OPAL Archives

Creating Community: Affordable Housing on the San Juan Islands

Creating community is a phrase that can describe and include many things — including ensuring everyone has access to a home. Community Land Trusts are uniquely positioned to provide affordable housing appropriate to the places where they are based. This report describes three successful Community Land Trusts (CLTs) operating on the San Juan Islands of…

Affordable Home Ownership Expert Coming to Kelowna

The BC Rural Centre invites you to a free public lecture featuring Lisa Byers, Executive Director of the OPAL (“Of People And Land”) Community Land Trust on Orcas Island, Washington State. Lisa will discuss how the OPAL CLT has created over 130 affordable housing units on Orcas Island over the past 25 years. Creating Affordable…

Affordable Rural Housing: OPAL’s April’s Grove, San Juan Islands

Affordable rural housing — providing it is a challenge across North America. An organization located just south of BC’s Gulf Islands has shown it’s a challenge that can be met. From a small group of idealistic volunteers with a vision of sustaining a healthy community on Washington State’s Orcas Island (pop. 4,500), OPAL (‘Of People…