About Us
L’Arche’s work is simple. We invite people with and without diverse abilities to build community together.
We are a community of people with and without diverse abilities sharing life together.
We celebrate the unique value of each person, revealing each others’ gifts and recognizing our need for one another.
Our Values
L’Arche values compassion, inclusion, respect for diversity and the dignity of the individual. We have no formal affiliation with any church or religious community. Our community and faith life inspire us to be open to people of differing intellectual capacity, social origin, religion, race, orientation and culture.
We are a registered
not-for-profit charity
L’Arche CV is organized and operated by a volunteer Board of Directors. We are one of 29 L’Arche communities across Canada, operating nearly 200 homes and work places, and part of a network of 145 communities in 40 countries around the world
What makes a community?
L’Arche exists in many different countries and everywhere the same spirit of community is found and the same discovery made that beauty exists in every person.
Community forms when we discover that we are interdependent and that every person has gifts to contribute. We believe this has an important and transformative effect, helping each one of us to become more fully human and thus helping to humanize our entire society.
We believe this provides people with diverse abilities the status of citizens who contribute to make our society a better place to live.
A community model of living
L’Arche is based on a community model of living, rather than a medical or social service model of care. As a faith-based organization L’Arche recognizes the spiritual and religious needs and aspirations of its members, and respects those who have no spiritual or religious affiliation.
Get Involved
Volunteer
You can become a friend of the Community and participate in our different events throughout the year, such as our weekly community prayer and potluck on Tuesday evenings.
Donate
L’Arche Comox Valley relies on the support of others who are like-hearted in living our mission. We need funds to ensure the functionality of our residences and offices.
Work and Live as an Assistant
More than a caregiver, the assistant shares his or her life with people who are less autonomous. Each year, we welcome assistants to join our community, usually for a one-year commitment.