CONTEXT
The Rosseau Sanctuary is a home just outside the village of Rosseau, in an old Icelandic settlement area on Hekkla Road. Traditionally, indigenous communities residing to the north and the east (near Georgian Bay) would move through this area in Spring to hunt, fish, and garden over to south and to the west of us, before heading back for the winter.
The 100 acre lot that the Sanctuary land is on, is owned by Joe Tortolo, and the Rosseau Sanctuary comprises about 25-30 acres of that. Other ecological/agricultural businesses operate through the property, such as maple syrup production and wilderness training. The Sanctuary is zoned as a residential property (not a commercial space), and is the home of Tracy MacKenzie. All who come are therefore guests in the home.
Melanie Ollenberg coordinates Membership, Volunteers, and guest logistics (both practical and energetic) to ensure those looking to connect in a conscious way with the earth and each other have a vessel to do so. Through the year, Members of the Rosseau Sanctuary come to host private eco-conscious community gatherings in alignment with the Sanctuary’s vision and values. The Members live across Ontario, and most have trained internationally with medicine men and women from indigenous communities from around the world. We invite you to take a look at our Members page on the website, the kinds of events they each offer, and the lineage of their teachings. Please feel free to reach out to them personally if you’d like to get involved with their offerings.
The 100 acre lot that the Sanctuary land is on, is owned by Joe Tortolo, and the Rosseau Sanctuary comprises about 25-30 acres of that. Other ecological/agricultural businesses operate through the property, such as maple syrup production and wilderness training. The Sanctuary is zoned as a residential property (not a commercial space), and is the home of Tracy MacKenzie. All who come are therefore guests in the home.
Melanie Ollenberg coordinates Membership, Volunteers, and guest logistics (both practical and energetic) to ensure those looking to connect in a conscious way with the earth and each other have a vessel to do so. Through the year, Members of the Rosseau Sanctuary come to host private eco-conscious community gatherings in alignment with the Sanctuary’s vision and values. The Members live across Ontario, and most have trained internationally with medicine men and women from indigenous communities from around the world. We invite you to take a look at our Members page on the website, the kinds of events they each offer, and the lineage of their teachings. Please feel free to reach out to them personally if you’d like to get involved with their offerings.
VISION
Our vision is to create a self-sustaining, eco-conscious community hub where healing occurs through deep connection with ouselves, the earth and eachother.
VALUES
More than just a retreat centre or a space to do business, the Rosseau Sanctuary nested in the broader understanding and the values:
- eco-consciousness,
- sustainability,
- bio-mimicry,
- collaborative economy,
- community,
- reciprocity,
- honouring our ancestors and the ancestors of the land, and
- respecting one another, across healing disciplines and traditions.
FRAMEWORK
The Rosseau Sanctuary works through the lens of Sustainable Community Development, which applies community capital and an ecological business mindset to fulfill it's vision.
Practically speaking, the governance of the Sanctuary is first seen within the context of it's agreement with the property owner and input from Members and Volunteers (especially those who demonstrate reliability and integrity over time). However, we all follow the guidance of the seasons, the medicine work, the land and the water, and seek to create a community reflective of sacred reciprocity, natural law, and sustainable design.
Nesting Our Role in Broader Community
The property owner is very inspired to create an active and vibrant eco-conscious community, using other land he stewards in the area, such as Stepping Stone. The Rosseau Sanctuary understands that it is a part of this larger community vision, and within this broader vision there is the opportunity for micro-businesses such as growing operations, eco-community builds, maple syrup production, wilderness training, permaculture training, etc. While the Sanctuary represents the healing component of this broader vision, it looks forward to collaborating with the other players of the broader community, and thus respectful rapport with our neighbours and those involved in projects on other aspects of this community initiative is a priority. Proposals and discussions for collaboration between the Sanctuary and other community projects are encouraged.
Practically speaking, the governance of the Sanctuary is first seen within the context of it's agreement with the property owner and input from Members and Volunteers (especially those who demonstrate reliability and integrity over time). However, we all follow the guidance of the seasons, the medicine work, the land and the water, and seek to create a community reflective of sacred reciprocity, natural law, and sustainable design.
Nesting Our Role in Broader Community
The property owner is very inspired to create an active and vibrant eco-conscious community, using other land he stewards in the area, such as Stepping Stone. The Rosseau Sanctuary understands that it is a part of this larger community vision, and within this broader vision there is the opportunity for micro-businesses such as growing operations, eco-community builds, maple syrup production, wilderness training, permaculture training, etc. While the Sanctuary represents the healing component of this broader vision, it looks forward to collaborating with the other players of the broader community, and thus respectful rapport with our neighbours and those involved in projects on other aspects of this community initiative is a priority. Proposals and discussions for collaboration between the Sanctuary and other community projects are encouraged.