The Gabriola Commons
Projects
Projects
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions by granting agencies, businesses and individuals.
Photo by Victor Anthony
Current Projects
Volunteerism is at the heart of the Gabriola Commons; however, some more major projects require significant resources of equipment, materials and specialized services. We are fortunate that the projects described below have received valuable support from various granting agencies, local businesses and individuals. Thank you!
All projects start with an application to the Share the Commons Team; Project Application (click to download form). Place your cursor over the photos to see photo credit.
Community Kitchen
The original cheese factory of the "Goat Farm", now the Gabriola Commons, will be converted into a community kitchen to process agricultural products from the Commons and serve a variety of community needs. A generous grant was provided by the Nanaimo Community Foundation to upgrade the utilities (gas, electrical, plumbing) as the first step of this conversion. Previously, Camp Miriam had donated a complete set of commercial kitchen applicances and counters that will be installed when the utilities have been upgraded.
For more information contact Judith Roux at 247-9948 or rouxmackay[at]shaw.ca
Sustainability Centre
This educational centre is the first new building to be constructed on the Gabriola Commons. The building was made possible by the generous donation of the timber-frame structure by the Island School of Building Arts on Gabriola. The students at this Island School even erected the structure for us! A lot of work will need to be done before this building is finished. An important part of this work is the completion of the roof (metal-upper roof; living roof-lower roof). The materials for the roof, as well as the concrete footings, were provided by a generous grant from the Coastal Community Credit Union Spirit Fund.
When completed the building will be an open learning centre to demonstrate sustainable building systems. The objective is to create a building that is welcoming, sustainable and educational.
For more information contact Rebecca Furnell at 247-8086 or furnellr[at]gmail.com
Restoration of Native Species
The Gabriola Commons property (26 acres) includes agricultural land, meadows and forests. Like many other properties on the Gulf Islands, non-native plant species (such as Daphne, Broom and Gorse) are prevalent and often take over a local ecosystem. In many cases, these non-native species displace native ones. The extent of Daphne on the Commons requires continued removal before the planting of native species can take place. Thanks to the Wal-Mart Evergreen Green Grant, most of the invasive species will be removed and replaced by native plants. This work is being conducted by the Trails & Green Spaces Team and many volunteers including school children. A major collaboration in Daphne removal occurred over the summer of 2010 by the campers at Camp Miriam as part of their community services program.
For more information contact Victor Anthony at victorsez[at]gmail.com
Gabriola Green Bike Program
The Gabriola Green Bike Program is the brainchild of long-time Gabriola resident, Hank Sirlin. The idea is to put a free bicycle under the butt of every Gabriolan or visitor who wants to use it for an hour or a weekend. Hank, Victor Anthony and other volunteers have got this project off the ground and rolling. Hank Sirlin generously provided a significant donation to set up this free public bicycle service and the Gabriola Recreation Society has provided a grant for parts and tools. Victor Anthony, the program coordinator, has been trained in bicycle and maintenance and has begun a series of free workshops for the community. All of the bicycles are donated by the community, checked and repaired and then painted green. Anyone can pick up a bicycle at the Commons or other sites around the Island and use it for free. As Hank says, "Every bike in motion means one less car on the road."
For more information contact Victor Anthony at victorsez[at]gmail.com
Labyrinth
The Labyrinth is a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary located near the blueberry field. Everyone is invited and encouraged to enjoy it for healing, meditation and to participate in its maintenance and ongoing upgrading.
For more information contact Mary Aitken at 247-9177 or aitken_969[at]hotmail.com
Elder Eco-Village
As a result of the community input session in September 2005 and again in June 2011, many participants were excited by the prospect of an elder village on the Commons that would provide assisted living for seniors. A group of interested people are meeting to work on group process and to conduct research on Island Trust and VIHA requirments, island demographics, sources of funding and ownership options. This idea is still in the concept stage and requires planning and regulatory approval.
For more information contact Kit Pepper at 247-8836 or ecovillage[at]gabriolacommons.ca
All projects start with an application to the Share the Commons Team; Project Application (click to download form). Place your cursor over the photos to see photo credit.
Community Kitchen
The original cheese factory of the "Goat Farm", now the Gabriola Commons, will be converted into a community kitchen to process agricultural products from the Commons and serve a variety of community needs. A generous grant was provided by the Nanaimo Community Foundation to upgrade the utilities (gas, electrical, plumbing) as the first step of this conversion. Previously, Camp Miriam had donated a complete set of commercial kitchen applicances and counters that will be installed when the utilities have been upgraded.For more information contact Judith Roux at 247-9948 or rouxmackay[at]shaw.ca
Sustainability Centre
This educational centre is the first new building to be constructed on the Gabriola Commons. The building was made possible by the generous donation of the timber-frame structure by the Island School of Building Arts on Gabriola. The students at this Island School even erected the structure for us! A lot of work will need to be done before this building is finished. An important part of this work is the completion of the roof (metal-upper roof; living roof-lower roof). The materials for the roof, as well as the concrete footings, were provided by a generous grant from the Coastal Community Credit Union Spirit Fund.When completed the building will be an open learning centre to demonstrate sustainable building systems. The objective is to create a building that is welcoming, sustainable and educational.
For more information contact Rebecca Furnell at 247-8086 or furnellr[at]gmail.com
Restoration of Native Species
The Gabriola Commons property (26 acres) includes agricultural land, meadows and forests. Like many other properties on the Gulf Islands, non-native plant species (such as Daphne, Broom and Gorse) are prevalent and often take over a local ecosystem. In many cases, these non-native species displace native ones. The extent of Daphne on the Commons requires continued removal before the planting of native species can take place. Thanks to the Wal-Mart Evergreen Green Grant, most of the invasive species will be removed and replaced by native plants. This work is being conducted by the Trails & Green Spaces Team and many volunteers including school children. A major collaboration in Daphne removal occurred over the summer of 2010 by the campers at Camp Miriam as part of their community services program.For more information contact Victor Anthony at victorsez[at]gmail.com
Gabriola Green Bike Program
The Gabriola Green Bike Program is the brainchild of long-time Gabriola resident, Hank Sirlin. The idea is to put a free bicycle under the butt of every Gabriolan or visitor who wants to use it for an hour or a weekend. Hank, Victor Anthony and other volunteers have got this project off the ground and rolling. Hank Sirlin generously provided a significant donation to set up this free public bicycle service and the Gabriola Recreation Society has provided a grant for parts and tools. Victor Anthony, the program coordinator, has been trained in bicycle and maintenance and has begun a series of free workshops for the community. All of the bicycles are donated by the community, checked and repaired and then painted green. Anyone can pick up a bicycle at the Commons or other sites around the Island and use it for free. As Hank says, "Every bike in motion means one less car on the road."
For more information contact Victor Anthony at victorsez[at]gmail.com
Labyrinth
The Labyrinth is a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary located near the blueberry field. Everyone is invited and encouraged to enjoy it for healing, meditation and to participate in its maintenance and ongoing upgrading.For more information contact Mary Aitken at 247-9177 or aitken_969[at]hotmail.com
Elder Eco-Village
As a result of the community input session in September 2005 and again in June 2011, many participants were excited by the prospect of an elder village on the Commons that would provide assisted living for seniors. A group of interested people are meeting to work on group process and to conduct research on Island Trust and VIHA requirments, island demographics, sources of funding and ownership options. This idea is still in the concept stage and requires planning and regulatory approval.For more information contact Kit Pepper at 247-8836 or ecovillage[at]gabriolacommons.ca