A new space in Falher has just opened that provides a welcoming place for people to gather in a comfortable setting.
Le 3e espace celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 2 at its location at 020 Central Ave in Falher. The celebration welcomed people from the community to celebrate the spot that will provide a space for people to gather outside of conventional settings.
Founding director Chúk Odenigbo says he recognized that in Falher there was a lack of a neutral, accessible, and welcoming place where people could gather outside of formal or institutional settings such as school, work, or service spaces.
He thought of introducing this new space to the community and shared his idea with L’ACFA regional director Emma Lafolla- Lafrenière who supported his idea and helped to make it a reality.
“While the community has important infrastructure, there were few spaces that intentionally supported belonging, linguistic inclusion, well-being, and intergenerational connection,” says Odenigbo.
“Falher is a rural, francophone community in a minority-language context, facing challenges related to geographic isolation, youth retention, and limited access to informal, safe social spaces. Le 3e espace responds to these realities by creating a third place where people can meet, create, rest, and build relationships—without pressure to consume, perform, or fit a specific mold.”
Odenigbo says they also noticed a need for accessible connections to nature and well-being and chose to integrate an indoor green space. He says the space promotes community-driven activities, supports mental health, reduces social isolation, and strengthens community resilience.
“Ultimately, Le 3e espace is a community-rooted response to a structural gap: a place of belonging, grounded in local francophone culture, that fosters inclusion, cultural vitality, and long-term collective resilience,” he explains, noting he hopes everyone checks out the new space.
“Le 3e espace is an innovative concept that combines the elements of coworking spaces and indoor parks, creating a unique community gathering place. This multifaceted space offers individuals a serene environment to work, relax, socialize, and connect with nature,” he adds.
Odenigbo says the space provides a calm space with chairs, benches, WiFi and an all-you-can-drink coffee and tea bar. Le 3e espace also allows individuals to book the space for events and performances, a feature he says will accommodate both individuals and organizations.
“Unlike home or work, this neutral space fosters social interactions, informal exchanges, and the development of friendships and community ties,” he says.
“By addressing the region’s lack of such spaces, Le 3e espace enriches the community’s social fabric and bolsters social links in sparsely populated areas.”
With no direct competitors offering a similar concept in the region, Le 3e espace enjoys a competitive advantage, attracting diverse clientele, including autonomous teenagers, professionals, workers on breaks, retired individuals, and plant enthusiasts.”
Le 3e espace, Odenigbo says, is going to provide the region with a space to exist alongside in a space dedicated to community life, where people can gather informally, exchange ideas, and build relationships without obligation or hierarchy.
“In French, the concept of a third space is usually translated as tiers-lieu,” explains Odenigbo.
“We intentionally chose Le 3e espace instead of the conventional translation as a playful, tongue-in-cheek naming choice. In a bilingual community like Falher, the name reflects the everyday mixing of French and English and subtly signals that this is a space that sits between languages, cultures, and ways of being—just like the community it serves.”
The space is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from noon until 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
To learn more about the space, please visit le3eespace.ca.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter
