Flip Factory

I'm sitting here this morning at my kitchen table bawling my eyes out in gratitude and joy. Yesterday Taylor brought to my attention, an email that came in from Calgary's Child Magazine. It was a list of businesses and organizations recognized in their 27th Annual Parents' Choice Awards. Flip Factory shared the honor of 'Best Extra-curricular Programs for School-Aged Children' alongside City of Calgary Recreation and YMCA Calgary. I cannot even begin to describe the impact this has had on me with all that is happening right now. Over 40 Flip staff members were laid off after the incident in July. This award would not have been possible without those incredible people and the incredible people who came before them to help build Flip Factory into what it is today. Please help me keep this incredible organization going. With gratitude, Darlene

Hello Flip Factory Families & Friends,
Thank you for your show of support over the weekend. Yes – I believe that miracles do happen. Yes – I believe that good triumphs over evil. Yes – I believe that the little guy, gal, person and underdog can succeed. I also believe that what is currently happening to Flip Factory is almost beyond comprehension and needs to be told. To better understand Flip Factory’s culture and commitment to serve the community, in particular kids, allow me to share a bit: Flip Factory moved from a small church hall in Inglewood to its current location in Greenview in 2011. The Flip community continued to grow and thrive through ups and downs including COVID. Post COVID, 75% of our staff returned. From 2011 – mid 2022 we were blessed to have an amazing landlord. Little known tidbit about our landlord during that time: In the 50’s three brothers immigrated from Europe and started a masonry company. Through hard work and perseverance, they were able to purchase a large parcel of land in Greenview Industrial Park in NE Calgary in the early 80’s. With the company they started from nothing, they literally built the entire complex of industrial buildings – Pockar Park. Fast forward to June 2011. After the final day of classes in the church hall in Inglewood, a small group of family and friends loaded Flip Factory’s equipment onto a 24 foot long, flatbed trailer. The future of Flip was uncertain. The church was going through a transitory period, and we had been asked to leave. A new lease had not yet been signed for a potential space in Pockar Park. All equipment was being transported into temporary storage. Crash mats, large carpet roll mats, trampolines and other equipment were loaded onto the trailer for the three-block journey to a sea can. If you’re interested in learning more about Flip Factory’s time in the church and move to Pockar Park, please check out: Flip Factory Inc. – A Case Study. This academic paper was written by a professor from U of C’s Haskayne School of Business. The study has been used at universities around the world. It was featured in the Harvard Business Review and can be obtained online through Ivy Publishing. As the final mats were put onto the trailer and, in typical Calgary fashion, the weather turned from blue sky and sunshine to a downpour. I still cannot believe how fast 5 people could unload a semi-trailer full of large, heavy gymnastics equipment into a sea can. Huge thanks to that tiny but very capable group of individuals. Later that day, I reached out to the owner and landlord of the space in Pockar Park. He was the last of the three brothers who had built the complex and he was still managing it 30 years later! A true gentleman, businessman and inspiration. I explained the situation to him: Flip Factory’s equipment would be destroyed if it was not dried out immediately. We were still waiting for approval from the City before finalizing the lease. Despite this and based on a handshake and assurances that I was committed to running Flip Factory, Mr. P gave my family and I the green light to move all equipment into the double bay and set up fans to dry everything out. Miracles do happen! Please share Flip Factory’s story with as many people as possible. The world needs to know that people can overcome what appear to be insurmountable obstacles with the right attitude, gratitude, and faith. I am juggling a lot of balls right now but will do my best to keep you informed and updated on what is happening with Flip Factory. Darlene :)

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