About
More Than Just a Puzzle Store: A Community Built Around Puzzling.
Atlas Puzzles was created to be a place where people can slow down, connect, and enjoy the simple satisfaction of putting pieces together.
Located in Kelowna, BC, Atlas Puzzles combines a specialty puzzle shop with a welcoming puzzle lounge and puzzle library.
Whether you're searching for your next favourite puzzle, exploring independent brands, joining an event, or simply looking for a quiet place to spend an afternoon, Atlas is designed to bring people together through a shared love of puzzling.
We believe puzzles are more than a pastime. They challenge us, help us unwind, spark conversation, and create moments of accomplishment one piece at a time.
From internationally recognized brands to Canadian favourites, local creators, and independent publishers, Atlas is dedicated to offering a thoughtfully curated selection of puzzles for every skill level and interest.
At its heart, Atlas is about community, curiosity, and the joy of discovery. Like a puzzle itself, it reflects a world where every piece has its place.
"The more I talked to people, the more I realized how many people love puzzles but never really have a place to share that hobby."
— Mark Shillington (Owner)
About the Owner
Hi, I'm Mark, the founder of Atlas Puzzles.
Like many puzzlers, what began as a childhood hobby eventually became something much more meaningful. Over the years, puzzles became a way to relax, invoke nostalgia, challenge myself, connect with others, and occasionally disappear into a world of tiny cardboard pieces for a few hours...well, perhaps several hours.
As my passion for puzzling grew, so did the idea that Kelowna could benefit from a dedicated space where puzzle enthusiasts could gather, discover new brands, borrow puzzles, attend events, and share the hobby with others. The more I spoke to others, the more I learned how many people do puzzles but never talk about it. Friends, coworkers, neighbours, and complete strangers would quietly admit that they loved puzzling. Who knew it was such a secret society? And speed puzzling? Like many people, I discovered speed puzzling through YouTube creator Karen Puzzles, who opened my eyes to a growing world of puzzling and just how much potential there is within the hobby.
Atlas Puzzles was created to bring that vision to life. Why Atlas? It only seemed fitting that a childhood nickname bestowed on me for my love of maps, navigating road trips, and quizzing the family on capital cities, would continue to follow me along my path. And in mythology, Atlas carried the world on his shoulders. While our version is thankfully much lighter, the name reflects a sense of exploration, discovery, and seeing the bigger picture. Every puzzle is its own world waiting to be assembled, one piece at a time.
My goal is simple: to create a welcoming, inclusive space where people can slow down, connect, and experience the satisfaction that comes from finding exactly the right piece.
"I finally found something that other people think are cool, and not just my Mom."
— Also Mark Shillington