I’m one of the many Canadians who have decided in the last year or so to escape urban life for healthier, greener pastures. I plan to work remotely and enjoy that elusive thing called a better quality of life. So, I’ve bought a condo at Treehouse Village and I’ll be moving to a town called Bridgewater.

I didn’t know much about Bridgewater before I joined the Treehouse community, but I’ve learned that it’s known as the Main Street of the South Shore. (That’s Nova Scotia’s South Shore, renowned for its beaches, trails, parks, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.) Bridgewater’s website says their town is one of the three fastest-growing communities in Nova Scotia. And Wikipedia tells me that Bridgewater’s population was 8,532 in 2016, making it the largest town on the South Shore.

But did you know that Bridgewater is an international leader in sustainability and clean energy?

In fact, Bridgewater was mentioned at COP26 – the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, which held its global summit in Glasgow in November. In one of their sessions, the Town of Bridgewater was highlighted as a leader in sustainability and Bridgewater Transit as a model for small communities.

That’s a pretty big deal for a small town.

As Bridgewater’s Mayor, David Mitchell, explains in his November 5 Facebook post about the COP26 shout-out: “From green transit to net-zero building, it is local governments that are moving the most on the climate crisis.” He also notes that Bridgewater was the 1000th signatory to the “Cities Race to Zero” pledge presented at COP26. “Make no mistake,” writes Mayor Mitchell, “we all have a role to play.”

It’s certainly no mistake that Treehouse Village chose to develop our ecohousing project in this town called Bridgewater.

Bridgewater created its Climate Change Action Plan in 2014, and in 2017 launched a wheelchair-accessible bus system (free during the holiday season). In May 2019, Bridgewater won the $5-million Smart Cities Award for its plan to reduce energy poverty. Its Clean Energy Financing Program helps homeowners install clean energy upgrades. And “Energize Bridgewater” is a community-wide initiative accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy.

All of which closely aligns with Treehouse Village’s commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and Passive House design. We expect to move in around the end of 2022, but Treehouse members are already busy working on plans for growing food, planting gardens, creating biodiversity, and much more.

Explore more about Bridgewater and its family-friendly features, parks and recreation facilities, and many amenities.
Who do you know who would love to move to our multigenerational, walkable, ecohousing community? There are only 5 homes left – 3 Oaks (3 bedrooms) and 2 Maples (2 bedrooms).