Support for the Identity Shift of a Lifetime.
Most parenting spaces focus on the “stuff.” We focus on you.
The North Village Collective is a professionally facilitated, peer-led community in Edmonton. We provide the steady ground you need to move from the isolation of early parenthood into deep, lasting connection.
Whether you are navigating your first week or your first year, we offer more than just a place to talk—we offer a place to belong.
Why the Collective is Different:
- Professionally Held Spaces: Unlike a casual playgroup, our circles are moderated by experienced peer supporters. We ensure the environment remains safe, grounded, and focused on your well-being.
- Friendship Without the Small Talk: We bypass the “expert” lectures and unsolicited advice to make room for what actually matters: authentic stories and real human connection.
- Find Your Village: This is where you meet the people who “get it.” We provide the structure so that you can focus on making the friends who will walk this journey with you.
Come as you are.
Messy hair, crying baby, pjs and all. We have a seat saved for you.
Beyond the baby gear and the checklists, there is a heart and person that needs holding.
We have enough things to track. What we really need is a soft space to feel.
A brave, (non-clinical) space for parents to drop the mask, process the space to breathe through the vulnerable beginnings of parenthood, and find a side-by-side village.
We often don’t feel prepared for this.
The Reality Check
You have the gadgets, the gear, the swaddles, and the tracking apps. You have endless checklists telling you exactly how you are supposed to feel, and an overwhelming mountain of unsolicited advice telling you how you are supposed to cope, supposed to feel.
But when the house is dark at 3:00 AM, or when the sensory overload of a loud afternoon makes your nervous system want to completely shut down, the “shoulds” don’t offer relief.
You don’t need more instructions. You need a soft landing.
Who We Are
We Believe in Less “Shoulds”, and More Connection.
The North Village Collective was born out of a simple, fierce belief: New parenthood is not a condition to be managed, and your heart is not a project to be fixed.
We are a peer-led community support organization right here in Edmonton (and open to all Canadians) built specifically for parents who are navigating the heavy days of identity transition and adjusting to life with a new baby and the first years. This is an intentional, brave space where:
- The heavy days can just be heavy without someone rushing in to give you a checklist or clear it away.
- You can speak the raw, unpolished truth about isolation, identity loss, and newborn anxiety—and hear a quiet, steady, “I’m right here with you.”
- No one is grading you. There are no expectations to perform, no unsolicited advice, and no judgment. Just shared ground.
The Ways to Connect
Facilitated Groups
The 10-Week Group Cohort
A close-knit, weekly container for a small group of parents to walk through these shifts together. No toxic positivity. No rigid parenting manuals. Just honest storytelling, a values compass to help build your boundaries, and deep, peer-led validation.
Best for: Parents looking for a predictable, grounding rhythm and a dedicated village.
📍 Next Intake & Live Sessions: (See calendar below to save your seat)
One-on-One Peer Support Space
Private Peer Support Sessions
A dedicated 1:1 space entirely for you. We strip away the domestic checklists and the caretaking schedule to focus purely on the individual beneath the title of “Parent”. A soft space to vent, externalize the mental load, and regulate an overstimulated nervous system.
Best for: When the noise gets too loud and you need private, focused holding.
🗓️ Availability: Weekly spaces available by booking.
The Digital Village Membership
Your Ongoing Online Sanctuary
An intentional, flexible way to stay connected to the village, designed to fit into the unpredictable rhythm of life with a new baby. We offer two pathways to join our community spaces:
Best for: Parents looking for flexible, live online connection that doesn’t require leaving the house.
🗓️ Availability: Weekly and monthly spaces available through membership (free and paid options)
Gather with the Village
📅 Upcoming Groups & Gatherings
The Fall Cohort (10-Weeks)
- Dates: Starting Sept 9th 2026
- Location: Virtually
- Cost: $90-225 (Sliding scale available).
Virtual Village Drop-In
- Next Date: July 16th 10:00am
- Location: Cozy online space via Zoom.
💬 Private Support Spaces
One-on-One Peer Support Sessions
- Dedicated 1:1 time focused entirely on your individual identity and navigating the shifts of new parenthood.
- Availability: Weekly spaces available by booking.
- Cost: $40 per 30 minute-session.