Above: Recently, Bev and Lindsay of Scotia McLeod Wealth Management stopped by McKim House and our garden project for a tour. The McKenna Group from Scotia Wealth Management is the presenting sponsor of our Building Community event coming up on Sept. 27 with special guest, Roxanne Fairweather, and emcee Emily Rodger. From left: Rachel, Katie, April, Kathryn, Lindsay, Sarah, Bev and Kitty stand together in our garden.
As the warmth of summer days gives way to the crispness of autumn, we find ourselves entering a season of transition. The changing season is an opportunity to reflect on the memories we've created over the long summer days, while eagerly anticipating the events that lie ahead.
Among those is our highly anticipated gala dinner, Building Community, with special guest Roxanne Fairweather and emcee Emily Rodger on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming members of Scotia McLeod, our presenting sponsor for Building Community, for a tour of McKim House and our garden. During that encounter, an unlikely connection was discovered.
Our garden project is adjacent to McKim House, and is a project of Creative Connections, our artistic day program. Members of Creative Connections proudly toured Bev and Lindsay, our guests from Scotia McLeod, through the garden, identifying favourite plants, describing all the transformation that has taken place over the past three years and what our dreams are in the coming year. In that moment, I felt so proud of everyone in our community that has put their hands in the soil – members, volunteers and friends alike – to help make the transformation possible. I was particularly proud of Katie, who has spearheaded the garden project since 2020.
During the tour, Katie and Bev, who had just met that morning, discovered in conversation that they have a very close mutual connection outside of Saint John. In that moment there was surprise, excitement and disbelief – how was it possible? And yet, suddenly, there was a connection so palpable between them.
This unplanned encounter was a testament to the threads of connection that weave through our lives, often unnoticed. And yet, it's through these relationships that we have the power to reshape the world, one connection at a time.
Bev and Lindsay’s visit to McKim House, and the commitment from the Scotia McLeod team in helping L’Arche build a more inclusive world, stands as a microcosm of what the world could be – a place where genuine relationships are at the heart of every endeavor.
We invite you to join us in this endeavour on Wednesday, Sept. 27 for our evening of Building Community. In 2022, this event attracted more than 400 people from the business, government and non-profit communities in the region and across New Brunswick.
Tickets are selling quickly, and we anticipate selling out for the third consecutive year. Learn more and get your tickets here today.
In a world that often seems divided and disconnected, please join us in building relationships across differences that have the potential to create a ripple effect of compassion and inclusivity.
With gratitude,
Rachel Vander Vennen
Community Leader / Executive Director