Pictured above: Coryn and Anna Gardin — visiting L’Arche Halifax to celebrate Anna’s birthday in February.
I started my role as Regional Leader with L’Arche Atlantic one month ago, and I thought it might be helpful to introduce myself to you and share about some of the experiences that have formed me — and I hope to learn the same about many of you!
My start was in the L’Arche Toronto community. I was eager to make a difference and to try living in intentional community as a live-in assistant. The intensity of navigating the ups and downs of shared life together helped me discover how much I really need other people. I experienced a belonging that included all of me — my best and my worst.
As many who live in L’Arche know, I came to serve and give — and received much more than I imagined.
From this experience as assistant and house leader, I went on to pursue graduate studies in Spiritual Care & Psychotherapy and ran a private psychotherapy practice. My therapy work was deeply informed by what I learned in L’Arche — valuing the dignity of each person, walking vulnerably together in conflict or pain, and celebrating our gifts and strengths.
This work affirmed that transformative relationships help us to heal, grow, find belonging, and gain the courage to share ourselves with the world.
I later had the opportunity to work in restorative justice with people who have been incarcerated as the Coordinator of the Halifax Community Chaplaincy Society. The spirit of restorative justice is that we are all responsible for the well-being of our community — and this means reckoning with how we support and include those who have caused harm.
With a strong volunteer network, we accompanied our participants with support and accountability through their reintegration into community. This can be a difficult and long journey — but we are a more just and human society when everyone has the opportunity to belong.
I look forward to hearing your stories and discovering the ways we can work together — with kindness, creativity, and courage.
Most recently, I worked as the Regional Leader for an ecumenical organization in North East England. Our aim was to support diverse churches to work together in a common mission to serve their community.
My role was supporting these ecumenical groups across a vast region of northern England to learn from each other, strengthen their partnerships, and collaborate and share resources to better serve their region. Our aim was to seek unity across our differences because — we are better when we work together.
Another important part of my story was moving from Toronto to Halifax with my husband and working as the Homes Coordinator in L’Arche Halifax. All of this happened to coincide with the start of the COVID pandemic, and I was grateful to work with such a supportive and dedicated team as we led the community through those unique and challenging times.
And now I am delighted to be returning to work with L’Arche Canada in the Atlantic to support our region to grow and thrive as we face new and changing landscapes in our communities and beyond.
In a recent visit to L’Arche Antigonish, I received many beautiful welcome signs and cards, but one stood out to me, saying, “We’re in this together, Coryn!” What an encouraging message — and isn’t that true?
I feel this as I visit each L’Arche community — we are very much in this together. I look forward to hearing your stories and discovering the ways we can work together — with kindness, creativity, and courage — to continue the good work of L’Arche in our communities and region.
Card by L’Arche Antigonish.
Coryn Stehouwer
L'Arche Atlantic Regional Leader