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Our Vision
We have co-created a sustainable neighbourhood of beauty and peace where we can grow as individuals while supporting each other, the land on which we live and the wider community. We foster a sense of belonging, meaning and purpose, sharing the fullness of ourselves and celebrating the gifts of life with integrity.
Our community intention and values:
- Encouraging positive connections while honoring personal privacy
- Taking responsibility individually and communally for our actions
- Using the consensus process to enhance community decision-making
- Using resources wisely to care for the earth
- Serving others, the community and the world around us
- Supporting personal growth and community evolution, utilizing the power of spiritual practices from all of our traditions
- Celebrating life together
Our actions:
Encouraging positive connections while honoring personal privacy by:
- Designing community activities that cross age, gender, and ability
- Supporting all family structures within the community
- Providing for and respecting personal boundaries
- Respecting individual and community property
- Addressing interpersonal issues in a timely and respectful way
- Following Creekside’s conflict resolution guidelines
Taking responsibility individually and communally for our actions by:
- Challenging ourselves and the community to live our values
- Using clear, open and honest communication
- Talking to people rather than about them
- Recognizing that what we perceive outside ourselves often mirrors what’s inside ourselves. Committing to look at these elements within before expressing them as criticisms or irritations of others
- Maintaining high standards of personal integrity, congruence of thought, word and action
- Being willing to listen to constructive criticism and to offer constructive feed-back to others in a caring and appropriate fashion
- Keeping agreements we have made
- Speaking out about inappropriate behaviours
- Giving appreciation and encouragement to each other
Using the consensus process to enhance community decision-making by:
- Listening
- Participating
- Practicing flexibility and openness
- Trusting the wisdom of the group
- Stopping to use a spiritual practice when the process is stalling
- Making every effort to resolve disputes
- Respecting the care, integrity and wisdom that has been put into the decision making process
Using resources wisely to care for the earth by:
- Recycling
- Conserving energy
- Using alternative modes of transportation when possible
- Simplifying our lifestyles
- Sharing tools and equipment
- Growing plants and trees that are appropriate to the climate and local conditions
Serving others, the community and the world around us by:
- Being generous with our time, skills and resources
- Serving as a model of community for others
- Providing and seeking educational opportunities
- Buying locally when possible
Supporting personal growth and evolution of our community and utilizing the support and power of spiritual practices from all of our traditions by:
- Opening and closing meetings and gatherings with a spiritual practice
- Being willing to teach and lead personal spiritual practices
- Making the common space available for education and practice
- Regularly renewing/updating our commitment to Creekside’s values
- Focusing on positive thinking and action
- Taking responsibility for the human, environmental and spiritual effects of our thoughts and actions
Celebrating life together by:
- Having fun, laughing
- Eating and playing together
- Creating rituals
- Expressing gratitude
- Nurturing our children and elders
- Working together to build community projects
Creekside Commons Development Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation, formed by the homeowners expressly for the purpose of developing a cohousing community. This group of homeowners acted as the developer, directing the design and development of the community. The ownership converted to strata title when we completed the project in the summer of 2007.
In addition to the social focus, our members are not unlike many cohousing groups in that we hold respect for the environment as one of our highest values. We have sought to incorporate as many environmentally sustainable aspects as feasible into the community design.
Our Site
The site consists of 9.8 acres of land that is gently sloping and bright, appropriate for gardens, orchards and a large pond. Piercy Creek runs through the adjacent four-acre park. Because of the close proximity to the creek, land development guidelines for the protection of aquatic habitat applied and erosion and sediment control were required for all storm water runoff. The site has access to city water, sewer and hydro.
The landscaping design incorporates a wetlands area to provide fish and amphibian habitat, open areas for general use, community gardens, children's play areas, shrub and tree plantings and orchards.
Site plan of property, showing adjacent park.
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THE ENVIRONS
The site is located within the City of Courtenay, less than 2 km from
downtown or Cliffe Ave., and minutes walk from services at Rosewall Crescent.
Courtenay was named after Rear Admiral George William Courtenay who sailed the HM
Constance along the Coast of Vancouver Island over 150 years ago. Incorporated on
January 1, 1915 the City, according to BC Stats annual population estimates,
the population of Courtenay in 2003 was 20,340. Courtenay is a cosmopolitan center
with excellent shopping, accommodation and restaurants.
For a detailed look at the municipal services and administration check out the
City of Courtenay
website.
For a general listing of services, facilities and events in the area, check out
the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce website.
Information for the local public transit system can be found at the
Regional District of Comox-Strathcona
Transit Services site.
Courtenay's vibrant Downtown.
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THE REGION
The City of Courtenay is located in the Comox Valley, which is situated mid-way
on Vancouver Island's East Coast. It is bordered on the west by the Beaufort
Mountain Range with its breathtaking Comox Glacier and Strathcona Park, and on the east
by the Strait of Georgia, Comox Harbour, and Baynes Sound. The Valley extends south
to Fanny Bay and north to the Oyster River. Within its boundaries are also found
the municipalities of Comox, and Cumberland.
The City of Courtenay has the second largest population of the four main regions
within the Comox Valley, after the combined rural areas A, B, C & K of the Regional
District. It serves as the regional center for business, recreation, and tourism.
The new four lane Island Highway expansion to Campbell
River and access to both water and air links to Vancouver, indicate that the City
of Courtenay will play a large part in the future development of the Comox Valley.
Attractions
Getting Here
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B C Ferries provides
three options for passenger and vehicle service to/from Vancouver Island.
Washington State Ferries
provide vehicle and passenger service Victoria to/from Anacortes, WA.
The MV Coho offers
passenger and vehicle service Victoria to/from Port Angeles, WA.
The Victoria Clipper
offers passenger only service Victoria to/from Seattle, WA.
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The Comox Valley Airport
is the regions principal air terminal, offering regional, national and
international services.
Commercial flights are provided by the following airlines:
Central Mountain Air.
Pacific Coastal
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WestJet.
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Via Rail provides daily service between Victoria and Courtenay, on the
historic E & N Railroad.
Island Coach Lines
provide bus service to all the main communities on Vancouver Island.
Pacific Coach Lines
offers bus connection Nanaimo to/from Vancouver via B C Ferries.
Malaspina Coach
Lines offers bus service Powell River to/from Vancouver, allowing connection
to the B C Ferries Powell River to Comox crossing.
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