Flexday’s custom space solutions to establish a regular cadence of intentional, in-person moments that complement their remote culture. These “Anchor Days” are not routine office days, they’re purpose-built experiences.
What Flexday Looks Like in Practice
Each Anchor Day session is designed to bring people closer together through:
Team-wide collaboration
Casual cross-team connections
Creative workshops
Shared meals
Leadership sessions
These days are also ways for the staff to further connect to the organization’s charitable mission with regular generosity activities such as a recent warm sock and sweater drive for a local shelter.
The Impact:
Real Human Connection
“Our organization has evolved since the days of having a traditional office. Our new in-person days are energizing and meaningful for our team and provide a model other organizations can adapt. We’ve shifted the conversation from “office or remote” to “how do we intentionally gather?” – Jane Ricciardelli, Chief Operating Officer, CanadaHelps
Better Energy, Better Outcomes
“There’s a level of energy and alignment that comes from being in the same room, but it’s not necessary to work the same way every day. We implemented Anchor Days to make every in-person day purposeful. Meetings are designed with intention that build trust, fuel creativity, and align us around impact. Flexday helps us unlock that.” — Alisha Patel, VP People & Culture, CanadaHelps
A New Way to Think About Work
CanadaHelps shows that culture isn’t built through proximity—it’s built through intentional connection. Looking ahead, they continue to leverage Flexday to offer the best of both worlds of work—flexibility and connection.