Last year Edgewood Ecovillage became the proud owners of 8.5 acres in West Pubnico, NS! They had the land subdivided and now officially own the plot. It has shared access frontage to Argyle Sound Road with a freshly built driveway 250 ft in from the road (generously paid for by those who donated the land) that will help Edgewood as it comes time to expand by road-building.
Changes in National Funding
Edgewood appears to be just one step away! Currently what is needed is the last phase of pre-development so it can become ‘breaking ground’ ready. This means engineering and environmental assessments, utility plans, etc. So close now!
Unfortunately, the CHTC did not approve the pre-development funds to make this happen, so Edgewood took a sabbatical as of the latter half of 2025 to see what would happen with the national funding changes that were coming on board for affordable housing projects for 2026.
The major change that finally happened with funding is that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s program for Build Canada Homes was formed to bring affordable housing units all across Canada to deal with the housing crisis in so many areas. This is wonderful for so many people in need of housing! However, it’s only available for construction funding and not pre-development.
Other changes from this endeavour include that the FCM is now closed for any future funding, and the CMHC’s funds are swamped with affordable housing endeavours, making it more difficult to find pre-development funding. One requirement for receiving this kind of funding is that developers need to be ready for construction (all pre-development finalized and shovel-ready).
Options to be Discussed by the Board at 2026 AGM
Edgewood Ecovillage’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is coming up on May 30th, 2026, with a key focus on advancing the co-housing model into its next phase. Two funding pathways will be on the table: Build Canada Homes, which offers ready-made housing plans, or a custom build financed through Edgewood’s credit union.
Also on the agenda are alternative home styles, including earth-sheltered dome homes — widely regarded as among the most energy-efficient structures available. Architectural drawings, funded by FMV, will be available for review. It’s worth noting that alternative construction methods can only be pursued through the co-housing model or an applicable CMHC fund.
The board and its professional partners currently have a strong range of options at hand, and members are eager to move forward. The goal for this year is clear: secure pre-development funding and keep the project on track for a construction phase roughly a year from now.