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.

The Waterloo group elected a director to the board of CCRI but a desire to become independent soon became evident. There was also talk of expanding the co-op. Part of the group opposed expansion on the grounds that it would destroy the small intimate community that had developed. The proponents of expansion argued that there was a serious lack of student housing in Waterloo and the Co-op was obliged to help relieve the shortage in the face of a rapidly increasing university population.

The expansion-oriented faction won out resulting in the purchase of the house at 139 University Ave West. Early in the summer of 1965 the houses at 139 and 141 University West were sold and moved away and construction began on a 4-storey residence building.

In September 1965, the Waterloo Co-op was expanded into five rented houses on either side of the original house another house at 65 Young St. and a house at 173 Clayfield.

In November, two additional houses on University Ave. were rented. At this point the Co-op consisted of 10 houses, a residence under construction and a membership of about 140. On November 8, 1965, the formal ties with CCRI were broken as the group received their Letters of Patent of Incorporation as Waterloo Co-operative Residence Incorporated.

Two more houses were acquired in 1966 and in May of that year Dag Hammarskjold, the first residence in North America built, owned and operated by students, opened. The Co-op could now accommodate 220 students in 12 houses (some rented, some owned) and the completed residence. The first full-time general Manager. Alvin Wood was hired. Meanwhile, a large development company was pressuring Co-op to sell 140 University Ave West. The company wanted to put up two twenty storey high rises along University Ave and Phillip St. but the ownership by Co-op of the original house blocked the project. With the financial shrewdness of Howard Adelman, 140 University Ave was sold for a handsome profit plus WCRI was given the right to use it for nominal rent. In addition, the Co-op was able to buy 2.5 acres of land at the north end of Phillip St. from the same development company at a favourable price. (The high rises were never built because of opposition from neighbouring homeowners).

Plans were drawn up to build four more four-storey buildings on the Phillip Street land. A plumbers strike and contractor delayed the expected September 1 completion date and 200 students arrived to find they didn't have a room. Temporary accommodation was provided in trailers and motels while some students slept on floors in other students' rooms and in lounges.

The project was not completed until the end of the year and WCRI assumed titled of the buildings in January 1969. Resident membership was now over 600 students.

In 1976, an era ended with the sale of Co-op's last two remaining houses. At one time WCRI owned or rented 12 houses but with the construction of residences and the resulting financial instability this number had gradually been reduced. The money from the houses was put into much needed improvements at Hammarskjold and Phillip St.

In 1978 WCRI expanded its operations by opening a tuck shop in building A3. The tuck shop sold such items as drinks, chocolate bars, nuts, apples, books, magazines, school supplies, and t-shirts. The tuck shop also operated vending machines in Hammarskjold and all profits were returned to the co-op. The tuck shop operated for some years.

In 1986 $6.5 million were invested to create a three building, 94 unit apartment complex named Carver, Clayfield, and Kershaw (CCK), which was completed in September of that year. Kershaw was named after John Kershaw, who was a pioneer of the Co-op movement in mid nineteenth century England. Clayfield was the name of one of our first co-op houses. George Washington Carver was an Afro-American biologist/chemist whose research in agriculture revitalized the economy of the South. He developed over 300 byproducts from peanuts, including peanut butter, and sweet potatoes, to diversify the economy of the South, which had previously relied solely on cotton.

In 1993, the Co-op worked hard to transform what was once an empty space in the basement of Clayfield into a cozy pub for all co-op members. Weavers' Arms Pub and restaurant is the first and only pub that is owned by a student co-op. It opened in the fall of 1993 and has become the "living room" of WCRI.

WCRI continues to be a co-operative inspiration to students everywhere. What started with a small group has grown into housing for 972 members. The success of WCRI proves that co-operatives are able to adapt to the changing economic, political, and social currents of society.

WCRI completed a redevelopment of one of our properties in the fall 2005 term. In this redevelopment our residence at 139 University Avenue West (Hammar) was changed into a building with 88 single dormitory-style rooms. Redevelopment of the property at 280 Phillip Street is being planned as part of WCRI's strategic plan as we work towards a sustainable future. The Co-op aims to revitalize our community and continue to offer quality, affordable housing space for students.

WCRI is one of the largest student housing co-operative in North America and it continues to be a co-operative inspiration to students everywhere. What started with a small group has grown into housing for 900 resident members. The success of WCRI proves that co-operatives are able to adapt to the changing economic, political, and social currents of society. Our mandate of "People Not Profits" is still providing a viable alternative to capitalism in the new millennium.