“Pay It Forward: Building Homes and Communities, One house at a time!”-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

The recent newsletter  from L’Arche Canada brings nostalgia of how I made a life for myself here in Winnipeg.

For over two decades of living in Winnipeg, much has transpired- from becoming an Assistant in various L’Arche homes, to becoming the Healthcare Coordinator and finally was able to get my accreditation to get my Registered Nurse license to practice nursing gave me so much joy, challenges and contentment.

And in return, the creation of Morning Breeze Endowment Fund established through The Winnipeg Foundation is my way of “Pay it Forward” drumbeat to herald the future generation of “agents of change” to look after what we all sacrificed and accomplished for this great City of Winnipeg.

What is more important is the interplay between the stakeholders in the community, as we bring forward the message of the L’Arche community, particularly the people with developmental disabilities. It  calls for celebration about the gifts, message of hope, tenderness and compassion these people with intellectual disabilities bring through the L’Arche communities across Canada and around the world.

What makes the progress within the disability community more compelling  is the passing into law Bill C-22, in June of 2023, Canada Disability Benefit Act, under the leadership of former Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, The Honourable, Minister Carla Qualtrough. Who is now the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity. Bill C-22 will enhance the rights of people with disabilities and uplift twenty percent (20%) of the population living with developmental disabilities out of poverty.

What makes the movement of the disability community more memorable, especially for the L’Arche Saint John in New Brunswick is the recent visit of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A leader that shows compassion to every Canadian, regardless of abilities, status, talents and gifts. Thank you for the visit!

The message and excerpts of the newsletter from, Louis Pilotte, L’Arche Canada’s National Leader and Executive Director in it’s true L’Arche form and fashion is below:

“L’Arche Saint John was happy to welcome Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mayor Donna Reardon (far left) and MP Wayne Long for a visit with April Urquhart (second from the left) who gave them a tour of her new apartment at L’Arche Connects Saint John.”

One thing to know about Lisa Wilianto is that she loves adventure, especially if it involves travel. Over a decade ago, she left her homeland of Indonesia to pursue a Master’s degree in Rural Systems Management in Australia. After graduation, she took on a role in L’Arche Liverpool’s Ark workshop in the U.K., crafting greeting cards, candles, and woven accessories, among other products.

“I’d never worked with people with intellectual disabilities, but I like just to go with the flow. It was a challenging but rewarding experience,” Lisa says. “I loved it!”

And L’Arche Liverpool loved her. They celebrated their 35th anniversary with an awards ceremony during a Christmas dinner. Lisa received the Pleasantry Award, an Oscar-like statue. “I was amazed to get an award just for being myself,” she says.

While in Liverpool, Lisa met her future husband, Andry, a fellow Indonesian volunteering in the UK to aid refugees and fight poverty. Even amid young love, the bonds she forged at L’Arche Liverpool stayed with her when she returned to Indonesia. There she pursued a long-term career at the British Council and her husband grew a business distributing a bountiful resource from their homeland — seaweed. Together they had two children.

In the fall of 2021, Lisa was itching for a new adventure and feeling that she’d like to try living in Canada.  She noted a posting for an assistant’s position in Sudbury.  Lisa felt a pull, but signing up for this job did not come without sacrifice for Lisa. She had to leave her husband and her children, who were still in school, and to make the long journey alone.

She landed in Northern Ontario just in time for her first real experience of winter. “I was excited about it,” she says. “When I lived in L’Arche Liverpool, it snowed only once and the snow melted that same day.” An Ontarian might say, “Be careful what you wish for!” but she’s loved her winters in Sudbury, especially the winter walks and hockey games. She’s learned that “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing, and the best way to embrace winter is through sports.”

Early on, she went with assistants and core members to a Sudbury Wolves game. Seeing a hockey game in person for the first time, she fell in love with the sport. “The adrenaline is great,” she says. “I have to admit I like the fighting too.” She also likes watching figure skating, where her favourite star is Elvis Stojko.

However, another, much more profound experience than a Canadian winter awaited Lisa in the coming months in L’Arche Sudbury.

Our Voices

Tiana Kirkegaard, from L’Arche Greater Vancouver and a member of the Youth Leaders in L’Arche Canada’s Leading Change initiative will emcee the third annual online Canadian Health and Wellbeing in Developmental Disabilities Conference. Lori Vaanholt, L’Arche Canada’s Vice-Executive Director, is on the steering committee helping to plan the event.

For more information about this conference being held February 7-9 and hosted by the University of Toronto, visit
https://www.healthandwellbeingindd.ca/speakers-2024

An article on the front page of La Presse newspaper sheds light on the uncertain future of homes for people with intellectual disabilities across Quebec. Read the full article here (in French only).  

Community Notes

20 Years for Jonathan at L’Arche Cape Breton!

This month Jonathan MacEachern celebrated 20 years at L’Arche Cape Breton. He even baked and decorated his own anniversary cake for the community’s Friday Coffee Time!

L’Arche Edmonton Kicks Off 2024 with New Wheels!

L’Arche Edmonton just purchased a van for one of their five homes in Edmonton and Sherwood Park with financial support from The Stollery Charitable Foundation.