What Does Play for Teams Really Mean?
"Play is state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time. And play is self-motivated so you want to do it again and again." - Dr. Stuart Brown
Play is a voluntary, joyful state where curiosity leads and time slips away. In that space, guards drop and people feel safe to try, speak, and learn, the conditions for trust.
Why it matters: Play lowers risk, invites honesty, and turns shared moments into shared trust.
Our Purpose
We believe play is a powerful tool for:
Connection
We believe real inclusion starts with real connection. That means listening deeply, making space for all communication styles, and building environments where people feel safe showing up as themselves.
At Pop CoLab, we’ve seen firsthand how a quiet spark can turn into full-on participation when the setting supports different ways of engaging.
Connection isn’t about fitting in, it’s about being recognized.
Creativity
Play and Creativity is how we break out of rigid systems and reimagine what’s possible. It gives us permission to think differently, play with structure, and find new ways to contribute.
For neurodivergent individuals, creativity isn’t just self-expression, it’s a survival skill and a superpower.
At Pop CoLab, we design experiences that celebrate nonlinear thinking, curiosity, and the courage to create your own path.
Culture & Community
An inclusive culture isn’t a checklist; it’s a mindset. We don’t just accommodate differences; we build with them from the start. That means rethinking how we measure success, structure time, and invite participation. Culture is shaped by who’s at the table and how the space makes them feel.
At Pop CoLab, we’re creating environments where everyone, especially those often left out, can thrive, lead, and help shape what comes next.
Meaningful Experiences
We fuel creativity and connection with play-based experiences designed to bring teams together. From games and DIY workshops to wellness, productivity, and strategic workshops, our expert-led programming makes it easy to engage, create, and grow.
What Changes When We Play Together?
Faster trust and stronger collaboration.
Higher engagement and genuine connection.
Clear behaviours teams can use tomorrow.
A shared language that fits every style.
Why it works
Play lowers barriers and speeds up learning. Backed by the National Institute for Play and leading trust frameworks. We translate research into simple, durable practices. (No trust falls here)
My Kind of Play
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
My Dominate Play Personalities are...
director
kinesthete
storyteller
My Natural Play Type is..
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Attunement
Object
Rough & Tumble
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
Discover
When are you at your best....
Your
Power
of
Play
Play Assessment Quiz
Find your Play Type in under 5 minutes.
Play isn’t just fun, it’s fuel. This mini assessment helps you discover your Top 3 Play Personalities and Top 3 Play Types, so you can choose activities that feel natural (not forced).
My Play Personality Often Looks Like...
1 = Not me
2 = A little
3 = Sometimes
4 = Very me
5 = YES, that’s me
My Ideal Play Type
1 = Not me
2 = A little
3 = Sometimes
4 = Very me
5 = YES, that’s me
3 Ways to Build Trust with Pop CoLab
The Depths of Play
Three ways teams work and feel better.
Every team needs connection, clarity, and momentum.
We use strategic play to build trust, improve communication, and make day-to-day work smoother.
Start where you are: Bonding, Building, or Development.
We’ll tailor it to your people, pace, and goals.
Team Bonding
Best for: morale, connection, onboarding, celebration
What it feels like: light, social, low-pressure
Includes: guided play + making or games + simple reflection
Team Building
Best for: communication, collaboration, team norms
What it includes: structured activities + debrief + take-home team agreements
Optional add-on: Play Personality quick map
Team Development
Best for: trust repair, leadership teams, sticking the change
What it includes: intake + tailored design + artifacts + next-step plan
Optional: Play Personalities deep dive + follow-up session
Complete our quick intake form to share information about your team.
Short virtual or in-person chat (15–30 min… or longer if you like). Our aim is to tailor something that fits your team perfectly.
We design the experience that best fits your objectives, build trust, hit a specific goal, or just have a really good time. Then we book it, build it, and do it.
Keynotes, workshops, and coaching that use play to fuel performance.
Complete our quick intake form to share information about your team.
Short virtual or in-person chat (15–30 min… or longer if you like). Our aim is to tailor something that fits your team perfectly.
We design the experience that best fits your objectives, build trust, hit a specific goal, or just have a really good time. Then we book it, build it, and do it.
The Pop Playroom
Like breweries have taprooms, we have Playrooms, so teams can enjoy our purpose-built, play-based experiences.
Our Playrooms host play-based sessions, creative labs, workshops, events, and more, if you can imagine it, we can run it.
Donavan’s session on Play in the Workplace was engaging, practical, and fun at our Practice Connection event. Attendees left inspired, energized, and ready to bring creativity, fun, and a more playful, positive team culture into their workplace.
Kristine Tubiera - Founder and Owner of LMVA Consulting
Testimonials
Trusted by Teams
"I wanted to let you know that everyone absolutely loved the session – they said the drinks were awesome, they had a ton of fun making the mocktails and appreciated doing something new and exciting. I’m sure we’ll be reaching out for future sessions.."
Myckella McElroy
Richardson International Limited
"We had an absolute blast during our recent staff development workshop hosted at Pop! We got to experience the 'Power Of Play' while also coming together to collaborate and learn as a team. The design and layout of the space allowed for focus and fun – while also creating a comfortable environment to push outside of comfort zones and try new things."
Andrew Kussy
Exec. Dir. The Dream Factory
"Working with Pop Colab was such a great experience! Donavan went above and beyond to bring our vision to life. We just told him what we wanted, and he took care of everything, from finding the right team to delivering amazing programming, all within our budget. It saved us so much time and hassle. Pop Colab is definitely on our list for next year!."
Mercy Oluwafemi
The Winnipeg Foundation
I am sold on the Pop CoLab experience, both for our professional team and now I'm thinking "my family would love to spend some time here". For our team there was the genius of moving back and forth between work-based concerns and goals to just plain fun, and I saw the result of that technique come out in the final brainstorm that produced some really great things for our team projects.
James Kornelsen
Manitoba Council for International Cooperation
Together, Let's Tailor the Perfect Group Experience
Building a better future one workshop at a time.
At Pop CoLab, we take the guesswork out of team building by designing experiences tailored just for your team.
Whether your team needs a creative recharge, a wellness boost, or a productivity spark, we’ll craft a session tailored to your goals, vibe, and team members. You bring the team, we’ll bring the perfect plan.
Book a no-commitment consultation today!
Guided strategic workshops combined with play-based activities. Keynotes, strategic workshops, and coaching that transform play into performance, for teams seeking connection, creativity, and momentum.
Create & Connect is all about sparking connection through hands-on making and shared experiences, at Pop CoLab or off-site. Whether it’s customizing merch with our Make & Take workshops or building momentum with Big Group Energy, these moments ignite creativity, conversation, and collaboration.
Perfect for teams, community groups, pop-ups, conferences, and creative lounges.
Quiet the noise and connect inward or with others in calmer, more restorative ways.
Practical Tools for Personal + Professional Growth
Better Together! Pop Collaborations bring our community of facilitators and Pop CoLab’s play-based activities together, uniting to spark connection, creativity, and fun.
Stackable extras to level-up your event, retreat, or session.
Families and friends are teams too, and trust is the foundation. In these playful sessions, kids and grown-ups try simple activities that build connection, patience, and clear communication. Zero pressure. Just fun, shared wins, and rituals you can use at home.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar
Let’s Stay
Connected
Tips, tools, and a sprinkle of play—right to your inbox. Be the first to know about workshops,
pop-ups, and creative happenings at Pop CoLab.
