For more than fifty years, L’Arche Calgary has been building a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together. What began as a simple vision of inclusion has now expanded to five welcoming homes. Our family-style model of care is grounded in mutual respect and reciprocity. We don’t just support Core Members, we learn from them, celebrate with them, and grow together.
We have created countless memories during the past 52 years, and while our Core Members have been aging in place, so have our homes. For the past few months, our smallest home, Kichiyak, has been under renovation. We’re ecstatic that support from the Calgary Foundation and the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation allowed us to make transformational upgrades. Narrow hallways and outdated features were making life increasingly difficult for the Core Members and Assistants who lived there, but now the home has been reimagined. The main floor is open and accessible, the kitchen and bathrooms are brand new, and the atmosphere is warm, modern, and inviting. On move-in day, the joy and gratitude were written on every face. For some in our L’Arche community, it was the first time seeing the completed space, and the reactions were nothing short of awe.
Maria and Lidia, who run and organize the Tamarack Day Program, were amazed. “Beautiful, amazing, like a brand-new house. I’m impressed!” said Maria. Lidia added, “Stunning, absolutely stunning. I like the island too, it’s so functional.”
Dallas, our Homes Coordinator, was moved by the homecoming, saying “It was fun to see people walk in and see their bright, smiley faces. It was a long journey, and they’ve been very patient. I feel very thankful today.”
Jun, Kichiyak’s House Leader, shared how the redesign will enhance daily life, saying “We can see each other now when we’re cooking or wherever we are, even in the living room. We like it, we love it.”
The Core Members were just as excited. Zoe, beaming with excitement, said her favourite part is her freshly painted bright blue bedroom. She’s eager to see how the space supports everyone in the home, including her fellow Core Members, the live-in Assistants (“They’re gonna like the more accessible office,” she says), and even Bella, their fluffy white cat, who now has “more space to walk around.”
As Kichiyak’s residents settle in their new space, they do so with the comfort of knowing that their home will support them for years to come. Thanks to our generous partners, Kichiyak is now a place where aging in place is not only possible, but dignified and joyful. Together, we are creating homes that nurture belonging, promote independence, and celebrate every stage of life.
You may also like...
