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A ping pong phenomenon is sweeping through Edmonton’s Advanced Technology Centre’s start-up community. Blaine and Tom, the guys behind Fission Media, explain.

Tom: I came to Edmonton from Vancouver thinking I’d leave in a couple of years, but it’s home now. Edmonton’s a small town with big city amenities. You can walk down Whyte Ave. and first thing you know someone will say “Hey Tom, how’re you doing?” The Centre is kind of like that. This building’s full of small start-up companies filled with rather odd scientific types.

Blaine: There’s a mix of entrepreneurs, scientists, programmers, and everyone who actually builds the stuff.

Tom: I mean, there’s a guy across the hall from our office who’s got a process that he figures will be a great intervention for cancer. We have ex-professors who’ve always dreamt of having a start-up company. And then there’s a young guy from China who’s a technology whiz. Everyone’s got stuff going on, but the entrepreneurs and the science guys don’t typically talk to each other.

But then we got a ping pong table into the building and had this singles tournament with a trophy and everything. It’s been quite magical, actually. Suddenly we know more people, and not just entrepreneurs like we used to...like this one Chinese-Canadian fellow who grew up on the game. He’s a phenomenal player.

Blaine: He hasn’t played in 12 years, but I think he was Alberta champ at one time and he’s an awesome player. And every company has guys out there now - awesome people who are great ping pong players. When we play, invariably everyone else gets wiped out and you get back to these 3 or 4 really good guys. It’s like TV, watching them. It’s got our crew really excited. They all have paddles now; they practice all the time. Where 2 months ago they could barely hit a ball, now they’re cutting in and these spins are going all over the place.

Tom: It’s great. You know in the middle of the afternoon sometimes I’ll get a sugar low like most people and I think, “Okay, maybe I’ll have a snack.” But now I think, “Okay, quick game.” And I see our guys doing this too. They might play 2 quick games, but it only takes 10 or 15 minutes and they’re back at their desk. But they’ve got their brains sharp again. It’s just a really good idea.

Blaine: Our staff for the longest time would kinda huddle around and peer at this guy who’s just really good - idol worship to the extreme ‘cause he’s such a good ping pong player. And finally he’s like, “Hey you should play too.” Got them playing and now they’re just...well, he’s a god to them.

Tom: I walk down the hall now and I hear, “Hi Tom, how are you?” Voices are coming out of the woodwork around here because I play ping pong. It’s really brought the building together and has brought these scientific guys out of their shells.

Blaine: We’ve gotten to know everyone. It’s been good. And it’s just nice to see people out of their offices.