Meet your new neighbours! Come grow with us!

We are John, Karyn, Nekoda, Aidan, and Julia, seen here with our now-retired autism guide dog, Dozer. We love nature, family movie nights, and traveling to see our extended family (and the many swimmable lakes!) in Ontario. We are used to going against the status quo, from midwifery (having drug free births at home) to adoption, Christianity, homeschooling, and now cohousing. We believe we must pursue our dreams and boldly step out in faith if we are to life an honest life with no regrets. 

We are excited to be a part of this amazing group of people, creating a cohousing neighbourhood designed to increase natural supports, create meaningful days, and reduce isolation. We are the Village, and we trust that the remaining families will come on board at just the right time. Peace!

We are Kevin & Beena. We met, married, and had our two children in Kuala Lumpur.  We've been teaching in Calgary since 2001.  Our daughter Christy is a nursing student in Lethbridge.  Our son Brent is a 20-year-old autistic man navigating life after high school.  

We are interested in a community that will accept our son as he is, and that will be a place he can call his own even after we can no longer care for him.

Hello! I'm a single mother with three teenagers - a son and two daughters - and I'm a Christian. Brandon is 18 and was diagnosed with ASD shortly after turning 17. He loves video games and anime, and he likes to draw his own characters. Dylan is 15 and in grade 10. She is neurotypical, loves sports, drama, and doing special effects makeup. Kendra is 13, she does junior high school online, loves anime and video games and we believe she's also on the spectrum; however, she has not been diagnosed. We also have two awesome cats named Neo and Klutzy. We like to watch Marvel movies and go swimming.

I feel Abundant Life Autism is an answer to prayer. As a single, Christian mother of special needs children, my two biggest concerns were lack of community (for me, because it's hard to find people who share my values as well as understand my experience; and for them, because they have difficulty socializing) and wondering what would happen to them if something happened to me (I'm all they have). At ALA, I hope that my kids will feel comfortable enough to engage with others, learn life skills, and grow to a level of functioning where I won't be worried for them anymore. I'm looking forward to having friends who share my values and who "get it."

Wes is retired from pastoral ministry and LaVerna from teaching as an elementary Resource Teacher. Rebekah just turned 26 and is in a Family Managed Day Program that normally runs out of our home. She is happiest when around her friends and has an amazing sense of humour and thrives on teasing those around her.  Our eldest daughter Sarah lives in Regina with her husband Logan and our grandsons Dawson(13)and Levi(5).

We would love to see Rebekah in a community where she is loved, appreciated and cared for by those who have the same values as we do as a family.  Our desire is for her to have her own home and community where she feels at home even when we are not there anymore. 

P.S.: Santa is now an honorary member of Abundant Life!

We are the adventurers! In our family there is Thomas (father), Carole-Anne (mother), Stephanie (first born daughter/ 20 years old), Danielle (second born daughter/ 18 years old), Benjamin (eldest son/15 years old) and Timothy (youngest/12 years old). Timothy is the one diagnosed with ASD. We are Christians! What is most important to us is our walk with God. We want to follow the exciting and adventurous path He has for us. At the end of the race of life, we want to hear Him say “Well done!” Love and community are the main purposes for which we are all created. Jesus gave two commandments that sum all the other ones, and one commission (love God, love others and make disciples.) 

We seek community and the opportunity to live life abundantly with whatever God has for us. Co-housing seems to be the answer! As our children reach the age to be launched into adulthood, we see the importance in making sure that Timothy also gets the opportunity to have an abundant life full of purpose. We also see this as an opportunity for us to all participate and share with others as we build friendships. We are not made to navigate this world alone as Lone Rangers. Co-housing will give us community, purpose, relationship and a place where people with ASD can find the support and understanding they need. We are believing Timothy will find a place where he is loved, where he can be himself and where he feels he belongs. In co-housing he will be in a place where he can make a difference and set his own imprint on life. Let’s all make a difference!

My name is Kim, I am a single woman in my 40's. I am a Christian and I am on the Autism Spectrum, but I was not aware if it until I was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult. I enjoy my job at Calgary Co-op where I have been working for the past 15 years. I am a pretty cheerful and outgoing person, once you get to know me, and l'm always looking for the positive side of things. I love music, and am member of a community choir called Concino Chorus. 

I want to be a part of the Abundant Life Community because this is the first group of people I've found where I feel understood and truly accepted. It is so refreshing to find a place where I don't have to be afraid to let my autism show. I am currently living with my parents, but I look forward to to having a place of my own where I won't have to be alone.

We are excited to welcome Jodi to Abundant Life! Her pic and bio will be here soon! 

Our family consists of three adult children the youngest of whom is Ian.  Ian is an active young man who engages in many sports, reading, watching movies and being a good contributor at his work.  He enjoys his independence in the neighbourhood to go to the library, take a bus to visit family or shop.  

Ian has been living with a supportive roommate for a number of years and we would like to ensure that his future includes opportunity for a stable and safe living situation that is focused around community and the principle of inclusion - a place to call home, where he can live and thrive.  We hope that Abundant Life can help us realize that goal.

My name is Heather, and I finished the library tech program at MacEwan University this past June. I enjoy reading, listening to music, playing various games, eating food, traveling, and many other things! I tend to get stuck on topics very easily, so don't mind me if I bug you about the same game/book more than you'd like. That's just me. However, this does not mean I won't talk about other things, just that you have to figure out ways to talk about other things as well. I also love technology and learning languages, and...get easily distracted! I'm not very confident in myself, and sometimes I don't think about what I'm saying, so I hope this is a good description.

While I enjoy time to myself, I also really need social interaction, even if it's just watching how things play out and participating when I want to/think of something to say. I hope to grow in independence and learn skills that will be useful to me throughout my life, as well as find people with common interests.

Fill out our Membership Questionnaire and it could be you!