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The community gathered yesterday to look at how we belong to L’Arche, it is part of a process all L’Arche communities in the federation are taking part in. We split into groups and shared how we belonged through 4 themes- prayer, celebration, welcome and support of others. We have a strong sense of belonging here at L’Arche Antigonish and we shared our ideas through pictures and symbols. We enjoyed a meal together and ended the evening with the L’Arche prayer.
Today construction started on our new duplex on Hawthorne street. We will keep you updated with the progress!
Members of L’Arche and the Antigonish community gathered Monday morning for the officially sod turning at the future location of a new L’Arche home.
The site on Hawthorne Street, at the top of Brookland Street, will be the location for a new duplex that will be the home for eight L’Arche members.
Nancy Marenick, past president of the L’Arche Antigonish board of directors and chair of the building committee, said the project was announced by the province on Oct. 4, 2007.
“The government of the day awarded four contracts for homes for people with disabilities and Antigonish was one of the four,” she said.
Work on the project started immediately, she said.
“There were some ups and downs along the way.”
Marenick said initially the board was looking for a home to renovate.
“There were periods of miscommunication between the government and us but in the end we bought this lot and we have a beautiful plan for a duplex and we’ll begin construction very soon.”
L’Arche Antigonish community leader Gus Leuschner said the province is facing challenging fiscal times and there are many needs throughout Nova Scotia and limited resources.
“We’re just grateful for the staff at community services and the minister for getting this back on track.”
Marenick added the new home is greatly needed.
“We could build three or four new homes and we’d just be scratching the surface,” he said.
Leuschner said in addition to the eight people who will move into the new house in the spring, it will benefit people for many years to come.
“It welcomes the next generation,” he said. “And it creates a place of hope for those still waiting.”
The duplex was designed to be attractive and fit in well with the neighbourhood.
“Our model of care has live-in assistant staff and so we needed to have enough bedrooms,” he said.
Although it will be under one roof, there will be two separate homes with their own kitchen, living room and dining room.
“It will be like neighbours living together.”
The residents that will be living in the new home are excited, Leuschner said.
The new home will meets needs current homes haven’t been able to meet, Marenick said.
“This building is completely wheelchair accessible,” she said.
“It’s allowed us to broaden the spectrum of care and service,” Leuschner added.
The new home will follow L’Arche’s current model, Marenick said.
“It’s a home – it’s not an institution. It’s where they live. It allows everyone to give their best gifts. So it doesn’t matter if you have a disability or not, you contribute because it’s your home.”
The building, being completed by Tate Construction, is scheduled to be completed by early May with residents moving in sometime in June.
“We’ll do it in stages,” Marenick said.
The cost of the project is $1.6 million funded through the Department of Community Services.
Community services minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse said she was thrilled to be a part of Monday’s sod turning.
The announcement was made by a previous Conservative government, Peterson-Rafuse said, but she was pleased to be able to be a part of it.
“Things were dragging a little bit and sometimes it can get caught up in the bureaucratic system and so forth. What I’m pleased about is I was able to push it along and … make this happen. The people of Antigonish and the people of L’Arche have been very patient with government so I wanted to see this happen.”
Heather MacAdam, heathermacadam@thecasket.ca
Cake with 70 candles!
Joe MacPherson is celebrating a milestone this week; he turns 70 on July 29th. Sunday July 25th he was surprised with a party at his home at Covenant. Joe’s friends and family attended the fiesta and he was truly caught of guard. Joe was extremely happy. The party commenced with the community serenading Joe with the happy birthday song followed by a delicious lunch and then the beautifully decorated cake which had 70 candles. Before folks ate their cake we all watched as Joe opened his gifts; he got puzzles, clothing and money. For Joe it was a great start to L’Arche vacations.
Joe with his sister Jean
Tommy Landry painting his flowers
The Group of Seven – Antigonish style – is leaving its mark on the local art world.
Mark Bowie, Michael Boddy, Lisa Leuschner, Tommy Landry, Cory Pelly, Matthew Wright and Shane Greencorn are members of Horizons, a vocational day program at L’Arche Antigonish. As part of their routine over the last couple of years, the group has painted and created a variety of artwork. “They are amazing. They have really embraced something new. It gives them a great sense of pride and accomplishment,” art program director Steffi Drechsler said.
Drechsler said the L’Arche artists have “discovered their artistic potential” since the program began, adding the Horizons’ art studio provides participants opportunities to work in a variety of media. The L’Arche artists complete work in painting, paper -making, stepping stones, card-making, weaving and tin punches. “Whenever they need assistance, someone is there for them,” she said.
Drechsler said the primary focus of the program is creativity, with a secondary concentration on the exhibition and sale of art. “They are all so, so proud. It makes them so happy and it has certainly made a great deal of change,” she added. Drechsler said the creative process provides the group with a great deal of joy and fulfillment, helping them development a positive self image. “When other people recognize their artistic efforts, it gives them feelings of worth and it carries over to other aspects of their lives. Outside recognition means a lot to them,” she said.
A new “outside recognition” came for the L’Arche artists with an invitation to participate in the 2010 GAPACC Gathering of the Arts. “I love to paint. It’s a lot of fun,” Leuschner said July 5 during the Gathering of the Arts opening at St. James United Church hall. With her colourful paintings in the background, Drechsler explained Leuschner has successfully taken her love for the arts – she is an avid and accomplished dancer – and applied them to the canvas. “She has done incredibly well,” she added.
Nearby Boddy holds up one of his multi-coloured stepping stones. Boddy juggles several works commitments with his love for art. “I like it,” he said with a wide smile. Drechsler said Landry, Boddy, Wright and Leuschner “love to paint.” “They would spend the entire day doing it if they could,” she added. “When Tommy finished his first painting. It was so beautiful and he was so proud of it,” she said. Eventually, Landry started painting more. Soon his creations were for sale. Many have been purchased. Landry also makes the paper the artists use. “If they do not get a chance to paint, they are not pleased,” Drechsler said. While starting a new painting in the studio, Wright only takes a moment for a quick “hi” and a smile. His focus is squarely on the task at hand. “He can sit there for a couple of hours,” Drechsler said. In a neighbouring room, Pelly showed off his latest creation. “I love the colours,” he said, while spreading the bright blue scroll – dotted with multi-coloured stars – in front of him.
Cory holding one of his floor mats
L’Arche artists displayed their work last summer in the foyer of Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre’s Stage 2. In the spring, Landry showed his art with 45 other local artists at the Gathering of the Arts at the Antigonish Education Centre. In June five of the participating artists exhibited paintings at the Tall and Small Café on Main Street. The L’Arche artists sell their art cards at The Plumtree, Lyghtesome Gallery, Tall and Small Café, Southern Accents, The Nova Scotia Store and the Braemore Co-op Food Market in Antigonish.
L’Arche is an international federation of communities founded by Jean Vanier where people with intellectual disabilities and those who come to assist share their life together in family-like settings that are integrated into local neighbourhoods, including Antigonish.
In the homes and day programs L’Arche wants to provide environments where people can reach their full potential, lead lives rich in relationships of mutuality, and have a valid place in society where they can contribute. “We have been able to make our art program a part of that,” Drechsler said.
The L’Arche artists are able to balance their work with a busy schedule at Horizons, including working at various jobs in the community, along with enjoying time with a music therapist, yoga instructor, cooking and exercise. “At Horizons, we enjoy working together, trying new things, deepening our friendships, having fun and appreciating and celebrating each others gifts. It’s a place of belonging,” Drechsler said. “We also have many volunteers from St. F.X. and the Antigonish community who enrich our lives.”
After their participation in the Gathering of the Arts, the Group of Seven’s work is not done. They will continue to sell their creations in different Antigonish locations.
By Corey LeBlanc, The Casket
Six artists from Horizons featured their work at the GoArt, GAPACC at United Church Hall July 5th -July 17th. It was an honour to be part of the show and for the artists to display thier work.
If you want to read more about Horizons you can visit them at thier facebook page
Prayer around the pool
Tuesday eveing we celebrated community night in a dfferent setting – Mary MacDonald a former board member invited us all to her house to celebrate prayer and share a BBQ together.
Cornerstone annimated a simple prayer around the theme of “Sharing a meal together”. It was wonderful for us to prayer together outside in the sunshine. Prayer ended with a splash as Beth jumped into the pool fully clothed! Everyone soon followed.
Gus manned the BBQ and we had a beautiful meal together. Mary had her traditional half chocolate half white cake!
Goodbye Lindsey and Adrian
We ended the evening by thanking Mary for her generoud hospitality and celebrating and saying goodbye to two assistants, Lindsey gillis and Adrian Etzel. You will both be missed!
This past week we celebrated two of our assistants who left the community. Eunji came as a volunteer in January from South Korea – she was helping at Coveant house and made strong connections with many people in the community. Stefan from Germany also came to us in January as a volunteer. He has been great to jump in where ever he is needed pretty much in every house and program in the community! We thank you both for your time, friendship and commitment. It has been wonderful to get to know you both and hope we stay connected!
Eunji and Stefan with thier farewell aprons!
Tom turned 56 on June 7th – Happy Birthday Tom!
Tom and Nancy at his birthday celebrarion at CornerStone
