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The beginnings of Waterloo Co-operative Residence Incorporated can be traced back to the fall of 1963 when Richard Rowe, a Waterloo engineering student, went to Toronto on his first work-term. There he joined Campus Co-operative Residence Inc. (CCRI), a successful student housing co-operative that has been operating since 1938. The idea of students owning and running their own residence so impressed Rowe that once back at Waterloo, at St. Paul's College, he spoke to his friends and fellow students about starting a co-op. Rowe and two friends, Marilyn Hindmarch and Earlby Wakefield, managed to get enough people interested in the idea to approach CCRI for assistance. The assistance first came in the form of a meeting with Howard Adelman, then General Manger of CCRI. He outlined the work which would have to be done in setting up a student co-op. Following this meeting 24 students, most of whom were members of the Student Christian Movement, each made a deposit of $25 and a planning committee was set up. Soon after a boarding house, built to handle 27 people, was made available to the group and CCRI was contacted for assistance. CCRI purchased the house at 140 University Ave West and the Waterloo Division of CCRI was created. Both men and women had joined the group but when the University of Waterloo administration heard of the planned mixed living arrangements they threatened to expel the students. The situation was resolved by the purchase of a second house across the street to accommodate the women. The Waterloo Division of CCRI opened in September 1964 with 9 women at 141 University Ave West, and 27 men at 140 University Ave West and 2 boarders. Only one employee was hired, a cook. The dining facilities were located in the basement of 140 University West.

 

Address: Waterloo Co-operative Residence Inc., 268 Phillip St., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6G9.
Telephone: 1-519-884-3670
Fax: 1-519-888-6398
Website: http://www.wcri.org/