from growing vegetables and preparing them for market, to making maple syrup, caring for animals, and developing products that use the ingredients from our land,” Kathy says. In addition, Camphill encourages individual expression and creativity among the people they support. “The handcrafts created in our communities are not only useful but are often works of art as well,” Kathy explains. “We have several artistic spaces that supported individuals create from, including our wood shop, pottery, mosaic, fibre arts and fine art studio.” Camphill also offers services geared towards the development of food preparation and life skills. They have a café in Barrie, for example, where there are opportunities to learn to cook, bake, and do a number of household tasks – all good preparation for more independent living. Most of those services and service spaces, Kathy explains, are not funded by the subsidies that Camphill receives from the government. On top of that, the cost of housing has greatly increased over the years, but the subsidies they receive have not increased in kind. The role of Camphill Foundation Canada is to fundraise and fill that gap – a gap that can be “pretty huge,” Kathy says. Kathy has personally been a part of the foundation since 2018, when she was headhunted for her current role. In her time there, she’s personally seen the organization evolve and change considerably. Most notably, she says they have altered their focus from funding projects and programs to funding individualized housing. The organization has been gradually making that shift for a while, but the pandemic accelerated their efforts, partly due to the demand for social distancing. Thirty years ago, the homes they built on their farm were made for up to nine people to THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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