Startup Cohousing Community Secures Property in the Heart of Esquimalt and Invites New Members
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VICTORIA, BC, May 20, 2025
A new cohousing community has secured a property in the heart of Esquimalt and is opening the door to welcome new members! Anyone interested in joining a more connected and supportive community is invited to attend upcoming public presentations on May 31 or June 28 (details below), or watch a recorded information session.
New members who get involved at this formative stage can participate in the first Design Workshop planned for July 5.
Esquimalt Village Cohousing is a community-led housing initiative aimed at creating a vibrant, sustainable living environment in the heart of Esquimalt Village, Victoria, BC. The site is just opposite Country Grocer and near Archie Browning Sports Centre, public library, schools and parks. It's a mere 15-minute walk from the cohousing site to the charming West Bay Walkway.
Cohousing is a collaborative housing model designed to overcome the isolation of modern living by fostering a strong sense of community among neighbors. It combines private, self-contained dwellings (in this case, strata condos) with shared common facilities and emphasizes participatory design, environmentally sensitive neighborhoods, and non-hierarchical governance.
The Esquimalt cohousing project has grown rapidly since its inception less than four months ago, when two sold-out informational presentations at the Flying Otter Grill on the Victoria harbour yielded a founding group of 25 initial members. Some of these households deepened their commitment, making the financial contributions needed to move the project forward.
Alastair Townsend of Township leads the team of cohousing professionals supporting the project, He brings extensive experience in architecture and real estate. He is working with guidance from veteran cohousing developer Ronaye Matthew, who has built 12 cohousing communities throughout Canada, including in Sooke and Sidney. Matthew and her co-author Margaret Critchlow wrote Community Led Housing: A Cohousing Development Approach (2024). Critchlow, who was a founding resident of Harbourside Cohousing in Sooke, rounds out the management team as the community's facilitator.
“We’re thrilled to make so much progress in such a short time,” said Margaret Critchlow, Professional Team member. “The enthusiasm and commitment of the founding members have been crucial in securing this excellent location. The professional team’s experience has supported the members to move quickly.” The team hopes to complete construction around mid to late 2027.
The group is now welcoming new members to join for a three-month trial period. Interested individuals can attend free in-person Information sessions on May 31 and June 28, from 10-11:30 AM at the Archie Browning Sport Centre Lounge, 1151 Esquimalt Rd. Capacity is limited so interested are enrouaged to register for sessions on either May 31 or June 28.
Additionally, 90-minute online mini-workshops titled "Is Cohousing Right for You?" will be available on zoom from 4:30-6:00 on May 21, repeating on June 12, and July 8 from 4:30 to 6 PM. These are free to members. The fee of $50 for non-members can be credited toward membership. To register, email info@victoriaharbourcohousing.ca
For more information about the cohousing project taking shape in Esquimalt, please visit https://www.victoriaharbourcohousing.ca/
Margaret Critchlow is available for interviews and speaking engagements: phone/text (250) 216-1870 or info@victoriaharbourcohousing.ca.
