Ani Hynes, the Community Leader and Executive Director at L’Arche Calgary, shares her insights into the organization’s mission and her journey with the community. L’Arche Calgary is a place where individuals with and without intellectual disabilities come together to foster a sense of belonging and celebrate each person’s unique gifts.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
L’Arche Calgary is a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities come together to share life and celebrate each person’s unique gifts. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. Through our residential support, day programs, and community activities, we honour the dignity and worth of every individual, transforming lives by building meaningful relationships.
What problem does it aim to solve?
Our vision is to create a world where everyone belongs. L’Arche Calgary works to overcome the isolation and marginalization that people with intellectual disabilities often experience. We provide a supportive community where individuals can form meaningful relationships, develop their potential, and contribute to society.
When did you start/join it?
I first joined L’Arche in 2002 in a small town in Northern France as a live-in volunteer. That year was a life-changing experience. In 2003, I arrived at L’Arche Calgary, and I’ve been here ever since. I started as a live-in assistant, and over the years, I developed my skills and eventually became the Community Leader.
What made you want to get involved?
One of the most striking things about L’Arche is its unmatched sense of community—you immediately feel at home, accepted just as you are. L’Arche was founded on the idea that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and community. There are around 150 L’Arche communities active in 35 countries worldwide. Assistants often stay for a short-term period (one to five years), living in and supporting the community, while many core members (those with disabilities) choose to spend the rest of their lives at L’Arche.
Another incredible aspect of L’Arche is the remarkable honesty and unique way of living. Many of our core members, due to their disabilities, are incredibly outwardly loving and frank, with no filters. For instance, a core member might share her love of fire trucks with everyone or go around the dinner table telling each person they look beautiful. This openness and honesty are amplified by the pace of life at L’Arche, which is remarkably slow and simple. This slower pace allows deep connections to truly thrive, as it gives everyone the time to peel back the layers and build genuine relationships.
With every act of love I’ve experienced, I am filled with more hope that another way of living is possible and that communities have immense potential. Whether it’s a core member unexpectedly holding my hand for support or participating in a foot-washing ceremony on Holy Thursday—one of the most humbling acts I’ve ever experienced—I witness acts of love daily. I came to L’Arche seeking answers to some of life’s big questions (e.g., what do we live for, do we matter, what is my significance). However, I’ve found that many answers to the most profound questions are sometimes right in front of us. I am reminded daily of the impact a community can have on someone. At L’Arche, I discovered that a community and culture based on unity and love can bring out greatness in all.
L’Arche is not a complicated place. It is predicated on the idea that living in community is important to one’s life and that everyone has their own gift to give—whether it’s something as small as setting the table or something more significant like donating thousands of dollars to keep the house open. It has proven to me that some of the greatest possible gifts in the world (and perhaps even God) can be seen in the image of these core members, in the laughs shared, and in the connections made within a truly diverse community.
What was the situation like when you started?
As a society, we’ve come a long way from the segregated and institutional living of past generations, yet people with intellectual disabilities often remain marginalized in our fast-paced and competitive world.
L’Arche Calgary has always been a community of people. For over 51 years, L’Arche Calgary has brought to life the vision of L’Arche, where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life in community with a wide circle of family, friends, and neighbors. We help people with intellectual disabilities discover their gifts and abilities and support them in achieving their goals for a meaningful life. L’Arche Calgary is a community within a community, working with others to build a world where everyone belongs.
However, over time, our ageing homes are no longer meeting the needs of our core members, who are themselves ageing and whose needs are much higher than before. We have core members in their mid-80s who require accessible houses to continue living, realize their full potential, and participate in the life and activities of the L’Arche community, rather than moving prematurely into long-term care. Maintaining our old and outdated homes has also become a financial burden for the organization. The lack of funds is a significant challenge. As a community, we hope to rebuild three of our existing homes to provide new, affordable, fully accessible, and barrier-free homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
How has it changed since?
Today, L’Arche Calgary has grown into a vibrant community of just over 100 people, including 67 assistants (20 of whom are live-in), 28 people with intellectual disabilities, and eight dedicated board members. At the heart of L’Arche are the Tamarack Day Program, a Supported Independent Living Program (SILP), and five homes located in the Windsor Park community. With the challenges of the pandemic behind us, we are excited to hold more events and generate increased awareness for our cause.
What more needs to be done?
While we are grateful for our progress, there is still much work to be done. We must continue advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. One pressing issue is Alberta’s lack of provincial accessibility legislation. While working to meet the daily needs of our community, we also aim to reinforce policies that enable people with disabilities to access their environments without physical barriers.
L’Arche Calgary is embarking on its most significant project yet—rebuilding three of our five ageing homes. These homes have supported our assistants and core members for over fifty years, but maintaining them has become increasingly costly. Rebuilding will ensure our core members can age in place in homes designed with accessibility in mind and expand our capacity to welcome new members into our community.
How can our readers help?
Readers can support L’Arche Calgary by donating, volunteering, or participating in our events. Your contributions will help us enhance our programs and sustain a supportive environment for our core members. We also welcome you to spread the word about our mission and the importance of inclusive communities. Your support, especially for our upcoming capital campaign, is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference in your own city. You can also join us on Mondays from 1-2 pm at our “Coffeehouse” event for snacks, coffee, and companionship, or follow us on social media for regular updates.
Do you have any events coming up?
Yes! We have three exciting events on the horizon. First, our Tamarack Day Program’s Fall Sale is on October 7th, featuring items handcrafted by our core members. From paintings and birdhouses to cookies and banana bread loaves, there are many affordable gifts and goodies to enjoy, with proceeds directly supporting our operating costs.
Later in the winter, we will host our festive Christmas Pageant in early December. Plus, registration is now open for the 15th Annual Acera Insurance Run for L’Arche. You can find more details on our website or by contacting us directly.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We want to pay it forward to all the sisters at FCJ Centre. They provide a unique experience, offering warm hospitality and deep spirituality to everyone in our community. FCJ Centre is the home of our bi-weekly Prayer Nights and the place where we host our Annual Community Retreat. FCJ Centre has full conference facilities for meetings, conferences, workshops, and retreats, comprehensive dining facilities, extensive cultivated gardens, and a beautiful Chapel—perfect for encountering God on your personal journey.
