Customer since: August 2013
CanSpace’s technical team is a dream team, and I’ve modelled my customer support system for BoardSpace after them. They respond quickly, even on low-priority tickets, and their step-by-step guidance is always clear.
Pat Crosscombe, Founder and CEO, BoardSpace
Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are located.
I’m Pat Crosscombe, and I’m based in Ottawa, Ontario. I didn’t begin my career in tech—I spent over twenty years in agriculture, worked overseas with CUSO as a Dairy Extension Officer and later as Deputy Director, completed graduate studies at Cornell, and then returned to work at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Then I bought a condo, volunteered for the board, and realized how challenging it is to manage a condo board without the right tools. That experience inspired me to think about creating “a better mousetrap,” which drew me into software. Along the way, I learned about software development, systems administration, open-source software, WordPress, hosting—the entire stack and much more.
What is BoardSpace.ca?
BoardSpace is a Canadian-made board management software designed to manage board activities in condos, HOAs, co-ops, nonprofits, and charities. We consolidate everything in one place: agendas and minutes, documents, action tracking, polls, and clear permissions for boards and committees.
Our mission is to equip volunteer-led boards with the tools they need to govern effectively, transparently, and confidently by designing and delivering secure, easy-to-use board management software—a digital home for meetings, documents, decisions, and action tracking. We focus on simplicity, respect for volunteers’ time, transparency, accountability, and reliability to serve the boards and committees of condominium corporations, HOAs, housing co-ops, community associations, nonprofits, and charities, as well as the property managers and staff who support them.
Why and how did you get into this line of business?
I am an accidental entrepreneur. My journey began when I bought a condo and volunteered to serve on the board. As a director, I spent hours searching for documents and trying to find the correct version of the draft minutes. After five long years of managing my board via email, I realized we needed better tools to handle administrative work.
What’s the best thing about it?
It is very satisfying to see volunteer boards transition from chaos to organization. Directors find what they need in seconds, minutes practically write themselves, and action items don’t get lost. Less admin; better decisions.
What does it take to be successful at what you do?
Building a successful business requires effort, persistence, and resilience. Successful entrepreneurs are curious, determined, and constantly learning. Making mistakes provides opportunities to learn. Learning is vital for creating products that people want to use and are willing to pay for. It is important to celebrate small wins and build on them; stay curious and never accept the status quo; and be prepared to wear every hat until you can hire specialists.
How does CanSpace solve the objectives you have for your website?
Hosting in Canada is essential for us. CanSpace provides dependable Canadian hosting that meets our data location and performance requirements.
CanSpace’s technical team is a dream team, and I’ve modelled my customer support system for BoardSpace after them. They respond quickly, even on low-priority tickets, and their step-by-step guidance is always clear. I’ve used CanSpace for years across various projects—from BoardSpace to a personal (and very fun) unicorn site—and they’ve consistently been excellent.
