Sunday, January 27, 2013
Moved to WordPress
We've republished our entire website to WordPress as well as our blog - so this one will not be updated...
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Why We Joined: Roger & Shauna
Roger and Shauna, along with Shauna's two teenage sons Caleb and Noah, will call Dragonfly home.
Roger, a life long environmentalist and passionate conservationist, is drawn to the positive environmental possibilities in building Dragonfly: “I’m excited about efficient PassivHaus construction, having solar panels on our roofs, and having an elevator generating electricity for us just like a hybrid car. I'm also excited about creating beautiful indoor and outdoor community spaces, and hanging out for a game of chess or joining in on projects of common interest. Hearty dinners together, made in part with food grown in our own garden, and long lingering conversations afterwards; yum! We’re both a mix of introvert and extrovert; at times we tend to isolate ourselves. We like that cohousing facilitates community, but does not demand it.”
Shauna, working full-time and being a tremendously busy single mom realizes what a difference that cohousing could have made while her boys were growing up. “Work and church were my social life; now, at day’s end, with Dragonfly, I know I’ll be returning to welcoming neighbours, maybe a cup of tea, a conversation – I’ll be coming home to community. As for Caleb and Noah, they’re in grades 11 and 12; who knows how long they’ll be home? Regardless, we look forward to being surrounded by a community of friends and neighbours."
Roger, a life long environmentalist and passionate conservationist, is drawn to the positive environmental possibilities in building Dragonfly: “I’m excited about efficient PassivHaus construction, having solar panels on our roofs, and having an elevator generating electricity for us just like a hybrid car. I'm also excited about creating beautiful indoor and outdoor community spaces, and hanging out for a game of chess or joining in on projects of common interest. Hearty dinners together, made in part with food grown in our own garden, and long lingering conversations afterwards; yum! We’re both a mix of introvert and extrovert; at times we tend to isolate ourselves. We like that cohousing facilitates community, but does not demand it.”
Shauna, working full-time and being a tremendously busy single mom realizes what a difference that cohousing could have made while her boys were growing up. “Work and church were my social life; now, at day’s end, with Dragonfly, I know I’ll be returning to welcoming neighbours, maybe a cup of tea, a conversation – I’ll be coming home to community. As for Caleb and Noah, they’re in grades 11 and 12; who knows how long they’ll be home? Regardless, we look forward to being surrounded by a community of friends and neighbours."
Friday, October 26, 2012
72% Sold! Only 10 Units Remain
We welcome Patti and Barry, our two newest equity members. This brings our total to 26.
We anticipate the last few units to go quickly. If you are interested in our project, it would be a good idea to come to an information session on one of the following evenings.
- Oct 30
- Nov 5
- Nov 8
- Nov 13
- Nov 21
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Honouring the Land
Most of our group gathered at our future building site on September 21 to honour our 1 acre in Crescent Heights. We gathered about 90 minutes before dusk along with a couple Blackfoot elders who led us in prayers of thanksgiving, of remembering, and of blessing.
Friday, September 21, 2012
We have a Development Permit from the City of Calgary
Our Permit request was granted today after several months of deliberations with City Hall and redesigns by NORR Architects. This marks a landmark in our process to build Alberta's second cohousing development.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Planning for Retirement in Community
Sharon's Story: I didn't take a long time to decide to join Dragonfly.
I have fond memories of growing up in a wonderful community, a suburb of Edmonton. Now, my inner-city house is too big, too much work and too old. It's not insulated. And I don’t know my neighbours...renters who come and go.I’ll retire soon—a chance to redefine who I want to be. I want...pride of owning my own home, summer evenings in the yard, potluck dinners, friends to go for walks with, kids and seniors, neighbours who care,...
A long-time member of Dragonfly told me that people who inquire about cohousing usually come with a list and they want to know if cohousing will give them what they want. After they join, they start to change and to care more about what's best for the community.
When I’m retired, I want a reason to get up in the morning, and I don’t think I’ll find that reason inside me. I think I’ll find it...in my community.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Common Ground and Kinship
The first stage of my working life was with Outward Bound, an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor education organization. There, I found an immediate kinship with the people that I had never felt with any group.
I have found the same immediate and easy sense of connection with the Dragonfly folks. So easy to find common ground for conversation based on common values. The community-based decision making process which was used at Outward Bound for policy making may appear to be cumbersome to some but it is ultimately the most effective and certainly one that appeals to my own need to maintain influence over the decisions that most impact me.
My two adult childen are based in Virginia and now Boston but they insist that I stay in Calgary to maintain their links to the city where they were born and spent their early years. Dragonfly would give me more than just a place to live but a "family" in the very best sense of the word while I maintain a place in Calgary for my progeny.
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