Current Members

Judy Shepalo
Founding Member
Leader: Steering Circle
Leader: Site Selection Circle
Member: Outreach & Communications Circle

Judy Shepalo, currently Leader of our Steering Circle, was born in Liverpool, England and emigrated to Canada as a small child, returning to live in England for a year when she was 19. She obtained a Canadian university degree in Sociology and Anthropology then spent a year travelling in Europe. After a 4-year stint in Calgary, Judy returned to Ontario and joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force for 10 years, leaving for California to be with her now husband Gary Wyber. Her endeavours in California included matchmaker in Beverly Hills and commercial real estate appraiser for the healthcare industry. Judy and Gary have now lived in Dundas ON for 23 years; it is very much home for them both. The work Judy & others initiated through Cohousing Hamilton is fun, rewarding, challenging and exciting as it moves this project slowly and inexorably toward the goal of establishing the first cohousing community in the Hamilton area.

Lee Ann Holloway Equity Member
Founding Member
Leader: Planning Circle
Member: Steering Circle
Member: Sociocracy Circle

Elle & Patrick Ryan
Founding Member
Leader: Membership & Social Circle
Member: Steering Circle

 The mastermind and live spark behind Cohousing Hamilton, Ellen Ryan is a semi-retired professor of gerontology, married to Patrick Ryan, retired professor of math and computer science. Their three children have given the Ryans three grandchildren, with one family living in Sweden.

In retirement, Ellen studied creative writing and enjoys kindling the desire among older adults to write life stories. She and Patrick walk long and often, usually with camera in hand with which Ellen specializes in shadow selfies – finding the light. Her images and writings can be enjoyed on her website: Writing Aging & Spirit.
Since 1975, the Ryans have participated in an intentional community, the Clavius Group, with annual stays in campus residences, sorting out group cooking, for a summer month. While the initial purpose of the community related to mathematics research, the ongoing purpose of the now-aging international group is camaraderie and support. Having personal retreat time & space allowed for the Ryans to appreciate the group interactions of 30-50 people. They look forward to the neighbourliness of intentional community in Cohousing Hamilton.

Carol Gottlob
Leader: Outreach & Communications Circle
Member: Steering Circle

Carol Gottlob has enjoyed many wonderful adventures and experiences leading up to her involvement in Cohousing Hamilton. A Toronto native, she has lived in different parts of the GTHA as well as in cities and outposts in Quebec, BC, PEI, Manitoba and Yukon. Burlington has been her home since 1995. Her diverse roles over the past decades have included student, hippie, wife, mom, teacher, grandmother, city council candidate, biker, kayaker and hiker, her greatest conquest being The Bruce Trail, from Niagara to Tobermory and back! Carol looks forward to retiring from her rewarding career as an ESL Instructor to newcomers to Canada. Cohousing answers her desire to live sustainably, within her means, amongst like-minded and caring people. She is certain to find new and fulfilling roles within the new community!

Barbara Kephart

Barbara Kephart was born and raised in Sudbury and Manitoulin Island, then moved to sunny Northern California for work where she lived for 25 years. She happily moved back to Canada in 2016 and now resides in Guelph. She is an avid sailor, photographer, and world music lover. She loves to try out new things and have little adventures with her mountain bike, kayak or hiking boots. Barbara started her professional life in healthcare in nuclear medicine and ultrasound, and now works behind the scenes to project manage medical software systems and any other projects her clients ask her to manage. She is a lifelong community volunteer, having worked with a range of organizations from women’s shelters, schools, out of poverty groups, vulnerable youth, and co-operative organic farmers. Barbara is exploring cohousing because she wants to be around like minded individuals with similar interests and to share in community resources.

Ken Tichgelaar Equity Member
Leader: Finance & Legal Circle
Member: Steering Circle
Member: Site Search Circle

Kenneth Tigchelaar is a father, grandfather, husband, brother, and friend who raised three kids safely to adulthood and built his own home. As a Dundas resident, he hikes, motorcycles, likes to travel and renovate. Ken spent the bulk of his career in “big oil”, rising from driving a truck to sitting on an advisory team for global system deployment. He now is interested in seeking ways to improve social outcomes in a capitalist environment. The potential for cohousing to provide affordable housing for seniors was the first reason for becoming involved in Cohousing Hamilton, seeing it as a means to address issues like social isolation and aging in place. Recognizing his relatively privileged position, Ken advocates for those who are left behind economically and otherwise through helping to build the Cohousing Hamilton community.