meet our group
Who are we?
We're a multi-generational group of singles, couples, families with kids, and retirees, from different walks of life.
Rather than becoming too busy or frantic and feeling over-extended or isolated, we want a more practical and social lifestyle, based on co-operation, respect and caring for our neighbours.
The young families in our group are excited to raise kids in cohousing, giving them room to be independent beyond their own backyard, as well as many opportunities to compromise with, learn from, and care about a wider circle of people.
The older members appreciate the chance to downsize, while maintaining access to amenities like a garden and a workshop, and sheltering themselves from isolation in the long run.
Our Community Values
Takes a village.
Do more with less.
Money matters.
Working together.
Embrace diversity.
Learning from each other.
Our vision
We work together to support and sustain our successful, thriving cohousing community.
Our Mission
We’re committed to building a cooperative community through learning, growing and connecting with our neighbours.
current group members
DOUNG + MAUREEN
Maureen and Doung have lived in Windsong Cohousing since 1996. They have two adult daughters who live in Vancouver. Originally from Trinidad, Doung is the coordinator of a counselling program for the BC government. Maureen has taught English for many years in BC and Yukon; now she's writing a novel. They're excited about living in cohousing in a diverse, urban walkable neighbourhood!
MARCUS + LILI
Lili and Marcus currently live in Vancouver. They met in Halifax, Nova Scotia and bonded over their common Eastern European background and interest in traveling. They love chasing after their daughter, traveling, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, watching a good movie and sharing meals with the company of their good friends and family. Cohousing speaks to how much they value community.
CAROL
Carol is originally from the UK and loves all things design-related. She has lived on the North Shore for over 30 years, but has also lived and worked in countries as diverse as Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and Australia, and continues to love traveling in her summers off. She works in post-secondary education and has interests in sustainability and social innovation. Carol believes that cohousing and community living are the way of the future!
TATIANA + DMITRY
Dmitry and Tatiana came to Vancouver from Russia over 16 years ago, and enjoyed living downtown until their kids had to start school. When finding school didn't work out, they decided to relocate to the North Shore to appreciate the slower pace. As a family, they love spending time outdoors hiking, biking and swimming. Cohousing would add value to their life - having strong relationships with your neighbours makes people happier!
COLIN
Originally from Calgary, Colin came to Vancouver to follow his sister Andrea and Brady, also Driftwood members. He loves to fix, tinker and dream of better ways of living small. Colin had his own ‘mini-cohousing’ house for 11 years, where he lived with 27 different roommates in a 6-bedroom house, including Andrea and Brady for 3 of those years.
JENNIFER + WAYNE
Wayne and Jennifer met when they were both working in southern Africa. They share a sense of adventure and a love of coffee! Now with two young adult children, they're looking forward to downsizing and joining new neighbours in a host of activities and friendly conversations.
JANET
Janet moved to Vancouver after a successful career as an artist / photographer and arts educator in the Toronto area. In a remarkable stroke of luck, she was invited to live at The ARC (Artist Resource Centre) among like-minded people - all engaged in various arts disciplines! Now fully acclimatized to a creative life in Vancouver, Janet is looking forward to cohousing. She will be enthusiastically photographing, singing, cooking, gardening, hiking and exploring with a caring community who share her vision of cooperation, adventure and intentional living.
TOM + CATHERINE
Tom and Catherine met 45 years ago when Tom was studying in university in Taiwan. After Catherine got her degree, they moved to Vancouver, and then bounced across Greater China for nearly 20 years, before returning to Canada in 2005, both accumulating more degrees along the way. These days, when he’s not complaining about his sore back, Tom keeps busy translating history articles for Chinese academic friends. Catherine is also fully retired now, and her greatest joys are working in her garden or playing with her four grandkids just up the hill in North Van.
MEGHAN + MATTHEW
Meghan and Matthew have enjoyed living in North Vancouver for the past ten years, and are looking forward to creating a supportive, sharing-minded community through cohousing. Originally from Vancouver Island and Saltspring Island respectively, Meghan and Matthew met in their last year of university at UBC and remained in the Vancouver area for work. They spend much of their time currently enjoying local parks and cycling routes with their delightful toddler, and look forward to when she is old enough to participate in kayaking expeditions.
ANDREA + NATSUKO
Andrea is from Milano; Natsuko from the beautiful Japanese island of Awaji. After meeting in the Sunshine Coast and some moving back and forth from Italy, they found a middle ground in North Vancouver, where they live with their two daughters. Living in a shoebox they miss the warmth and inclusiveness of a community, so they decided to try building one. They enjoy hiking, traveling, dreaming, good food and nice people.
ANDREA + BRADY
Brady and Andrea are originally from Alberta. After coming to Vancouver ‘temporarily’ for school 6 years ago, they fell in love with the west coast and now they live in their little condo with their little family in North Vancouver.
They are beyond excited to raise a family in a supportive community setting. Their new baby Tegan is already loving the trails and hanging out with her fellow Driftwood baby friends. After move-in, Andrea will bring her best baking skills and Brady will gladly fix any bike. In the meantime, you'll find them in their tent in the woods, flying down mountains, or chilling with a book at the beach.
PATRICE
Patrice was born in Akron, Ohio, and the story of how she moved from the US to Canada can best be told over a cup of coffee! She is retired from a career in the labour movement, where she worked with credit unions and co-operatives, as well as not-for-profits and the disability movement. Patrice now lives in Burnaby, but looks forward to returning to the North Shore. Her daughter Jordana lives in New Westminster, but spends many weekends and holidays at Mom’s. They are both looking forward to living in a caring, intentional community.
DOMENIC + MARTA
Marta and Domenic are originally from Ontario, but North Vancouver has been home for the past 26 years. As a family, their love of hiking, running and biking has kept them close to the North Shore mountains. They want to downsize from their current home, as well as have the ability to walk and bike to local amenities. They are looking forward to building deeper connections within a diverse cohousing community that shares similar values. Domenic is a passionate wine blogger in his off-time; Marta, a life-long learner; their daughter, an avid geocacher. They are looking forward to this next chapter in their life.
MIKE
For the past forty years, Mike, who hails from Australia, has lived on the North Shore. Mike enjoyed his career in Computer (Mac) Technical Support; now he’s playing the retirement game. Mike enjoys classical music, photography, tending the compost heap, falling down rabbit holes on the computer and climbing out of wombat holes in real life. He anticipates that many good things will happen as a result of downsizing his home and upsizing his community.
CHRIS + MICHELE
Michele and Chris and their twin boys have called North Vancouver home for ten years. Michele is born and raised in the Lower Mainland, and Chris moved here from France twenty years ago. Michele is an Occupational Therapist, and Chris is an Osteopathic Practitioner with a private practice on the North Shore. Michele enjoys dancing, fine and performing arts, connecting with nature, nurturing friendships and creating community. Chris is happy when he's active outdoors, and enjoys kayaking, hiking and backcountry skiing. Their boys love dancing, soccer and Taekwondo and so many other fun kid things!
CARLA + TYLER
Tyler and Carla moved to Vancouver from the BC Interior, and currently live in East Van with their two children and dog. They're enjoying having a yard with soil under their feet for the first time in ten years, and just being outside with their family. They hope that cohousing will create a strong sense of community and let their kids grow up knowing their neighbours.
KATRINA
Katrina was born and raised in North Vancouver and loves spending time outdoors. She especially loves running in the mountain trails and riding her bike on the spirit trail. As well as being a university student, Katrina is an active community member and participates in many North Shore clubs. Katrina is looking forward to getting to knowing her neighbours more and introducing her dog Luna to the community.
ADAM + ROSIE
Rosie, Adam and Parker currently live in Vancouver, but are looking forward to calling North Vancouver home. Rosie grew up in North Vancouver and met Adam teaching English in Japan. Adam, originally from the US, has been living in Vancouver for seven years. Before sweet Parker was born, they spent their free time rock climbing, hiking and skiing. Now they spend all of their time chasing a toddler, but hope he'll be keen to join in their outdoor adventures as he grows up! They are excited for Parker to grow up in this community-oriented and environmentally conscious group.
ALLISON + DEAN
Dean and Allison moved to Vancouver from Australia four years ago and have been following the cohousing movement from afar for a long time. They are excited to be moving into a supportive community of friendly neighbours whom they can call their adopted extended family. This family of five loves everything about the outdoor lifestyle in Vancouver: winter sports, hiking, camping, beach combing, biking, and just hanging out in the forest.
PATRICIA
Patricia is originally from Uruguay, but has been in Vancouver for 50 years, where her two daughters were born. She has retired as a teacher, and enjoys being a grandma and being immersed in art, the outdoors, biking, music, dancing, gardening and watching a good film. Patricia loves people of all ages, especially kids, and looks forward to being part of the “village”. She believes that living in community makes people happier and healthier. Let's be a role model for a better world!
JEANETTE + JAMIE
Jamie and Jeanette are British Columbians from the start and are thrilled to bring their new family into Driftwood Village Cohousing. Like many Vancouverites, they like to explore and play outside, taking advantage of the West Coast’s amazing natural setting. In the winter you can find them on skis high up in the coast mountain range, and in summer they are on their mountain bikes, running, camping or paddling. They enjoy fulfilling careers, engaging city life and slowing down to enjoy good food, friends and creative endeavours.
STEVE + MACKENZIE
Mackenzie and Steve are looking for closer connections with their neighbours through cohousing. Both originally from (different sides of the river in) Kamloops, they lived in Calgary and Halifax before coming home to BC in 2012. Besides wrangling children, Steve likes bikes and Mackenzie loves crushing a to-do list.
SHERRY
Sherry grew up in a large nuclear family and huge extended family. And while she loves living in the city, she misses community. Participating in cohousing is the perfect opportunity to regain community.
BECCA + GORDON
Gordon grew up in the Yukon and Becca not far from the Driftwood site in North Vancouver, but they have called East Vancouver home for the past while. They're both excited to move to the North Shore, to be closer to the mountains and family, with the “extended family” of other Driftwooders. Becca is an urban planner and Gordon works in data and growth marketing, and they spend most of their free time hiking, rock climbing, and backcountry skiing.