Locations
Angus
Located on beautiful farmland Ontario's rural Essa Township, Camphill Nottawasaga encompasses 280 acres of pastures, forest, tilled land and wooded ravines. In this setting are five houses, a large barn, a fabric workshop, a woodworking shop, pottery workshop, extensive vegetable gardens and two greenhouses, and a large community centre with an auditorium, library and chapel.
Our work is to care for each other, our homes, our gardens and our land. We share this work with each other, each one according to his or her wishes and capabilities. In our houses,co-workers support up to five adults with disabilities. Each house is unique depending on its members. Out of the strong support of this network, individuals can work in the community, make friends, and find ways to contribute their talents to the wider community. The festivals throughout the year provide the content for many social and artistic activities. We also encourage individual and group study, therapies, outings, recreation and hobbies.
Some companions live together in homes while those wishing for more independence have their own apartment. All are supported to live a life based on individual choice.
The community has a centre - Novalis Hall. Here there are regular cultural events, parties, weddings, religious services and through the work of the Novalis Project a stream of first class performance artists in the fields of music, dance and drama. Camphill Nottawasaga is a unique life community.
Barrie
Camphill Sophia Creek is an urban community in the downtown core of Barrie Ontario. Our mission is to bring the experience of community life through; "Living, Learning and Working, Together." As part of Camphill Communities Ontario, we share our lives with adults who have a developmental disability. Amongst our values we highly regard the element of dignity and access to the rights and freedoms available to all individuals.
Our "neighbourhood" is centered on Toronto Street in Barrie near parks, the lake and the downtown core. Each of our 3 residences is within easy walking distance and we frequently travel to and from. It is an important part of our "community" experience to regularly visit each other for a tea, lunch or supper or just to "shoot the breeze".
We focus our work in the crafts area, weaving and other fibre arts activities. There are also the many daily tasks needed to maintain a full and meaningful life: shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, care of the property, the recycling and conscientious handling and disposal of our trash. We hope in the near future to be able to offer a more diverse work/training programme such as; landscaping, baking and food preparation, work with Nottawasaga Camphill Community, our rural partner where there are gardens, woodshop, pottery, farm and forestry.
Self awareness and expression is fostered in our studios and therapeutic social arts. We engage in speech work, eurythmy, music, colour experience through painting. These activities take place on a one to one basis and in groups. We also carry the main responsibility for the Novalis Project which brings arts and culture into our communities.Check in the news and events link on this website for upcoming performances.
Our vision in all these areas is to grow incrementally on all fronts; home life, culture and education and work. There are manifold needs in the greater community for places where individuals can find opportunities to help and be helped, to give and receive, to hear and be heard. We hope to be a small example of how these needs can be met through an understanding of what makes a community vital and healthy.
