The Junction Village Guelph

  • Community
  • 0 followers

About the Community

  • Established
  • Urban

What we do

Something incredible, unique, and magical — though not yet totally clear — is taking root here in Guelph, Ontario in Canada. Our cluster of houses close to downtown Guelph is gradually emerging into a dynamic, diverse, multigenerational community. It feels bold and transformational. We are on the verge of something new — a place where people can create lives that feel meaningful, connected and inspired. There are core members who live here long term, people who live close by and use the communal spaces we have created, and people who pass through, taking ideas and learnings from their time with us to transplant elsewhere, or to grow something freshly inspired. Our community started as an idea — seeds that we planted have taken root over the past 20 years and have grown into this place called The Junction Village Guelph.
This is a diverse community whose members create a safe, loving space for children to grow, for young people to flourish, for families to connect and for older people to be held with reverence and joy. This is a space where the neighbours are linked together and share things such as gardening spaces, child care and participate in bulk purchasing opportunities.
At the center of the Junction Village Guelph is the house that forms the heart which we fondly refer to as The Purple Cow. The house is located on a beautiful urban property close to downtown Guelph and is owned by The Junction Village Community Land Trust. In the house above we have created opportunities to explore co-living for long and short term stays in any income bracket. We envision this will eventually have a large community kitchen surrounded by micro units. Currently it has three private rooms and a shared room called the Alcoves. Eventually we hope that the Purple Cow will be co-operatively owned with examples of owned and rented spaces.
Across the road is a 6-plex apartment with 4 unfurnished units that are rented long term and two furnished short term spaces available for shorter stays. Surrounding this are a series of privately owned houses some of which are owned by members of the community.
Behind the Purple Cow the two backyards have been connected creating almost half an acre of spaces for play, connection and food production. We are working to create examples of different ways to live together yet with our own spaces using bunkies, tiny houses, co-living spaces and single family homes.

We host potlucks in the summer months as an open space for community collisions, connection, working group meetings, music, movie screenings and other wonderful things. We like it when different organizations host the potlucks and use the space to bring people together.
In the communal backyard space we have backyard chickens, decks for gathering, a sauna, a pizza oven, a small co-working area, a skating rink, a 20 x 40 foot tent, play areas, a zipline, a slackline and lots of spaces to sit and connect or relax in a hammock.

We have recently incubated a community land trust and are currently acquiring additional sites to build community.

Our Vision

We envision a multigenerational community that nurtures its members to connect with and support each other to transform how we live in the urban environment. We seek to create neighbourhoods that function at a high level and are grounded in love, even when we don’t all agree. We care about catalyzing a successful transition to low carbon living where we can live lightly on the earth, eat great nourishing food, try out new ways of co-living, have each other’s backs and be life-long learners. We are a stand for all people to lead lives that are inspired, lit up and full of possibility. We strive to create resilient, joyful, purposeful lives based on the premise that we should leave the world better than we found it. Our days are filled with action, in a space where each person has a voice and each life makes a difference surrounded by amazing conversations, laughter and love.

Our Mission

We envision a multigenerational community that nurtures its members to connect with and support each other to transform how we live in the urban environment. We seek to create neighbourhoods that function at a high level and are grounded in love, even when we don’t all agree. We care about catalyzing a successful transition to low carbon living where we can live lightly on the earth, eat great nourishing food, try out new ways of co-living, have each other’s backs and be life-long learners. We are a stand for all people to lead lives that are inspired, lit up and full of possibility. We strive to create resilient, joyful, purposeful lives based on the premise that we should leave the world better than we found it. Our days are filled with action, in a space where each person has a voice and each life makes a difference surrounded by amazing conversations, laughter and love.

  • Community type
  • Cohousing
  • Intentional Neighborhoods
  • Activities
  • Education
  • Services Business
  • Others
  • 70 Total members
  • Open to new members
  • Open to visitors
  • Open to volunteers
Total
70

How to join

We are in the process of finalizing and launching our membership program. Membership is open to anyone and gives people the ability to stay connected, have voting rights, book services (eg sauna, pool, skating, pizza oven), rent accommodation etc. There will soon be a members only platform for communication (ReVillager) and members sections of the website. We want membership to be accessible so there is a pay what you can option.

Basic expectations or agreements for members

Email us, message us or book one of our Air BnB spaces.

Primary decision-making authority

  • Small Leadership Group

A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.

Governance structure

  • Founder/Leader-led

Primary authority rests with the community’s founder(s) or designated leader(s).

Economic model

  • Independent Finances

Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.

Economic scenarios for this community

  • There is a one-time fee, investment, or share purchase to join the community separate from accessing housing
  • Members typically need to have their own job or other personal source of income to cover their expenses while living in the community?

Additional economic information

Join fee: $50
Members with pre-existing debt: Yes
At the moment people in this community are living separately with control over their own economics. We are just starting to explore the models to share the investment in shared spaces.

Shared resources and amenities that are accessible to everyone in the community

Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Swimming pond or pool, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet, sauna, skating rink

Frequency of communal meals

  • 2-5 times per week

Substance use culture

  • Substance use appears in public spaces but no pressure
  • Religions
  • Wiccan, Paganism, or Earth Religions
  • Unitarian Universalist

Property status

  • Privately owned

Setting

  • Urban

Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.

Self-produced energy

  • 33 - 66%

Energy sources used

  • Photovoltaic Solar

Self-produced food

  • Up to 33%
  • Land area size
    2 acres

Reviews

Location

  • Ontario, Canada

The Junction Village Guelph

Promoted Needs and Offers

Need
Need
  • Communities with Openings
12 months ago

Water Birch Co-op. Urban living in central Denver.

Large, lovely house built in 1900, two blocks from Cheeseman Park in downtown Denver.  5000 square feet. The house was a Buddhist Meditation Center for 20 years before we got it and has lovely, calm vibes. We currently have ten people and have room for one more. We are an intentional community sharing dinners, 3 living rooms, 2 new kitchens and a kitchenette, & 5 baths. Staple food (organic) is bought together. The group is self-regulating as a co-op; it decides together how the house runs. There are chores ;-) Average cost per room is about $1000 ranging from $650 to $1354. Currently available room is $875. We are just finishing renovation of three bedrooms on the third floor  they are $875 each and share our largest, newest bath (shower and separate claw foot tub) and a brand new kitchenette  they all have beautiful windows and lots of light. PLEASE CHECK OUT COMMUNITY LISTINGS FOR MORE INFO. Initial lease for 3-6 months while we and you decide if we are a good fit for each other.  Deposit in the amount of one months rent is required prior to move in.  We do background checks on all members. Utilities are currently $130 per person per month and are all-inclusive.  They will change if costs go up, that amount is insufficient to cover utilities, or more people mean the cost per person goes down.  WiFi is via mesh network from gig-speed fiberoptic service.  Heat is with radiators.  Cooling is evaporative.  We have a storage room in a nearby commercial facility.  And a new large workshop in the garage. Shared food is $125 per month per person; it is a pass-through cost divided evenly among residents; it does NOT include meat or alternative protein nor any alcohol.  We will not be surprised if that needs to go up some soon ($10 or 15). We have two dogs and three cats in the house  that seems like a sufficient quantity of furry friends for now. Our community intentions include: Communication with compassion. Shared space and life. Shared meals. Shared staple foods which are non-GMO and Organic. Group decision making. Safe, inclusive space: queer and trans friendly, anti-racist, non-violent, and feminist. The purchase of the house by the co-op in about five years. The expansion of the co-op, possibly to include other housing types (like separate apartments). Weekly meetings and house committees to manage our community. We are considering implementing Sociocracy as an organizing method. Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am. We are looking for community members who: Want to live in a community not just have a place to sleep and eat. Want to live in a beautiful, clean, and organized house and are willing to help make and keep it that way. Residents should expect to spend 16 hours per month towards this goal. Are curious, compassionate, flexible, and open to living with others who will undoubtedly have different ideas about many things. Are interested in pioneering a new co-op. There will be work involved to get there. Are responsible and communicative. Embrace enthusiastically that living in community requires introspection and personal growth. Are not joining the community as a way of running away from something.

Join our newsletter to stay up to date.

By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

Free Plan

Free plan
Free

Advertise in our Directory

  • Subtotal

    {{ currencyFormat( pricing_summary.total_amount ) }}

Become a + Member

  • Send Direct Messages and see contact information
  • Find communities based on your profile tool
  • Post Needs & Offers Listings and Events
  • Access to resources in the Members Library /// like vetted documents uploaded by communites (e.g. bylaws )
  • Member badge on your profile
  • View communities detailed reviews
  • Create Private Groups