One of the very many activities at Predator Ridge: pickleball.
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Developers aren’t just creating modern lifestyle communities—they’re creating community events, and welcoming residents, locals and visitors to join in the fun. Here are a few to check out this spring. By Steve Threndyle Are you a joiner or a loner? A quiet, bookish introvert or the sort of person who doesn’t let anyone get a word in edgewise? Do you and your spouse share common interests, or pursue individual goals and aspirations? These are some of the questions that you might ask before exploring living in a lifestyle community. Throughout B.C., adult living communities (geared to residents over 50) are becoming more and more popular. They don’t just offer a roof over your head, but also a built-in community of like-minded, active people to meet. For instance, Arbutus Ridge outside of Victoria offers more than 40 regularly scheduled activities, from Bible study to woodworking. These six B.C. communities just might be the right size for your future residential and recreational housing needs. Pro tip: contact someone on the executive of the local strata or homeowner’s association for a chat about what it’s like to live there, before you sign on the dotted line. With a marina, golf course, and a new state of the art wellness centre, 750-acre Fairwinds at Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island has been 30 years in development, and is now like a town 58
Right Sizing
Spring 2020
unto itself: it even has its own lifestyle magazine, Passions. While golf and sailing are part of the attraction, so too are Zumba, yoga and aquafit classes as well as that favourite racquet sport of baby boomers: pickleball. ACTIVITIES: The Friends of Fairwinds organizes accessible activities, including no-cost gatherings like mindfulness sessions and board-game tournaments, plus wine-tasting, crafting and other courses for a small fee. The Tower Ranch community north of Kelowna is comprised of Solstice at Tower Ranch, an adult age-restricted community, and the family-friendly neighbourhood developed by Dilworth Homes. Though it has always been a lively community, this summer, Cheryl Fraser of Dilworth Homes says, “This is the first year that the Community Association has committed to hosting a number of events.” ACTIVITIES: Catch painting workshops, outdoor movie nights and a community garage sale, among the planned activities. Southeast of Vernon, Predator Ridge is pretty much the Okanagan poster child of B.C. lifestyle communities. Now in its 26th year, it consists of 700-plus homes located on a 1,000-acre ridge above Okanagan Lake. Summers are very busy for residents and guests alike and many activities still revolve around the golf course and tennis courts. ACTIVITIES: Wine tastings, cooking classes and
