[ GUESTBOOK ]
Updated
22 may 2004
[ design by david ]
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WELCOME to the Community House Collective's past events page.
PAST GOINGS-ON: 2002-3 | 2003-4:
spirituality | social justice | simple living | welcoming
ecumenical learning, cuba
5-25 nov/02
in November 2002, Nan attended a youth leadership training and resource development programme in cuba. the training was a joint project of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).
out of this training emerged the community house proposal. read more
building ecoecu house from the roots up
18 june/03
In April 2002, future house members gathered to imagine the shape of the Community House. We developed a vision, a self-selection process for members, and action plan.
moving in
13 sept/02
At the end of August, six young adults moved into a beautiful waterfront home on Portage Inlet in west Victoria.
We took some early photos at the house. 
SPIRITUALITY
healing world, healing self
20-22 sept/02
Several community house members were involved in planning this empowering retreat, held at Camp Pringle on Shawnigan Lake. The goal was to draw connections between caring for the world (the Earth and its people) and caring for ourselves.
We learned techniques of self-care, such as healing touch, journalling, and working with clay
We also explored the call to be wounded healers in a broken world. The two cannot be seperated, because we're all intimately connected to this planet. We carried out a Truth Mandala in a clearcut, a ritual developed by Buddhist activist Joanna Macy as part of her "Despair and Empowerment" work.
being church: struggling with spirituality and injustice
20 march/03
A lot of people think of churches as large buildings housing formal religious practices. But for me, church is not somewhere to go, but something to be. My house is a church, my friends are a church, my body is a church.
A look at one vision of community and the spiritual journey.
secular ashkenasi anarchist seder
17 april/03
More than 40 people joined us for a Jewish celebration of spring and liberation from slavery. "Seder" is an Aramaic word meaning "order" or "sequence". It refers to
the order of the ritual held on the first two nights of Pesach (Passover). During the Seder we retell the story of Pesach through story, song, and food.
The seder celebration was organized by Joshua Mira Goldberg.
WELCOMING
invitation to Circle of mentors
8 july/02
We sent this letter to a number of people we agreed could offer us guidance and support as the Community House developed. So far, eleven people have agreed to join our Circle of Mentors, with diverse backgrounds as human rights workers, activists, healers, writers, and religious leaders. Our Circle is ecumenical, bringing together Quakers, United Church members, Catholics and Anglicans.
housewarming gallery & potluck
26 oct/02
On Saturday, we held our official housewarming party and had at least 40 friends and supporters over for a feasty hors d'oevres potluck dinner. The theme was "gallery opening," and house members shared their artwork with visitors - everything from painting to sculpture, photos to music performances. One highlight was Wade's installation piece "Gifts from the Gorge," a collection of waste items he found in the mucky Gorge.
We ended with a lot of singing and music, and it was wonderful to see our house used in the way we had intended from the start -- a place for "expression, creativity and celebration."
circle of mentors gathering
april/03
We spent an entire afternoon with our ecumenical Circle of Mentors, reflecting on our successes and challenges of the year. It was a moving and inspiring visioning and revisioning process, an exchange of ideas and experience.
potlucks
to 23 april/03
The last of our weekly potluck gatherings before the summer. A last hang-out at the Community House. Excellent, wholesome food. Chilling on the banks of the Gorge.
pauly shore theme party
25 april/03
Somewhat ill-fated because people were scared of Pauly Shore. An evening on the Gorge enjoying our gracious company, music, waterfront, and ... a special surprise. Click the link below for more info.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
refugee conference in calgary
21-23 nov/02
In line with our commitment to working for social justice, two Community House members traveled to Calgary from 21-23 November, to attend the fall consultation of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
Nan & Jen took part in workshops on issues facing refugees and refugee support workers -- everything from public education & media, Africa, developing anti-racist policy, refugee camps. A major focus of the consultation will be the impact of Canada's refugee laws.
We were invited to the conference by Father Antonio Osorio, of St. Saviour's Anglican Church, who provided funding for the trip. Father Antonio, on our Circle of Mentors, is himself a refugee priest from Colombia.
buy nothing day
3 nov/02
House members took part in, and helped organize, Victoria's Buy Nothing Day events this year, to have fun challenging the corporate economy through a fun scavenger hunt, mall potluck and theatre.
refugee awareness potluck
5 feb/03
Community house members Natalie and Jen led a discussion of refugee rights in Canada, based on their experiences at a refugee conference in November.
We watched a UN film about refugees, then discussed problems around Canada's new refugee laws since September 11. Padre Antonio, a refugee priest from Columbia, assisted with the discussion.
this is our struggle, says west papuan activist
20 march/03
The West Papuan human rights worker and Yale professor spoke at the Community House on March 9, expressing his hope for Papuan independence from Indonesia.
Octovianus Mote had a message for students: keep working for justice, and don't give up hope.
more on [ West Papua ]
strike solidarity
oct/03
the house visited the times-colonist picket lines during the newspaper strike--at midnight. we brought musical instruments and energy balls to the striking unionists.read more
SIMPLE LIVING
food choices
eating well
we spent time discussing our food choices and needs, particularly around reducing waste and packaging, and improving the environmental impact of the foods we consume. our daily shared meals were vegan (free of animal products)
everyday sustainability
reducing our impact
we held each other accountable for energy use, particularly around electric lights and water waste. we installed a grey-water system for flushing the toilet with old shower water. we replaced all light bulbs with energy saving compact flourescents.
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