VURBS (Village Urban Renewal Builds)

Village Urban Renewal Builds (VURBS) is a policy initiative designed to restore the economic, cultural, and social vitality of Canada’s communities by rebuilding the missing layers of the traditional village model. VURBS aims to create thriving, self-reliant communities that combine modern infrastructure with timeless principles of connectedness, purpose, and shared prosperity.

Through a public-private partnership (P3) model, VURBS will leverage underutilized farmland and partner with farmers, landowners, local residents, and asset managers to create vibrant villages adjacent to existing subdivisions. These villages will integrate the physical, economic, and cultural assets needed for a complete and flourishing community.

VURBS is about bridging back from today’s fragmented, two-dimensional living and disconnect to an empowered symphony of sovereigns. It turns disconnected subdivisions into self-reliant, thriving villages. Fortifying the commons, one village at a time and giving people the tools, spaces, and opportunities to help themselves and flourish together.

These villages will play a vital role in healing the fragmentation of modern life; reuniting families, restoring community bonds, and giving children renewed access to nature, meaningful mentorship, and the guidance of elders. In turn, elders gain renewed purpose and dignity by passing on their wisdom and life experience to the next generation.

Policy Objective

The objective of VURBS is to fortify the commons and enable Canadians to live in communities that support:

· Economic self-reliance through local wealth creation and shared infrastructure.

· Social and cultural wholeness by reconnecting individuals to purpose, family, and community.

· Environmental stewardship by integrating farms and natural assets into the village ecosystem.

· Holistic well-being through access to essential services and spaces for collaboration and creativity.

Core Principles

1. From Lifestyle Sale to Everyday Lifestyle – Move beyond a transactional, consumption-driven society toward one rooted in purpose, community, and sustainability.

2. Rebuilding the Layers of the Village – Restore the 15–20 “essential assets” that once made villages thriving, from food and education to meeting places and trading posts.

3. Flow-State Living – Create environments where citizens can thrive materially, emotionally, and spiritually, living in harmony and pursuing meaningful work.

4. Partnership Model – Engage governments, developers, asset managers, farmers, and local residents in collaboratively building and managing village assets.

5. Fortifying the Commons – Invest in infrastructure and tools that empower communities to shape their own future and live with dignity and purpose.

Policy Framework

1. Public-Private Partnership Structure (P3)

· Land Contribution: Farmers or landowners contribute a portion of dormant land to a non-profit land trust.

· Government Role:

o Provide capital funding, tools, and a standardized village plan.

o Develop a prequalification (RFQ) and competitive bidding process (RFP) for developers and property managers to ensure villages meet self-reliance objectives.

· Private Role:

o Build and maintain village infrastructure.

o Operate assets under a membership-based model that reinvests in the community.

2. Minimum Village Requirements

Each VURBS village must include the following core layers (if not already present in the community):

· Soil & Food: Greenhouses, outdoor gardens, farms, and food forests.

· Natural Assets: Parks, trails, and water stewardship systems.

· Economic Layer: Retail/trading post, maker spaces, and co-working hubs.

· Social Infrastructure: Meeting halls, community centres, and shared gathering spaces.

· Essentials: Daycare, primary healthcare, and basic education services.

3. Governance & Asset Management

· Asset Management Company: A dedicated entity will manage village facilities and adherence to community goals.

· Membership Model: Residents and participants join as members, with fees supporting ongoing operations.

· Condo Law Management: Each village is governed under a condominium-style legal framework, ensuring transparent decision-making and shared responsibility for common assets.

· Community Library System: Villages operate an “asset library,” allowing residents to borrow tools, equipment, and other resources for personal use and return them for shared benefit.

VURBS represents more than a development model, it is a blueprint for restoring the heart of Canadian community life. By bringing back the essential layers of the village, VURBS offers a path to stronger families, resilient local economies, and healthier, happier citizens. It gives children access to nature and mentorship, empowers elders to share their wisdom, and creates places where every person can live with purpose and dignity. With government support, we can transform subdivisions into living villages; fortifying the commons, one community at a time, and build a Canada where people not only live, but truly thrive.