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The Promise of Paradise: Utopian Communities in British Columbia
The West has long attracted visionaries and schemers from around the world. And no other region in North America can outstrip British Columbia for the number of utopian or intentional settlement attempts in the past 150 years. Andrew Scott delves into the dramatic stories of these fascinating, but often doomed, communities.
From Doukhobor farmers to Finnish coal miners, Quakers and hippies, many groups have struggled to build idealistic colonies in BC's inspiring landscape. While most discovered hardship, disillusionment and failure, new groups sprang up--and continue to spring up--to take their place.
Meet the quick-tempered, slave-driving Madame Zee (partner of the infamous Brother XII), who reportedly beat followers with a riding crop. Hear from Richard "The Troll" Schaller, who founded the Legal Front Commune, General Store and Funny Food Farm on the Sunshine Coast, setting off a storm of hostility from locals. Congregate with Jerry LeBourdais and fellow members of the Ochiltree Organic Commune, who rebelled from hippie communes by embracing meat eating and coffee drinking.
With careful research and engaging first-person accounts, Scott sifts through the wreckage of the utopia-seekers' dreams and delves into the practices and philosophies of contemporary intentional communities. This book is a compendium of astounding misadventures as well as an intriguing analysis of what moves people to search for paradise.
From Doukhobor farmers to Finnish coal miners, Quakers and hippies, many groups have struggled to build idealistic colonies in BC's inspiring landscape. While most discovered hardship, disillusionment and failure, new groups sprang up--and continue to spring up--to take their place.
Meet the quick-tempered, slave-driving Madame Zee (partner of the infamous Brother XII), who reportedly beat followers with a riding crop. Hear from Richard "The Troll" Schaller, who founded the Legal Front Commune, General Store and Funny Food Farm on the Sunshine Coast, setting off a storm of hostility from locals. Congregate with Jerry LeBourdais and fellow members of the Ochiltree Organic Commune, who rebelled from hippie communes by embracing meat eating and coffee drinking.
With careful research and engaging first-person accounts, Scott sifts through the wreckage of the utopia-seekers' dreams and delves into the practices and philosophies of contemporary intentional communities. This book is a compendium of astounding misadventures as well as an intriguing analysis of what moves people to search for paradise.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Andrew Scott
295 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 8, 2019
Can groups of strangers, dissatisfied with existing housing choices, bond together to form more productive, satisfying communities? That appears to depend on the strangers. p213
Actually, it doesn't take long for people to bond over a common cause or misfortune. It is the day in day out contact that can solidify or erode the kind of commitment necessary to live in harmony with others. In this second edition of Andrew Scott's exploration of utopian communities in British Columbia he documents the many variations on the theme, shining a light on dusty archives and more than a few dark secrets.
Helpful maps locate the different communities at the beginning of each chapter and AS has included many of his own photos along with those he has gathered from official and private collections.
One of the determining factors of a communities success is how successfully it integrates new people and new ideas, and how closely the prevailing theories are related to practice. Not surprising are the many examples of duplicity:trusted officials skinning the profits or running off with investments; exhausted colonists exploited by unscrupulous individuals; power struggles and bitter disillusionment. Sex and money and alcohol seem to have played their usual disruptive part but just as often it was the government reneging on its promises or changing the rules (or a change of gov't) that discouraged settlement.
What did surprise me was the number of communities that pulled together after scandals that may have forced them confront the worst of human nature, reorganizing, moving if necessary, rebuilding, carrying on the dream.
A few of these communities still exist. What a different landscape this would be if these places had succeeded in establishing a new template for living. It occurs to me that with the current housing crises that it might be about time some of these hopeful ideas be revived.
Actually, it doesn't take long for people to bond over a common cause or misfortune. It is the day in day out contact that can solidify or erode the kind of commitment necessary to live in harmony with others. In this second edition of Andrew Scott's exploration of utopian communities in British Columbia he documents the many variations on the theme, shining a light on dusty archives and more than a few dark secrets.
Helpful maps locate the different communities at the beginning of each chapter and AS has included many of his own photos along with those he has gathered from official and private collections.
One of the determining factors of a communities success is how successfully it integrates new people and new ideas, and how closely the prevailing theories are related to practice. Not surprising are the many examples of duplicity:trusted officials skinning the profits or running off with investments; exhausted colonists exploited by unscrupulous individuals; power struggles and bitter disillusionment. Sex and money and alcohol seem to have played their usual disruptive part but just as often it was the government reneging on its promises or changing the rules (or a change of gov't) that discouraged settlement.
What did surprise me was the number of communities that pulled together after scandals that may have forced them confront the worst of human nature, reorganizing, moving if necessary, rebuilding, carrying on the dream.
A few of these communities still exist. What a different landscape this would be if these places had succeeded in establishing a new template for living. It occurs to me that with the current housing crises that it might be about time some of these hopeful ideas be revived.
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November 20, 2017As a lifelong British Columbian I've always been intrigued by the legends of communes, attempts at utopia, and other intentional communities I've heard about growing up. Andrew Scott investigates more than a dozen of them for us, from Brother XII on Decoursey Island to the Emissaries, the Doukhobors, and the Finns at Sointula. Entertaining and enlightening read.
February 9, 2022
I had a hard time putting this book down. Every community detailed was fascinating.
I loved learning about this small portion of the history of BC in a factual nonbiased way from start to finish. The good the bad and the ugly.
Scott discusses "utopia-seekers," their philosophies and practices, and why people look for "intentional communities".
He explores the history of Danish Settlers in Cape Scott, The Finnish Colony in Sountoula, Metlakatla, Doukbobors, Brother XII and the Aquarian Foundation and many many more looking for paradise.
It makes me want to devour more books on the subject.
I loved learning about this small portion of the history of BC in a factual nonbiased way from start to finish. The good the bad and the ugly.
Scott discusses "utopia-seekers," their philosophies and practices, and why people look for "intentional communities".
He explores the history of Danish Settlers in Cape Scott, The Finnish Colony in Sountoula, Metlakatla, Doukbobors, Brother XII and the Aquarian Foundation and many many more looking for paradise.
It makes me want to devour more books on the subject.
September 30, 2026
3.5/5.
The Promise of Paradise is good tour through utopian communities in British Columbia, most no longer in existence, most short-lived. Andrew Scott begins in Metlakatla, the "model village" pioneered by the lay Anglican missionary William Duncan in his attempt to shelter his First Nations flock from what he took to be indigenous superstitions and from the vices of white culture (alcohol, gambling, etc...). The other settlements were centred on religion (the Doukhobers, the Quaker village of Argenta), pseudo-religions and/or the occult (Brother XII's community, the Emissaries of Divine Light), ethnicity (e.g. the Finnish town of Sointula), the counterculture and cooperatives. Scott delves into the unique details of each of these utopian communities, many of who were afflicted with similar hardships - draconian or dishonest leaders, an inability to be economically viable, worn down by the weather and other conditions.
The Promise of Paradise is good tour through utopian communities in British Columbia, most no longer in existence, most short-lived. Andrew Scott begins in Metlakatla, the "model village" pioneered by the lay Anglican missionary William Duncan in his attempt to shelter his First Nations flock from what he took to be indigenous superstitions and from the vices of white culture (alcohol, gambling, etc...). The other settlements were centred on religion (the Doukhobers, the Quaker village of Argenta), pseudo-religions and/or the occult (Brother XII's community, the Emissaries of Divine Light), ethnicity (e.g. the Finnish town of Sointula), the counterculture and cooperatives. Scott delves into the unique details of each of these utopian communities, many of who were afflicted with similar hardships - draconian or dishonest leaders, an inability to be economically viable, worn down by the weather and other conditions.
January 12, 2026
This book is great if you are interested in quirky bits of BC history. Having been up and down the bc coast, it was interesting to learn more about the history of the places I’ve visited. Overall an interesting read. It has me thinking that I’m just not cut out for utopian community life LOL!
October 4, 2017
Fascinating exploration of the movement within the geography. Entertaining. An articulate overview.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews