For immediate release
Monday, April 27, 2026, representatives from four Cohousing projects located in the Gaspésie, Eastern Townships, and Lanaudière Regions will begin a learning tour in Western Canada. The purpose of this visit is to engage with members of the Canadian Cohousing Network (CCN) in discussions about key issues, opportunities, and the future of cohousing in Canada.
The CCN is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 to promote cohousing in Canada and worldwide.
Living in cohousing offers a balance between private homes and community connection, made possible through the sharing of resources and common spaces (kitchen, garden, laundry room, etc.). Residents have their own, fully self-contained units, but also have access to larger common spaces throughout the community. Cohousing has also been shown to reduce social isolation and strengthen a sense of community.
Stéphane Brochu from Côtoit Cohabitat Gaspé in the Gaspésie Region, Hélène Sactouris of Cohabitat Nidazo from the Eastern Townships Region, Louise Larivière from Village Vital and Gabriel Blanchet from La Friche Solidaire in Sainte-Émilie-de-l’Énergie, both located in the Lanaudière Region, will fly to Vancouver where they will be welcomed by local CCN Board Members. The Quebec participants will be accompanied by Justine Bouvier from Village Urbain., Montreal.
From Monday, April 27th to Thursday, April 30th, the group will visit six Cohousing Projects and will meet with residents of Little Mountain, Cranberry Commons, Windsong, Groundswell Cohousing, Vancouver Cohousing and Quayside Cohousing. On Wednesday, April 29th, as part of a forum organized by the CCN, the Quebec participants will present their respective projects. The presentations will be followed by round table discussions exploring a range of themes related to cohousing in Canada.
The first of its kind in Canada, this forum aims to identify effective ways to promote cohousing more clearly to the public and government agencies, and with fewer misconceptions.
In Quebec there are two building projects: Cohabitat Quebec and Cohabitat Neuville both located in the greater Quebec City area. The opening of Village in Lachine In Montreal, it is scheduled for the fall of 2026. While those projects are certainly worthy, much remains to be done in order for cohousing to be built in rural areas. Participants Stephane, Hélène, Louise, and Gabriel hope this trip will provide insights that help strengthen understanding of the benefits of cohousing among municipalities, government agencies, and financial institutions.
From April 27 to 30, Louise Larivière from Cohabitat Village VITAL, solidarity cooperative will continue on and meet with people from WestWing Harbor and Harborside, two cohousing communities for seniors located on Vancouver Island.
Articles and videos will be published on www.villagevital.com
Travel journal of the Vancouver 2026 Mission will relate the group's whereabouts in real-time.
Louise Larivière, direction@villagevital.com
Appendix
Cohousing in Europe and North America – Summary
In Europe, although each country has its own term for cohousing/cohabitation, generally speaking, when people refer to this way of living, they are talking about community-led housing. The term «ecovillage» is also used. The Danish term ‘bofællesskab’ (living community) was introduced in North America as «cohousing» by two American architects, Kathryn McCamant. In Quebec, the people who created Cohabitat Québec in the 70s translated it into French. Since then, the term "Cohabitat" has been used.
Denmark
Cohousing originated in Denmark. The first community of this type was built in 1972 for 27 families, near Copenhagen. Since then, this model has spread rapidly and, today, 1 % of the Danish population, or about 50,000 people, live in cohousing.
Sweden
Sweden also has a long tradition of cohousing. The Swedish feminist movement played a key role in promoting this lifestyle in order to foster a more equitable sharing of domestic tasks between genders. Today, the association Cohousing Now Cohousing Now is highly successful in spreading this idea across the country. In Sweden, most cohousing projects are state-owned, as they were originally developed within the framework of a large social project linked to the active welfare state; however, more recent projects are now privately owned. as well.
Netherlands
The first cohousing project in the Netherlands, called « Central Living », was built in the mid-1970s. Today, there are over 100 such projects. The Netherlands has developed a cohousing model, based on an organization within a cluster, each with its own common spaces and the right to choose its new members. One large shared building is used for parties, meetings, etc. About half of the cohousing projects in the Netherlands are large-scale. There are also approximately 300 cohousing projects for seniors Group Living for Seniors).
Germany
In Germany, the model of Assemblies gave groups the opportunity to acquire land, leading to strong growth in cohousing. In the Berlin region alone, there are over 150 projects, making the city a global hub for cohousing. This model is now expanding across the rest of Europe, particularly in France, Spain, Belgium, and Italy.
Italy
In Italy, two types of organizations have evolved: Cohousing Venture, a private consultancy firm for cohousing, and two non-profit organizations, CoHabitando and CoAbitare.
France
According to the citizens' movement Participatory Housing France, there are more than 1,000 cohousing projects in France with the main objective being to live on the planet differently: participatory, ecological, and supportive in nature.
England
Present since 1990, Cohousing has thousands of participants. UK Cohousing is a powerful lobbyist contributing to the rise of cohousing in Britain. Following the success of a Community Housing Fund, UK Cohousing collaborated recently with DLUHC and a further £20 million was committed in March 2024 for the community-led housing sector.
United States
There exists 307 cohousing projects in the United States. Senior Cohousing is experiencing strong growth in this country. In these close-knit communities for those 55 and older, neighbors help each other, share meals, and enjoy common spaces while living in their own smaller homes. The association promotes this lifestyle as a contributor to improved health, stronger friendships, reduced costs, and a more enjoyable lifestyle. Like intergenerational cohousing, Senior Cohousing also contributes to addressing social and environmental challenges.
CANADA
The Canadian Cohousing Network (CCN) has about forty members; the CCN Website lists communities already developed, as well as those in development, or under construction.
QUEBEC
There are two projects built in the Capitale-Nationale region: Cohabitat Québec and Cohabitat Neuville. Village de Lachine, led by the non-profit organization Village Urbain, is scheduled to open its doors in the fall of 2026. The province of Quebec is divided into 17 regions; four projects are under development in the Gaspésie, Estrie, and Lanaudière regions.