At our September Community Gathering and potluck, we had the chance to share an update on the transition now underway at Ignatius Jesuit Centre. Four months had passed since we announced that IJC would be entering a period of transition. Much has started to take shape since then, and there is still much more ahead.
This update offers a picture of what we are building together—what we’ve been setting in motion over the past months, what we’re focusing on now, and what we’re beginning to imagine further down the road.
The First Four Months
Since the spring announcement, we have been laying the groundwork for the future of IJC. We have organized our work into five pillars: Farm and Farmer Training, Conservation, Integral Ecology, Community Engagement, and Real Estate and Tenancies.
On the farm, we have been revitalizing the New Farmer Training Program. Our long-time collaborators, the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) and the National Farmers Union–Ontario (NFU-O), continue to anchor the program. Over the summer we welcomed two new partners, the Ontario Farmland Trust and the Arrell Food Institute, who bring added strength and vision. Together we are at the early stages of re-imagining the program, beginning to shape what a refreshed mix of field days, on-farm learning, and flexible online components could look like to support new farmers.
At the same time, we pivoted the New Farmer Training Program for this season with the support of a donation from 100 Women Who Care Guelph. This allowed us to offer a series of workshops with local partners covering topics such as seed saving, growing food, starting a farm business, and more, giving participants meaningful opportunities to learn practical skills while the larger program redesign takes shape.
In conservation, we have started working with the rare Charitable Research Reserve to plan a conservation corridor on the west side of the property. Over the summer, we held a planning summit to clarify the vision and priorities for the project. We are now exploring funding options to support the work and have outlined the next steps needed to begin the ecological inventory that will guide restoration and stewardship efforts.
Community life is also taking on new energy. This September we are preparing to host the first Roots & Renewal: Forest Week festival. The festival will bring people together for conservation workbees, workshops, live music, children’s activities, and shared meals, creating a week of celebration and hands-on learning rooted in the land.
At the same time, we have formed short-term advisory groups to support the transition. These groups bring together industry professionals alongside partners and neighbours, offering expertise and perspective to help guide us through the transition. They are beginning to meet this fall to provide feedback, test ideas, and help us see both opportunities and risks as the transition unfolds.
The volunteer program is also growing. Crews are now gathering regularly to care for the orchard, maintain trails, and support conservation projects. These groups are becoming a steady presence on the land and are helping ensure that the day-to-day work of tending the property continues while new programs and partnerships take shape.
Alongside these efforts, we are shaping the framework for what we have been calling a “Laudato Si’ Field School.” The idea is to create a new apostolate that weaves Ignatian spirituality together with ecological learning, where prayer and reflection move hand in hand with hands-on experiences of farming, conservation, and community life.
In July, we officially closed Orchard Park and began exploring options for the future of the building. A full assessment confirmed that much of it will need to be deconstructed, and we are now preparing for how this work can unfold. We are working closely with advisors and partners to ensure the next phase is carried out safely and with careful attention to environmental impacts.
Even as new directions emerge, many of our programs continue. The community gardens, acreage rentals, and tenancies remain active. The trails are open to all. Our established partnerships provide a steady foundation. And every week, staff and volunteers are tending the land through restoration and care.
The Next Four Months
Over the coming months, we are working to deepen this early progress and to open up new possibilities. On the farm, we are exploring partnerships with local food distribution organizations so that IJC-grown food can nourish the wider community. We are exploring what it might take to bring back the internship program and are beginning conversations with partners about programs that bring people onto the property to learn food-growing skills and to experience the restorative benefits of working directly with soil, plants, and food.
In conservation, we are advancing the easement process with rare Charitable Research Reserve. Plans are underway for ecological and environmental surveys that will guide restoration efforts and help us design a wildlife corridor across IJC lands. In integral ecology, we are developing pilot programs that bring together Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and reflection with hands-on encounters in the land. Inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, these programs are designed to help participants experience God through the work of caring for our common home.
At Loyola House, we are in conversation and negotiation with a mission-aligned nonprofit focused on mental health. At the core of these discussions is the possibility of renting residential space, with the vision that participants in their programs could take part in the conservation and agricultural work already happening at IJC. The hope is that connection with the land and meaningful work in nature can complement and support the other dimensions of care that people need on their healing journey.
At Orchard Park, we are preparing for deconstruction and working with an environmental group that will build a new structure to rehome the chimney swifts currently nesting there. At the same time, we are working with industry professionals to determine the best approach to managing this project in a safe and responsible way.
Beyond the Horizon
Looking further ahead, we are imagining Ignatius Jesuit Centre as a place of ecological and spiritual encounter deeply rooted in care for our common home. We want this land to remain a place where people gather to pray, to learn, to grow food, to restore ecosystems, and to build community.
At Orchard Park, we are beginning to imagine what might happen at the site once the current building is removed. We are exploring possibilities with partners, municipal government, and community members to shape a vision for what belongs there next.
On the farm, we are looking further ahead to how IJC can be a long-term training ground for new farmers, a place where people gain access to land and mentorship, and a hub for food grown in ways that nourish both people and the planet.
In conservation, we are envisioning a full west-to-east wildlife corridor that links our land to regional conservation areas, ensuring that the ecosystems here are restored and protected for generations.
In integral ecology, we are imagining a mature field school model where Ignatian spirituality and ecological practice are woven seamlessly, offering workshops and courses that form people in a spirituality of care for our common home.
In community engagement, we are looking to deepen and expand our community and network, offering more ways for individuals and organizations to connect with the land, share responsibility for its care, and shape the future of this place together.
To bring this broader vision into being, we are seeking out partners who share our mission and values. We are exploring ways to share our resources and facilities with groups who can strengthen and expand the work. And we are beginning to plan for facilities that will support our programs and partners over the long term, helping secure a sustainable future for IJC.
Closing
The transition is still in its early stages, and we are grateful for the patience, care, and involvement of so many friends and partners. We invite you to walk with us by joining a volunteer crew, attending a pilot program, coming to an event, or supporting the work financially. Together we are shaping the next chapter of Ignatius Jesuit Centre, and we are deeply grateful to share this journey with you.
