Watercolour Westport Stories

In this episode, Stephen and Wafa chat with Gord Cooke, building science expert and President of Building Knowledge Canada. Gord shares insights from his decades of experience helping builders across the country create homes that are healthier, more efficient, and built to last. Together, they explore what makes Watercolour Westport unique —and why new homes that aren’t Net Zero Ready are obsolete...

Meet a new Watercolour homeowner who celebrated the end of a 40-year career in Hamilton’s steel industry with a move to the calm rhythm of village life in Westport. George shares what it’s been like to settle into the community — from morning walks to hockey nights and pontoon rides on the lake — and how small-town living has brought him a new sense of joy, connection, and peace. Enjoy a conversat...

In this episode, Stephen and Wafa sit down with Petra, a homeowner who traded Niagara living for the charm and walkability of Westport. Petra shares how a spontaneous visit turned into a life-changing decision, what it’s been like settling into the Watercolour community, and how everyday moments — from porch chats to time on the water — have made this village feel like home. A heartfelt story abou...

In this episode, Stephen and Wafa sit down with Leigh Verge, a homeowner and model home host at Watercolour Westport. Leigh shares her journey from city living in Mississauga to finding a new pace of life in Westport — where walking trails, live music, and friendly neighbours have become part of her everyday. She reflects on what drew her and her husband to Watercolour, the joy of community connec...

In this episode, Stephen and Wafa sit down with Pam Garcia , a mom of four whose family traded city life for small-town living in Westport. Pam shares what it’s been like raising a young family here — from homeschooling and gardening to finding calm, connection, and community in a walkable village. She reflects on the joy of slowing down, building friendships, and living in a place where neighbour...

Living surrounded by nature and walkable places means you can thrive. Watercolour homeowner and community leader Randall Goodfellow shares with Stephen and Wafa how living in Westport brings together nature, purpose, and connection. Randall shares his journey from Ottawa to Westport, his lifelong passion for maple syrup farming, and how his love of the outdoors has evolved into a deep commitment t...

In this special episode, Stephen Rolston, founder of Land Ark Homes, and Marketing Lead, Wafa, reflect on the journey of Watercolour Westport and the values shaping its future. Discover some of the places around North America that inspired community, to the thoughtful details that make each home a place of belonging. Stephen and Wafa share candid insights about what drives their work and how Water...

In this episode of Watercolour Westport Stories , Stephen and Wafa welcome LuAnne, a resident who shares why life in Watercolour feels so meaningful. From walkable neighbourhood design to the comfort and sustainability of Net Zero Ready homes, LuAnne highlights what makes the community unique — and why it’s the only fully fossil fuel–free neighbourhood of its kind in Canada. She reflects on the jo...

Meet Allison Scheuermann of Scheuermann Vineyard and Winery to hear the inspiring journey behind one of Westport’s most cherished destinations. From humble beginnings and entrepreneurial experiments to planting vineyards, building a thriving winery, and welcoming thousands of guests each year, Allison shares how family, faith, and community have shaped their story. Join us for a heartfelt conversa...

What makes a community thrive? In this episode, Stephen and Wafa sit down with Seamus Cowan, owner of The Cove Inn—a cornerstone of Westport’s hospitality and culture. Seamus shares the history of The Cove Inn, what it means to run a family-owned business in a small town, and how the spirit of connection is woven through both The Cove Inn and Watercolour Westport. From live music every night all y...

Too many roads, stop lights, traffic, and poor land planning have made escaping the GTA the next big migration.  Keith spent his whole life in the GTA and Southwestern Ontario before moving to Watercolour, and he immediately noticed what had long since been missing from his hometown: no traffic, small town charm, personal connection with neighbours, and close encounters with nature In this episode...

Have you ever experienced the feeling of all the stress and frustration leaving your body, like a huge exhale? That’s what residents of Watercolour feel every time they return home. In this episode, Peter and Linda talk about their experience of living in Watercolour. As some of the earliest residents, they’ve had a lot of time to get to know the community and the technology in their home. They ta...

It’s the things you can’t see in Watercolour homes that make them so exciting. At least, that’s the case for Dave, a military veteran with a background in technology and a familiarity with the construction industry. Many things influenced Dave’s decision to move to Watercolour, but the exciting technologies and forward-thinking building techniques were among the top deciding factors. High-speed in...

When Stephen Rolston, founder and owner of Land Ark Homes, decided to get back into home building to create a new kind of community, he knew that he wanted to do things differently in all aspects of his business. The first person he called was Kevin Rankin, who now serves as Watercolour Westport’s General Manager. In this episode, Stephen and Wafa are joined by Kevin as they discuss the aspiration...

Every element of Watercolour Westport has been thoughtfully designed, from the length of each block to the parks and protected land. Each decision was informed by sustainability and a desire to preserve the natural beauty and historic feel of Westport for generations to come. In this episode, you’ll meet Mark Snider, who has many years of experience as a land planner.. He is also a Westport boy, b...

What’s better than waterfront cottage living? How about the cottage lifestyle without the waterfront upkeep? Meet Lorne, who made the move to Watercolour with his wife Doris, after realizing that they no longer wanted the upkeep of a waterfront cottage property. Moving from Ottawa, Lorne has rediscovered the friendly, small-town feel, how much he enjoys all of the events in Westport, and the benef...

When cities became huge hubs of commerce and culture, neighbourhood communities were replaced with condos and green spaces were paved over. People began to spend more time commuting and less time getting to know their neighbours. For many, city living is now isolating and overwhelming. That was true for Beth and her husband, who realized one day that everything they’d loved about their home and co...

Living in a big city, it’s easy to feel disconnected from the people around you. But, in Westport, the small population of year-round residents band together for volunteer initiatives and community events to keep the town thriving and build relationships. Joe and his wife decided to downsize and simplify their lives by moving to Westport, where they quickly felt at home in the community. As Wafa c...

Have you ever considered that where you live impacts how you work? Research shows that living in a quieter, more rural area and working remotely can be beneficial for productivity because it offers a better pace of life. In this episode, Stephen chats with Jamie, who has been in Watercolour for less than a year, but has already made many connections and felt more at peace since moving in. She shar...

Picture this: a quaint, but vibrant village surrounded by nothing but natural landscapes and the sounds of wildlife. And yet, urban life and city centers are still conveniently close. In this episode, Stephen speaks to Shawn. Shawn and his wife started planning to downsize as their children moved out, and that was when they found Watercolour. What Shawn loved most was that the village reminded him...

People who move to Watercolour Westport are searching for and finding community. In this episode, Stephen sits down with Mona, Watercolour’s first resident. Having previously lived in Westport before moving to Watercolour, Mona shares her local expertise on attractions, activities, and social groups with new and potential residents. As she says, “There’s always something to do.” The highlight of M...

Imagine living in a place where nature is everywhere and traffic doesn’t exist, but everything you could need is just minutes from your front door. In this episode, Stephen and Joan chat about walking, hiking, swimming, and being part of social groups in the community. When Joan heard about Land Ark’s vision for Watercolour Westport, she knew that this was where she wanted to live. She fell in lov...

At Watercolour, you really can have the best of both worlds! That’s what John and his wife found out when they stumbled upon Watercolour on a trip into Westport several years ago. Although they’d made the difficult decision to give up their nearby family cottage, the Bumas still loved spending time in and around Westport. It wasn't until they spoke to the team at Land Ark Homes that they realized...

Why sit in a sea of brake lights when you can walk to where you want to be?  Remote work has opened up new possibilities for young families looking to escape the busyness of urban life and get in touch with nature. In this episode, Stephen meets with Jonathan, one of the early residents of Watercolour Westport, who was drawn in by the possibilities of a better work-life balance. Jonathan shares ho...

Welcome to episode 1 of the Watercolour Westport Stories Podcast! In our very first episode, Wafa Martin, Marketing Lead, sits down with Stephen Rolston, founder of Land Ark Homes, to explore the heart behind Watercolour Westport. Stephen shares what drew him back into home building, why he chose the charming village of Westport, and how the vision for this unique neighbourhood came to life. As th...