MARY ANNE MacKinnon joins the group around the table.
We’re talking about L’Arche Antigonish and the importance of this organization that creates homes for men and women with developmental disabilities and enables them to live and work together with assistance and guidance.
Mary Anne is one of the challenged adults. She says a cheery ‘Hello’ and tells us that she just came from work.
“I was hooking a rug at the CACL (Canadian Association for Community Living),” she says. “It’s for my brother and has a big B on it for Boston Bruins. He’s living in Halifax and I’m going there next week to give it to him.”
Mary Anne, in her 50s, sits next to Margie MacDonald, 62. Margie has lived at L’Arche for 15 years.
“I’m having a good day,” she says, when asked what she does to fill her time. “I play cards, do drawing and do chores.”
She also works in a seniors’ program, says Beth Wolters who, with another assistant, gives love and devotion to Margie and three other residents.
“Eleven years ago, I was looking for a way to foster my belief in the goodness of everyone,” says Beth, 37. “I’ve stayed because, even with the challenges of the job, I truly feel better doing this than living my own life.”
The man who started L’Arche in 1964, Jean Vanier, son of former Canadian governor general Georges P. Vanier, is in his late 70s now. He lives in France but it seems his aura of kindness and generosity is around this table.
His first L’Arche residence has exploded into more than 100 in 26 countries. There are three communities in Nova Scotia — Wolfville and Antigonish and L’Arche Cape Breton, which is headquartered in Iron Mines, near Whycocomagh. A Halifax group is in the development stage.
Antigonish L’Arche opened in 1979 with one home for six people and a team of four assistants. Today, there are two more, one housing four mentally challenged people with three assistants, and another, built in 2000 with donated material and labour, with three residents and three assistants.
“All the homes are integrated in neighbourhoods,” says director Gus Leuschner, proudly appreciative of the welcoming atmosphere of people in Antigonish.
“The whole theory behind L’Arche is to build bridges between people. The people on the receiving end of the care we give have a lot to teach me. It opens your eyes to another reality and shows how we can be a sign of hope for them, and the world.”
Sounds saintly, doesn’t it?
Well, Gus has been at this since 1971 when he joined the L’Arche community in France after seeing a television interview with Jean Vanier.
“I went to Paris for a winter to see what it was all about and stayed for three years. I went to other L’Arche communities in Africa and Toronto. I’ve been here for 14 years.”
There is a day program at a separate L’Arche building, a gathering place for the adults.
“L’Arche was created for welcome, acceptance and support but also as a springboard into society,” says Gus. “People in Antigonish have been wonderful bringing our people in as employees.”
Three St. Francis Xavier students pop in to talk of the L’Arche summer camp program for challenged kids aged eight to 19 years.
Geoff Courneya, a fourth-year student in human kinetics, played football for the X-Men. He smiles when he recalls carrying one boy from his wheelchair up three flights of steps to the top of a water slide, and then holding him on his lap as they sped downward.
Amanda LeBlanc, a third-year human kinetics student, laughs. “At first, the boy was a bit timid, but after that first time, he wanted to go over and over again.”
Geoff adds: “I saw him the other day and he’s already asking when summer camp will begin.”
Katharine Steeves, completing her psychology degree this spring, says the staff tried to help the campers do what kids do at any camp. The camp has changed her life for the moment.
“I’m going to L’Arche Ottawa in June to be a live-in counsellor for a year,” she says.
If Katharine is like assistant Natalie Stevens, she’s in for the long haul. Natalie came from Birmingham, England, to do a year between high school and university.
“Seven years later, I’m still here,” Natalie says. “I love the sense of community. It’s like a second family for me. I’ve been home a couple of times for a few months and felt lost without this.”
Nathan Johnson joined L’Arche Antigonish from North Carolina after hearing about L’Arche from his sister who worked there in France. After two years, Nathan’s headed home soon, but says he’ll leave this family with a heavy heart.
“At our house, we all sit down together for breakfast and supper,” he says. “Once a week, the three houses get together for supper. Each house makes something.”
He asks Mary Anne if shepherd’s pie is on tonight’s menu. She happily rubs her tummy and says, “Yum! Yum!”
“My house is making salad,” says Nathan.
Mary Anne grins. “We’ll like that,” she says.
By Joel Jacobson BRIGHT SPOT
Margie MacDonald, a resident of L’Arche Antigonish, plays a card game with assistant Natalie Stevens while St. F.X. student Katharine Steeves and L’Arche resident Mary Anne MacKinnon look on. L’Arche provides acceptance and support for mentally challenged adults.
