Above: Don (right) shares a warm greeting with Eke van Oorschot (left) at L’Arche Saint John’s 20th anniversary celebration.
L’Arche Saint John turns 20 next year and we’re celebrating by sharing 20 stories that show how community, connection, and belonging have taken root.
Here’s Story 3: Don Dickson, L'Arche Saint John President & Chair of the Board
My journey with L’Arche began in 2010. My wife and I were offered tickets to the 5th Anniversary Gala. We had heard about L’Arche before but did not really know much about it. The event was so inspiring, the stories so impactful that I started inquiring more about it. We have a daughter with intellectual disabilities and this is the first time I had seen a long-term care solution that offered the support, respect, and sense of belonging that everyone needs and deserves. It was not long before I was on the board and then a year later, I was board chair.
Saying that being involved in L’Arche has changed my life would be an understatement. I have had the honour of meeting individuals from L’Arche communities from all over the world. To see core members, assistants, and board members from differing abilities and ethnic and religious backgrounds laughing, talking and enjoying each other's company gives me hope for the future. It has taught me to celebrate the small things as well as the big. I found myself looking forward to the annual picnic when all the communities in the Maritimes got together to enjoy a day of silly games and food. It has inspired me to be a better person. To see so directly the results of my work on the board is a gift. I continue to believe that I have received much more from my association with L’Arche than I have given.
It seems that once L’Arche has a hold on you, it never really leaves you. I am certainly not the only one that will tell you that. There are term limits for board members, and so my official time of involvement ended. That did not end my interest or support for this organization. Over the years we have continued to stay in touch, go to events, and provide financial support.
I was delighted to be asked to rejoin the board, and then hesitantly accepted the role of chair. There is so much excitement, so many things going on, there are so many opportunities. The future looks very bright. So much has happened in the last 20 years, I can’t wait to see what the next 20 brings.
The dark cloud in all of this is the lack of stable government funding. New Brunswick has one of the lowest levels of support for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Canada. We have a saying in L’Arche Saint John that we have one-third the funding, but three times the fun. We continue to fundraise to cover 50% of our operating expenses not provided by provincial funding. Much of that money comes from individual donors like you and me.
We have all been blessed with gifts and talents. L’Arche enables those with intellectual disabilities to share those with the community, making Saint John a better place to live. In this 20th Anniversary year, we are looking to add 20 more monthly donors. It is this stable funding that helps us plan the future and expand in the impact that L’Arche has in the Saint John community. If you have read this far, L’Arche must have a hold on you too. Please consider providing a monthly gift to L’Arche Saint John.
To learn more and become a monthly donor, visit: www.larchesaintjohn.org/20for20
Don Dickson
L’Arche Saint John President and Board Chair
L’Arche Saint John President and Board Chair