Canadian Senior Cohousing Society’s Accomplishments
The Canadian Senior Cohousing Society’s accomplishments from 2011 to 2022 include:
Supported West Wind Harbour Cohousing’s creation (2016-2021) informally through Cohousing Development Consulting
Supported the successful development of Harbourside Cohousing (2011-2016), the first senior-oriented cohousing in BC.
Established and maintained website 2011-2022: canadianseniorcohousing.com
Built partnerships with grass roots groups, universities, governments and social service agencies including the BC Non-profit Housing, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, Community Social Planning Council, Friesen Institute (Simon Fraser U), and a consortium of social scientists who received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to study the impact of COVID-19 on cohousing communities.
Two members trained with Charles Durrett in 2011 then, with permission, adapted Study Group 1 as an experiential learning, weekend workshop and created additional curricular material.
Offered Aging Well in Community (aka Dare to Age Well in Community) 13 times between 2011-2015 to groups of 5 to 25, independently and in partnership with Royal Roads University.
Offered in-person workshops to forming groups: Fort Langley Cohousing, Convivium Cohousing (Ottawa), and PEI Cohousing.
Trained facilitators to offer Aging Well in Community through Simon Frazer University.
Hosted a mini-Change Lab on ‘Sustainable Aging’ with partners from Royal Roads University, the City of Victoria, and non-government organizations.
With a grant from Vancity, helped support Diana Leafe Christian, a leading advocate of community living, to give a talk and one day workshop for southern Vancouver Island audiences.
Interviewed with CBC radio, Radio Canada, Roundhouse Radio, Shaw Cable, TD Bank Money Newsletter, Toronto Globe and Mail, Toronto Star.
Wrote and published articles in Communities Magazine 2012, 2014, 2015.
In 2016, created How To guides for innovations in senior housing with a grant from the BC Real estate Foundation in partnership with the Community Social Planning Council.