ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY & O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE
have partnered to offer the following courses:
NATURAL FINISHES
for a healthy, beautiful home.
DATE: October 1-3, 2010 Friday evening, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4
LOCATION: O.U.R.Ecovillage
FACILITATOR: Elke Cole/ TBA
find out more here
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ECOSYSTEM-BASED LIVING:
Real Life Systems Thinking Stewardship
DATE: Oct 30th, 2010 1-day
LOCATION: OUR ECOVILLAGE (*lunch available onsite by reservation)
FACILITATOR: Brandy Gallagher, BSW, MA, is one of the original founders and developers of O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE, Shawnigan Lake (Vancouver Island) BC. She is also the Executive Director of O.U.R. Community Association, a non-profit society dedicated to outreach projects (local and International), and the development of O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE as a demonstration/model sustainable village. Her sustainable land management planning and ecological design work has made her the main proponent behind the Canadian precedent-setting rezoning which has allowed for the legal/political/community framework containing multi-use allowances for ecovillages and shared land projects across Canada. She is also the developer of TOPIA: The Sustainable Learning Community Institute which operates onsite at OUR ECOVILLAGE. With a deep compassion for people and place Brandy works with other communities/projects to find their way through regulatory and legal processes which challenge the development of legitimate models of land use, alternative building, ownership and governance. The intention to have individuals & communities step aside from their rank & roles to enter into a more connected sense of community building is at the heart of her work. Her most recently published work is the documentary, “Creating TOPIA: The Journey of Developing a School of Sustainable Community Building.”
Ecosystem-based living will be a day of exploring collective wisdom and taking ‘theory to practice’. In the spirit of systems theory, integral theory, and Permaculture design – this course offers an opportunity to take a personal journey into how our individual footprint makes an impact in both challenging and positive ways. Topics include ‘what is a sustainable community’, ‘design for a sustainable life’, and personal/community based well-being. Let’s transform talk to action and put our hand to something real with a short practice of hands-on learning projects/service learning. Wonderful examples of real life stewardship models as learners are in an immersed learning environment and able to talk with a variety of stewards who ‘live their learning’.
Course fee: $ 95 CAD (tax exempt)
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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DESIGN
A Narrative Tour of Innovative Sustainability Projects
DATE: Nov 4th, 2010 7-9pm
LOCATION: at Royal Roads University (tba)
FACILITATOR: Brandy Gallagher, BSW, MA
An evening of creative dialogue which focuses in on sustainable design methodologies. Whether you are interested in ‘triple bottom line’ accountability for large scale design or simply developing a lifestyle choice that fits with where you wish to live- the principles are the same. With a particular focus on the barriers that have been historically faced within Regulatory Authority processes, user friendly cost analysis, and innovation challenges….this course is meant to look at the main issues and potential solutions which face our communities as we work towards sustainable design. Consider this as a personal or professional opportunity as we all look at ways in which we can build community capacity.
Course fee: $ 35 CAD (plus applicable taxe)
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BUILDING AS IF PEOPLE MATTERED 2011
A day in the company of local leaders in sustainable development and construction
DATES: March 5th, 2011 9am-5pm
LOCATION: at Royal Roads University
FACILITATORS: Elke Cole, Brandy Gallagher, and an Interdisciplinary Team of local Green Builders, LEED Project Developers, Alternative Energy and Systems designers, Futurists…and you!
Imagine tomorrow’s town or village built in a way that supports people’s needs: houses that connect with nature and provide healthy and beautiful shelter, lively streets where people spend time in community, gardens rich with food. A dream?
Pieces of this dream are already happening powered by the vision and drive of a handful of leaders in our communities.
There are ecovillages, Co-housing communities, and other forms of development that pay attention to the relationships at play where humans settle: relationship between our built and natural environment, between occupants, and the impact on our larger community.
- What does the settlement of tomorrow look like?
- What’s the difference between an Ecovillage, a Housing COOP, and a Cohousing development?
- Who are the leaders in sustainable development in our area?
- How can we integrate natural building methods like cob and strawbale into our housing developments?
- What are good solutions for wastewater water?
- How much can we gain or save by using alternative energy?
This one-day conference and networking event will provide insight into these questions. Short presentations of local demonstration sites set the stage for the conversation. Creators of inspiring designs, innovative technologies and alternative systems share their insights and experience .
A panel discussion will follow, where your questions, concerns and input determine content.
- Where do you experience blocks to sustainable development?
- How does relationship with local government work?
- What are the steps to make new technologies available?
- How can we work together for a better future?
Enjoy a day of connection away from the busy-ness of your work place and explore ideas with your peers. Introduce yourself to the circle of like-minded members of our community.
Do you provide a service to developers, landowners or the building industry?
Are you developing land and looking for a holistic plan?
This invitation goes out to you!
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Course fee: $ 65 CAD (tax exempt)
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INTRODUCTION TO COUNCIL
DATES: November 6-7, 2010 9am-4pm
LOCATION: OUR ECOVILLAGE (*lunch available onsite by reservation)
FACILITATORS: Lori Austein with Hilary Leighton - Lori Austein is an educator, lawyer and mediator, as well as a trainer and facilitator of the Council process. She has ten years’ experience bringing Council to schools and comm unity organizations and has led workshops throughout the Western United States and Canada. Hilary Leighton, Director of Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University, is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader and a certified Myers-Briggs facilitator. She is natural educator, a perennial learner, a tireless advocate for well-being and a wild poet at heart!
The ancient council practice of sitting in a circle, speaking and listening from the heart, can enrich any relationship—at home, in school, in the workplace, in community. Council is widely used in public and private schools, business organizations and communities around the world.
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PLAN YOUR OWN NATURAL HOME: Ecological Design
DATES: APRIL 1-3 2011 Friday evening (7-9), Saturday & Sunday (9am – 5pm)
LOCATION: O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE (*food and accommodation available onsite by reservation)
FACILITATOR: Elke Cole, Architectural Designer www.elkecole.com
Elke Cole lives at O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE and designs, builds, and teaches “Houses that Love you Back”. Her background is in architecture with a degree received in Germany. Elke became involved with Natural Building in 1994. Since then she has created buildings and community projects while teaching others to be empowered to do the same. Through Cob Cottage Company, Cobworks, Earthrising Foundation and O.U.R. ECOVILLAGE, Elke has been a forerunner in the movement towards healthy and affordable houses. Her work has been groundbreaking in introducing Natural Building to a wide audience and with the integration of the building permit process. You can find Elke working in BC, the US, South India, Tanzania, Germany and Costa Rica.
TOPICS:
- Materials from Nature
- Steps to building a natural house
- Design tips to start your own Design
DESCRIPTION: The first step to making the dream of a natural house your reality is creating a design. From choosing a good site, basics of passive solar design, space saving strategies… to choosing the appropriate materials for your project- we will present ideas, exercises, and information, share experiences and support your personal process. A packed weekend course to get you started.
Inquiries: write to Elke
Meals and accommodation available .
Course fee: $210 CAD (includes GST)
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THE WAY OF COUNCIL II
DATE: March 19-20, 2011 9am-4pm
LOCATION: O.U.R. Ecovillage
FACILITATORS: Lori Austein and Hilary Leighton (see above).
This course is designed for those who have experience in facilitating Council circles or other forms of circle work or those who have completed The Way of Council – Level I. (see above)
During this weekend course, we will explore the importance of working with the “shadow.” We have to allow ourselves to be disturbed, to be moved, to get out of our “comfort zone.” Then the circle becomes alive. Sometimes powerful energies are released and the challenge for the facilitator is how to serve the circle so that it remains safe and the energies contained. When this occurs, magic happens.
We will also explore the specific forms of Council for varied situations and the challenges of bringing Council into the different parts of our lives. We will share stories, light and dark, of the subtleties in the roles of Witness and Facilitator. Leadership and challenging situations are also on the menu. And, by the way, we will also have some fun together by using exercises, games and other practices that contribute to council!
Lori Austein is an educator, lawyer and mediator, as well as a trainer and facilitator of the Council process. After spending five years working with the Council program at Palms Middle School in Los Angeles, the last two as co-coordinator, Lori is very experienced in the uses of council in education. She has led student rites of passage retreats at the Ojai Foundation and has cofacilitated both Council and Council for Educators trainings. Lori is a member of the Leadership Circle of the Ojai Foundation’s Center for Council Training. She is currently introducing Council to Vancouver Island, her new home. Devoted to increasing the use of Council, she eagerly strives to live in The Way of Council.
Hilary Leighton’s early deep and vivid resonance of living processes and universal patterns in wild nature rooted in her a belief that all teaching is an act of love and remembering – this infuses her writing, teaching and learning She is a natural educator, a perennial learner, a tireless advocate for well-being and a wild poet at heart! Hilary holds a MEd, Curriculum and Instruction from SFU, has studied Ecopsychology (EP) at Naropa University, and is completing a three year program in Integrated Body Psychotherapy Practitioner Training, and not least of all embarking on a doctoral program in EP. She is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader, a certified Myers-Briggs facilitator, and although she spends most of her days imagining and designing ways to bring pedagogical spaces of possibility as the Director of Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University, Hilary derives the most satisfaction from the generosity of teaching and encouraging others out on the land.
Register for Council II with Royal Roads
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