St Georges Housing

What you should know about St Georges Housing

St. Georges Housing Co-operative is a non-profit, mixed-income housing co-op located on Henderson Avenue in Sandy Hill, central Ottawa. According to the co-op’s website, it occupies a city block steps from parks, the Rideau Canal, Transitway, Byward Market and the University of Ottawa, and is close to neighbourhood schools (notably Francojeunesse and Lisgar). The site emphasizes a leafy streetscape defined by tall maple trees and immediate access to downtown amenities, positioning the co-op as well-suited for students, families and professionals who need proximity to the university and city services. The property is described as a red-brick development composed of townhouse-style units and apartments. The listing cites 69 units along the block together with five wheelchair-accessible units, indoor and outdoor parking and a members’ meeting room. The co-op publishes nine different unit styles with downloadable floor plans and a schedule of monthly housing charges and any additional member fees on its Floor Plans & Rates page. The site also provides practical member resources such as an online maintenance request form, documents and bylaws, a photo gallery and a dedicated COVID‑19 information page outlining co-op protocols. St. Georges highlights a significant institutional history: it opened on October 17, 1992, and advertises itself as the first bilingual housing co-op established in North America. The co-op presents bilingualism and inclusivity as core features of its culture. As a mixed-income community, the membership profile stated on the site includes families (including single-parent households), new immigrants, persons living with disabilities, seniors and students — with a number of long-term and founding members still residing there. The co-op notes its particular appeal to University of Ottawa students and staff given the close walking distance. Governance is framed around standard co-operative principles. St. Georges describes itself as democratically run by its members, with mandatory committee participation, an elected board of directors, and decisions made at General Members’ Meetings. The co-op lists its mission, core values and vision, emphasizing respect, inclusion and diversity, bilingualism, safety and security, fiscal responsibility, self-government with active participation, and environmental sustainability. The site also outlines members’ rights typical to housing co-ops and references membership in the regional federation, the Co-operative Housing Association of Eastern Ontario (CHASEO), as a source of support, training and advocacy. For prospective members the website outlines application and membership processes and provides access to policies, application forms and event listings. Much of the detailed procedural and financial information is available through the co-op’s documents, floor plans and members-only areas on the site.