Our Mission, Values, and Way of Community

Our goal is to build a multi-generational community, where families at all stages can live together to support and enjoy each other.

Our Mission

Kawartha Commons is a self-organizing group committed to design, build, and manage an approximately 30 unit sustainable, accessible cohousing community within easy reach of central Peterborough, yet close to nature. Our intention is to move forward with open and honest communication, making all efforts to understand and resolve differences, and is motivated by our wish to create an inclusive, diverse and caring community open to a range of financial situations, which supports us in choosing our own destiny.

Our values

We built this word cloud to illustrate our values, and the relative importance we place on them as a community.

Our Way of Community

Our way of Community describes the way we aim to behave towards each other. We try to manifest these behaviours in everything we do.

To Communicate With Integrity 

I agree to tell my truth, with compassion for others and myself and to trust that others are doing the same. 

To Listen With My Heart 

I agree to listen respectfully and with empathy to the communications of others and to do so without judgment, giving others the benefit of the doubt. 

To Own My Feelings 

I agree to take responsibility for my feelings and how I react to the words and actions of others. I agree to practice compassionate communication methods, such as Non-Violent Communication, to express those feelings in a spirit of openness, compassion and kindness. 

To Honour Each Person's Process 

I agree to presume the best of intentions when interacting with members of the community, to reserve judgment and allow for vulnerability. 

To Express Appreciation 

I agree to express appreciation of others and to support the community and the individuals in it. 

To Cooperate with Others 

I agree to maintain a sense of cooperation and caring in my interactions with others. 

To Honour Our Differences 

I agree to value differences and celebrate diversity. 

To Be Aware of Conflict 

I agree to take responsibility for my own actions and to acknowledge my mistakes.  

To Resolve Conflicts Constructively 

I agree to deal with problems in a timely manner. I will not criticize another person, or say anything in their absence that I would not say to their face. Whenever I have a conflict with another person,  I will first attempt to deal with it face to face with that person. When I feel unable to do this, or I cannot solve the conflict on my own I will not criticize or complain to someone who is powerless to resolve the conflict, instead I will ask for support, empathy and/or the opportunity to vent in a constructive manner from someone who is not involved in the conflict or by requesting mediation.  

To Maintain Harmony 

I agree to make the effort to establish rapport with others and to reconnect with anyone with whom I feel out of harmony as soon as it is appropriate, to honour my own and other’s boundaries and give space to others when they need it. 

To Freely Participate 

I agree that I freely choose to participate in the Kawartha Commons Cohousing Community. It is my choice. 

To Lighten Up! 

I agree to allow fun and joy in my relationships, my work, and my life.