20 for 20 | Jenny's story

Pictured above: Jenny poses happily in her new apartment through the L'Arche Connects program.

I first learned about L’Arche when someone recommended it after my family moved here from Ontario. When I was first getting to know the community, I didn’t know anyone and wasn’t sure how I fit in. It was an adjustment, but I found comfort in knowing that everyone else going to L'Arche Outreach meetings was in the same boat, navigating the same thing. It gave me a sense of community.

It was when I was chosen to be a core member that things started to get exciting. I remember the moment clearly. It was Sunday, February 22, my dad and I were playing Yahtzee when we got the call. My family and I were so excited – that was the moment everything changed. I couldn’t believe it; I really didn’t expect to be chosen. That night, we went out for dinner to celebrate that I would be joining the L’Arche Connects program and would soon have an apartment of my own.

After that, I started attending L’Arche events and community gatherings. That’s when I really started meeting more people and building friendships with other core members and staff. There was a L’Arche retreat that was particularly impactful. I went with Gloria, the Connects program leader, and Kyra, another Connects core member. We did icebreakers, sing-alongs, and other team-building activities. Kyra and I were friends before, but didn’t truly know each other until this retreat. I went from not knowing anyone when I first moved here to leaving the retreat with a best friend, who is now also my next-door neighbour!

To describe my glorious home in one word, I would have to say “miracle.” It felt so surreal at first – I questioned if I was dreaming. When I first saw it, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were no stairs. I really thought I’d be walking stairs the rest of my life! One of the best parts of having a place of my own has been the freedom it’s given me. I’m not a noisy person per se, but now I can talk through movies and react to videos without having to consider others. Of course, I keep the noise levels down and would never blast music out of consideration for my neighbours.

When I think about my future, I feel good knowing that I am settled in my home, surrounded by friends and a supportive community. I do hope that someday there could be another L’Arche building to house those in need. I also hope we can continue to grow and have more community-building experiences, like field trips to water parks, the beach, or even support people by offering memberships to accessible places like the Y so we can stay active.

Jenny
L'Arche Connects core member