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.
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.
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.
Email us, message us or book one of our Air BnB spaces.
A few people (not elected by the broader community) make the major decisions.
Decisions proceed unless someone has a reasoned objection.
Organized in circles or domains with distributed authority.
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.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Join fee: $50
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
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.
Common House, Garden(s), Workshop, Swimming pond or pool, Outdoor Kitchen, Large Scale Kitchen, Fire pit, Swingsets & play areas, Internet
Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.
Private homes with shared common facilities, designed for neighborly
interaction while maintaining independence.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Geographically close groups of independently-owned homes whose residents actively cultivate community relationships and shared values.
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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