News

Disaster in Haiti

A massive earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, damaging the L'Arche Carrefour community in Port-au-Prince. Though all the members are safe, their homes have been damaged and the community is sleeping outside. They have food and water for now, but are worried about supplies since roads are mostly impassable.

A special assistance fund has been set up to help rebuild the communities in Haiti. To donate, go to Canada Helps and ask that your donation go to support "Solidarité Haiti."

L'Arche Annual Winter Games

Mark your calendars! The annual L'Arche Winter Games are coming up on February 13 and 14. All the Western Canadian L'Arche communities will gather for the games. Stay tuned for more information.

Support a Greener L'Arche Calgary!

In an effort to save trees, our bi-annual journal, Signs of Hope, is now available on our website and via email. If you would like to be added to our e-mailing list or currently receive Signs of Hope in print form and wish to receive it via email, please click here.
To view our current issue, please click here.

Photo Exhibit: I do not want to stay in the dark, alone!

Over a year ago, the Association of L'Arche communities in Quebec (AAQ - Association des Arches du Québec) and L'Arche Canada-Communications began collaborating to create a photo exhibit of L'Arche in Haiti and in Quebec through the artistic eye of photographer Jonathan Boulet-Groulx. Thirty-four black-and-white photos were chosen for the exhibit, whose title is: "Mwen pa vle ret fa nwa anko," which means in English, `I do not want to stay in the dark, alone! ' The premiere of this excellent collection will be held in December at the State Secretariat in Haiti. Following this opening and throughout 2010, we hope the exhibit will travel to all the cities and towns in Quebec that are home to a L'Arche community, as well as to various galleries.

Jonathan Boulet-Groulx has since returned to L'Arche Chantal in Haiti as part of a European Union project aimed at increasing work opportunities. He continues to share stories and photos about life in L'Arche through his blog "Mwen pa fou. Chronicles of a Reporter-Photographer at L'Arche Haiti." The blog is perfect for anyone wishing to know more about life in a L'Arche community and will help raise awareness of the L'Arche movement around the world.

Please visit Jonathan's blog at http://larche.ca/reporters/jonathan/mwen_pa_fou/en

Jean Vanier Receives the 2008 Nation Builder Award

In December, The Globe and Mail named Jean Vanier the Nation Builder of 2008 in recognition of his humanitarian work on behalf of people with developmental disabilities. Forty-five years ago, Vanier created a home for himself and his two friends, Raphaël Simi and Philippe Seux, both of whom were developmentally disabled. He had no idea that this very personal commitment would inspire a worldwide movement, nor that it would one day be recognized as an act of nation building.

Today there are over 130 L'Arche associations around the world, 29 of which are in Canada. Here in L'Arche Calgary, life lived by the heart happens on a daily basis in our five homes and two programs. We have assistants from over 20 countries experiencing daily life with our 29 core members. The Globe and Mail's editorial team gives the Nation Builder Award annually to an outstanding Canadian who unifies and inspires us. Vanier has devoted most of his life to learning about and building peace. Many consider him a serious candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Vanier Letters

Jean Vanier has been exchanging reflective letters with Globe & Mail writer Ian Brown since September 2008. Brown who has a 12-year-old son with a developmental disability regularly corresponds with Vanier about various topics including the culture of competition, abortion, peace and much, much more. To read The Vanier Letters please visit http://larche.ca/en/jean_vanier.

Great News …

…for donors and charities alike! This past spring the province's Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit launched the "Community Spirit Donation Grant Program". Eligible Alberta charities and non-profits may apply for a proportional donation grant based on donations they receive from private individuals over the course of a year. Thanks to our wonderful individual supporters over this past year, L'Arche Calgary may be eligible to receive up to $25,000!

Though brand new, this program is planned to become an annual source of hard-to-find operational funds for charities. For L'Arche Calgary, these dollars would assist us in covering the costs of things like maintenance of our homes' vehicles, communications programs, and the rising costs of utilities.

For our faithful individual supporters, your generous gifts can now have even more impact in our community. Many, many thanks!