Celebrating Community links up existing and forming Communities across Canada and develops communications within the network and with the public. This opens opportunities for each of us to share in the wealth that communities have to offer.

There are many forms of community in existence today, including ecovillages, cohousing, intentional communities, ecohamlets, religious orders, communes, eco-learning centers, cooperatives, collectives, and friendly neighbourhoods. Each community, whether residing together or not, with its own approach, supports values that celebrate the spirit of community.

Do you identify with this concept? Then please join us as a participant, and share the benefits of the celebration! Contribute your discoveries, draw on the pool of resources, and nurture the growing trend that supports community values.

Celebrating community is a free service offered by 3 volunteers since April 2003. Our intention is to work with existing community organizations. It is not established as a new organization, but promotes collaboration between various organizations and communities.

What are we offering to participating communities?

A perspective on existing communities and on initiatives to form new ones
A directory to promote communication
Information sharing
Announcements
Sharing our wisdom with each other and with the next generation
Increase visibility to the public

The real reward will be in the interactions between people, and the new developments that will be co-created.

Vision Statement

Celebrating Community by:

identifying existing communities
appreciating their contribution
sharing the growing enthusiasm for eco-community
offering the opportunity to share stories and wisdom
helping potential members find a community
promoting eco-community education and tourism
exposing community lifestyle to the public
promoting interactions between the communities and the public
fostering the creation of new communities and new ways of being in community

Community Definition

Group of people drawn together to share common resources and values. The group is self-identified and self-managed.

There are many forms of community in existence today, including ecovillages, cohousing, intentional communities, ecohamlet, religious orders, communes, learning centers, cooperatives, collectives, and friendly neighbourhoods.

The first 4 forms have organized networks linking the communities together:

Ecovillage: community committed to living in an ecologically, economically, culturally and spiritually sustainable way.
Cohousing: community combining the autonomy of private dwellings with the advantages of shared resources and community living.
Intentional Community: community formed around a common intention.
EcoHamlet: conglomeration of ecological houses in rural area and administrated by the traditionnal village but situated out of it. It is a sustainable community of 10 to 50 persons drawn towards organic agriculture and mutual aid.

Sustainability is a condition of existence which enables the present generation of humans and other species to enjoy social wellbeing, a vibrant economy, and a healthy environment, and to experience fulfillment, beauty and joy, without compromising the ability of future generations of humans and other species to enjoy the same.