Meet the RareBirds
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Mary Jordan
Mary is a single senior and retired counsellor, with 2 amazing daughters and 2 fabulous and delightful granddaughters. She is an extroverted woman who loves adventures, travel and people. She likes to live her life with some chutzpah and can thrive on new challenges. She is curious about interdependence in a culture that values independence and fears dependence. Living cooperatively, sharing resources, skills and time are part of a value system she embraces. Mary’s personal relationships as well as her work with individuals, families and organizations over the years has given her insights and awareness of the challenges inherent in fostering and maintaining strong relationship and community bonds. She believes strongly in the value of supportive friendships, inclusive communities and moving always toward the common good. She is fully committed to and excited about the home and intentional community the RareBirds have created. Together we have envisioned our home as a place where our friends and family will come together for good conversation, food, laughter and music. |
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Colleen Nielsen
Colleen is a relatively new member of the RareBirds Co-operative having just completed her first year. It’s been wonderful. She has a passion for health and wellness and is a lifelong learner and student, who loves helping others. She follows a whole food plant based lifestyle. Colleen feels blessed to have her wonderful family near; daughter Melissa, son Eric, daughter-in-law Sam and grand-daughter Sophie as well as step-daughters Kristina and Justin, and Charlotte and Troy with their 6 children, Jessica, Jasmine, Jenna, Joel, Justus and Jaxon! She enjoys spending time with friends and family, being in community, travelling and making music with her ukulele. She is one of the founding members of the Ukulele Orchestra of Kamloops and enjoys playing and being involved in organizing Festivals, Workshops and Kampuleles. She also loves to sing with Desert Sounds Acapella + . She’s enjoying her recent retirement and has spread her wings south as a Snowbird this winter. Colleen loves being part of the RareBirds community. |
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Val MacKay-Greer
Val is a retired health practitioner with a blended family of 3 children and 4 grandchildren. Family is a source of great pleasure and much joy! Val is outgoing, with a sense of humour and a love of laughter. She enjoys most social situations from heart to heart conversations to large group gatherings. She is a good listener and confidante, enjoying time for solitude, reflection, meditation and ceremony. What matters to Val are the love and support of family and friends; physical activities and the timeless sights, sounds and smells of nature. A favourite activity is gardening; planning, planting, growing, harvesting and eating. Music, art, movies and live theatre enrich her life as does her 45 year passion for travel that has expanded her world view and challenged her assumptions. Val needs a purpose in life and enjoys challenges especially those of her own choosing! The RareBirds Housing Cooperative is probably one of the most challenging and daring things she has done in a long time! She looks forward to the RareBird home being a place of dynamic growth, inspiration, joy and wonder. Bryce, Helen, Tor and Elsa Coombs
We were aware of the Rare Birds, being two houses down from our home, since moving to the neighborhood in 2016. But we did not expect their willingness to bring 2 adults, 2 pre-schoolers and 2 dogs into their community. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have had from this small community, and tolerance of the occasional challenges presented by our families’ presence in the house. Bryce is a passionate hunter, skilled skier and playful father. I (Helen) enjoy playing the piano, singing and participating in the kids’ activities. We both enjoy backcountry hiking when we can and look forward to gardening in the summers: we have enjoyed backyard produce from our own yard for many years, and the kids enjoy harvesting the produce, sometimes prematurely! Tor and Elsa both enjoy preschool, Paw Patrol, skiing and hunting with their Dad. Tor particularly enjoys LEGO while Elsa favors painting. Although our presence here is driven by the demolition and rebuilding of our previous home, we are excited about being a part of this community for a few years to come. We are savoring the great food, conversation, laughter and music that is often heard here and sometimes wonder how we will ever leave! |
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Marcia Wilson
For over 25 years Marcia has been interested in community development. When the Rare Birds began their 'conversation cafes' back in 2011 Marcia was at the table, and many current and former Rarebirds have been part of her network for years. With both her kids now living in Vancouver and attending UBC, Marcia finally had the opportunity to join the Rarebirds innovative community living model in September 2020. Marcia has deep roots in Kamloops. Family and friends- both local and international connections- are precious to her. She has a deep passion for creating lasting and meaningful relationships, and connecting people for purpose. Her extensive studies in yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, breathwork, and life and health coaching are core influences. A life-long learner, she loves slow travel, warm oceans and making a new home wherever she travels. Marcia is currently working as an occupational therapist. She's loving having access to land and gardens, and is having fun learning the ins and outs of caring for the Rarebirds urban hens. |
Allen Ciastko - Member in Memoriam
*Allen passed away October 2016 and the members dearly miss this generous soul in the co-op. Here is some of what this remarkable man was about.
Allen was not the outgoing, exuberant one in his cohort of RareBirds but was truly dedicated to the goals and processes of the group. He believed we needed to consider sustainability, environmental impact & recyclability in projects undertaken by farmers, governments & multinational corporations.
Allen was a nurturing and curious man. He was one of the first doctors to work for the Northern Health Unit (University of Manitoba) in1967. Subsequently he became a Paediatrician & practiced in Kamloops until 2002. He promptly packed his bags & with his wife Valerie MacKay-Greer, they volunteered in Nepal for 2 years; followed by 1 year In Kenya & Lesotho. This was his first experience in communal living but he enjoyed it (no stove, no heat, no electricity, little privacy, slow Internet).
While he loved nature & hiking in the mountains, he was still a city boy. Allen enjoyed photography, tennis, camping & hiking along with lounging & reading outdoors in the summer, having a garden, sharing meals with great friends & just being there. When he wanted, he chose to retreat to his personal space in the 'BigHouse' or in winter, join the Snow Birds in Mexico.
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*Allen passed away October 2016 and the members dearly miss this generous soul in the co-op. Here is some of what this remarkable man was about.
Allen was not the outgoing, exuberant one in his cohort of RareBirds but was truly dedicated to the goals and processes of the group. He believed we needed to consider sustainability, environmental impact & recyclability in projects undertaken by farmers, governments & multinational corporations.
Allen was a nurturing and curious man. He was one of the first doctors to work for the Northern Health Unit (University of Manitoba) in1967. Subsequently he became a Paediatrician & practiced in Kamloops until 2002. He promptly packed his bags & with his wife Valerie MacKay-Greer, they volunteered in Nepal for 2 years; followed by 1 year In Kenya & Lesotho. This was his first experience in communal living but he enjoyed it (no stove, no heat, no electricity, little privacy, slow Internet).
While he loved nature & hiking in the mountains, he was still a city boy. Allen enjoyed photography, tennis, camping & hiking along with lounging & reading outdoors in the summer, having a garden, sharing meals with great friends & just being there. When he wanted, he chose to retreat to his personal space in the 'BigHouse' or in winter, join the Snow Birds in Mexico.
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Founding and Former RareBirds
Dan and Robyn Hines – RareBirds from 2011 to 2021
Dan and Robyn are founding members of the RareBirds. From the inception Dan took a leadership role in the project management and process development throughout the building and integration of the community.
Robyn has offered her organizational skills to the smooth running of our home.
They have been at the heart of the RareBirds community. Their belief and values in creating a sustainable model for a co-operative intentional lifestyle as well as their broad professional and personal community networks have made them strong advocates for the ongoing success of our unique model of cooperative lifestyle.
Sandi Ceccon – A RareBird 2011 to 2017
As a founding member, Sandi was an integral part of the planning, designing and building of the home the RareBirds created. With a background in office management and bookkeeping she was instrumental in the financial systems we created. Sandi has a passion for cookbooks, good food and entertaining. Her Italian spaghetti with short ribs remains legendary. Whether it was in the garden, the kitchen or on the computer, Sandi contributed much to the inaugural success of The RareBirds Housing Co-op.
John Hull – A RareBird 2012 to 2016
John was the last of the founding members of the RareBirds Co-op, joining the team in the summer of 2012. As a teaching professor at TRU, John’s interest in sustainable lifestyles as well as his professional networks added new perspectives and enrichment to our community. Through John the RareBirds have developed connections, built awareness and relationships that continue to flourish bringing diversity to our community.
Twyla and Glen Burgoyne RareBirds 2012 to 2019
Twyla and Glen joined the community during its formation with a philanthropic motivation. They wanted to offer a supportive opportunity to someone experiencing transition of a challenging nature. By finding welcoming, enriching support in this community, the interested individual or couple could receive a solid foundation to enrich and refocus their life situation. Both Twyla & Glen offered their expertise, talents, keen interest and enthusiasm to the Birdhouse for seven years and the
RareBirds Housing Co-operative will be forever grateful for all the ways they so generously and passionately invested themselves and their resources.
Kitty Chavarie & Kevin Gillcash RareBirds 2016 to 2018
Kitty and Kevin joined the community after retiring, parting with their quaint, renovated home in downtown Kamloops and jumping into life as RareBirds. Sustainability, reducing their footprint, along with the richness of community life and shared goals attracted them to pursue this style of living. During their time in the community they shared their talents and interests: gardening, building, raw and healthy food creations, fishing and woodworking, welding and construction. There daily game of Scrabble at lunch inspired us all to be better wordsmiths. They relocated to join family in Victoria after their first grandchild was born May 2018.
Kathy Grieve and Ray Perreault RareBirds 2017 to 2019
Kathy and Ray joined the RareBirds from their home in Kamloops and had a strong interest in community life, sharing their year between the co-op and their home down south. During their time, Kathy contributed generously to the garden and to many aspects and projects around the home. Ray brought his many skills in repairs, property maintenance and knowledge in construction, helping us to complete our new front deck. Ray also filled the house with music and we loved his practice sessions by himself or with his ukulele group. They relocated to a newly built home in Kamloops.
Cheryl and David Belitisky RareBirds 2019
Cheryl and David joined the co-op from their home on Vancouver Island. They were attracted to the sustainable and ecological nature of the project. They are also avid outdoors people so the Kamloops region was a definite draw, as well. As keen master gardeners, they helped us to redevelop and improve our gardens and landscaping and were instrumental to revamp our drip irrigation system and compost practices. After some months here in 2019, they relocated to be closer to family.
