The Junction Village Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Updated on: Nov 29, 2024 (about 5 months ago)
- Created on: Aug 22, 2019 (over 5 years ago)
Mission Statement
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 Description
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.
- Status: Established (4+ adults, 2+ years)
- Started Planning: 2004
- Started Living Together: 2007
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Please read the details in Membership below before contacting this community.Send Message
- Website: http://www.junctionvillageguelph.com/
- Business, Project, or Organization: http://www.JunctionVillageGuelph.com
- Other Social: http://www.junctionvillageCLT.org
- Contact Name: Mike Craig
- Community Address:47 Meadowview Ave
Guelph, Ontario N1H 5S7
Canada Location
About
- Type(s):
- Cohousing (individual homes within group property)
- Shared Housing, Cohouseholding, or Coliving (multiple individuals sharing a dwelling)
- Transition Town or Eco-Neighborhood (focused on energy/resource resiliency)
- Programs & Activities:
- Transition Town (post-petroleum and off-grid communities.)
- School, Educational Institute or Experience
- Neighborhood, Community Housing, or Homeowner's Association
- Ethical Business, Investment Group, or Alternative Currency
- Organization, Resource, or Network
- WWOOF'ing, Guest Farming
- Festivals, Conferences, Events
- Location: Urban
Housing
- Status: We have land we have developed on
- Area: 2 acres
- Current Residence Types:
- Single-family homes
- Multi-family homes
- Room(s) in a house or building
- Tiny house
- Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent
- Alcoves (pods)
- Current Number of Residences: 20
- Planned Number of Residences: 4
- Planned Residence Types:
- Multi-family homes
- Room(s) in a house or building
- Tiny house
- Yurt, tee-pee, dome, treehouse, or tent
- Housing Provided:
- Purchase
- Rental
- Work-exchange
- Land Owned By: We are in the process of forming a community land trust to hold title. There are also privately owned houses and rental houses close by.
- Additional Comments: Our community consists of a group of privately owned housing in an urban area in downtown Guelph. Some of these houses are owned by families who form part of the Junction Village Guelph. Other spaces are available for rent on a long term basis. We also have a variety of short term furnished spaces ranging from a pod in a shared room to apartments to a full furnished house. We have occasionally hosted other peoples tiny houses for a period of time. We have a tent for convening in the warmer months.
Membership
- Adult Members: 50
- Child Members: 20
- Visitors Accepted: Yes
- Visitor Process: Email us, message us or book one of our Air BnB spaces.
- Open to New Members: Yes
- Membership Process: 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.
- Additional Comments: Presently our membership structure is evolving. We want people who wish to be part of what is forming to be able to. There are ways to be involved through investment, rental, or events. We encourage innovative ideas on how this will evolve and function.
Government
- Decision Making: By a council, group of Elders, or leadership group
- Identified Leader: Yes, multiple identified leaders
- Leadership Core Group: Yes
- Additional Comments: At the moment the community consists of privately owned spaces that are shared with other people who either own private spaces or rent a space close by. We are are forming a community land trust so that investment in the core buildings can be shared. We are also creating a membership so that there are parameters around use and rental of the core facilities.
Economics
- Join Fee($): 50
- Dues, Fees, or Shared Expenses: No
- Shared Income: None
- Open to Members with Existing Debt: Yes
- Additional Comments: 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.
Sustainability Practices
- Energy Infrastructure: We are connected to the grid.
- Current Renewable Energy Generation: 26-49%
- Energy Sources:
- Solar
- Geothermal
- Planned Renewable Energy Generation: 50-75%
- Current Food Produced: Up to 25%
- Planned Food Produced: Between 26-49%
- Food Produced Locally: From 50-75%
Lifestyle
- Common Facilities:
- Common House
- Garden(s)
- Workshop
- Swimming pond or pool
- Outdoor Kitchen
- Large Scale Kitchen
- Fire pit
- Swingsets & play areas
- Internet
- sauna, skating rink
- Internet Available: Yes, both the community and individuals provide it
- Internet Fast?: Yes, exceptionally.
- Cellphone Service: Good for most people.
- Shared Meals: 2-5 times per week
- Dietary Practices:
- Omnivorous (plants and animals)
- Paleo (no grains, dairy, processed foods, or legumes)
- Local
- Organic (no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers)
- Mostly Vegetarian
- Dietary Choice or Restrictions: No - people may eat however they wish.
- Special Diets OK: Sometimes
- Alcohol Use: Yes, used occasionally.
- Tobacco Use: Yes, used occasionally.
- Common Spiritual Practice(s):
- Unitarian Universalist
- Paganism or Earth Religions
- Humanist
- Spiritual Practice Expected?: No
- Education Style(s):
- Home Schooling
- Private School off the property
- Public Schooling
- Up to each family or individual
- Healthcare Options: Up to each family, household, or individual
Cohousing
- Building Site Status: Retrofitting
- Has a Shared Common Building: Yes
Additional Comments
We have been forming very organically over a long period and are now at a stage where some additional infrastructure and organizational structure are needed. There are evolving ways that people can get involved either as a resident, an investor, a renter, through the purchase of a house close by or through work exchange opportunities. Things are changing and evolving daily. We are experimenting and prototyping everything from places to stay to the structure for investment and membership. What is clear is that whats happening is working and that there is a huge desire for connection and innovation in how we live in urban settings. We have incubated a community land trust to hold the land.
Community Network or Organization Affiliations
The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC)
Community Affiliations
Junction Village Community Land Trust
Fair Housing Laws
This community acknowledges that their listing does not include any potential violations of the Fair Housing Law, or that they do not provide housing. For any questions about this topic please see our Content Policies and contact FIC with any questions or concerns: directory@ic.org.
Keywords
Guelph, intentional community, transition town, potluck, shared living, intergenerational