CONTEXT
The Rosseau Sanctuary is a home of 25-30 acres, 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.
Melanie Ollenberg founded the Sanctuary in 2017, and over the years has woven the current structure and Membership to ensure those looking to connect in a conscious way with the earth and each other have a vessel to do so. This is done through a variety of ecological/agricultural partnerships, such as maple syrup production, food / herb growing and harvesting, and eco-healing.
Through the year, Members of the Rosseau Sanctuary come from all over Ontario to host private eco-conscious community gatherings in alignment with the Sanctuary’s vision and values, while helping with the work required for upkeep and growing projects. 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. Or, if you'd like to join us for one of our volunteer weekends, please contact Melanie directly at rosseausanctuary@gmail.com.
Melanie Ollenberg founded the Sanctuary in 2017, and over the years has woven the current structure and Membership to ensure those looking to connect in a conscious way with the earth and each other have a vessel to do so. This is done through a variety of ecological/agricultural partnerships, such as maple syrup production, food / herb growing and harvesting, and eco-healing.
Through the year, Members of the Rosseau Sanctuary come from all over Ontario to host private eco-conscious community gatherings in alignment with the Sanctuary’s vision and values, while helping with the work required for upkeep and growing projects. 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. Or, if you'd like to join us for one of our volunteer weekends, please contact Melanie directly at rosseausanctuary@gmail.com.
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 is a residential home, which opens it's doors to those committed to a broader set of 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 Rosseau Sanctuary understands that it is a part of a larger community vision, and looks forward to collaborating with the other players of the broader community, and thus respectful rapport with our neighbours and local organizations is a priority. Proposals and discussions for collaboration between the Sanctuary and other community projects are encouraged. Please contact Melanie directly if you are interested in collaborating, by emailing her at rosseausanctuary@gmail.com
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 Rosseau Sanctuary understands that it is a part of a larger community vision, and looks forward to collaborating with the other players of the broader community, and thus respectful rapport with our neighbours and local organizations is a priority. Proposals and discussions for collaboration between the Sanctuary and other community projects are encouraged. Please contact Melanie directly if you are interested in collaborating, by emailing her at rosseausanctuary@gmail.com
