Theme : History

Commentary on what we’re discovering within L’Arche, with partners, and in Canadian culture

L’Arche is called to engage in our diverse cultures, working together toward a more human society. Through this blog, we hope to put a spotlight on the ways L’Arche in Canada is engaging with culture: what we are discovering, learning, and feel called to support or speak out against. We will put a light on our connections and collaborations with like–minded organizations and all who are building communities of inclusion and belonging.

We hope that this blog will contribute to a positive public dialogue on creating a more just, compassionate, diverse, and creative society.


Recent articles

Institutional life – a bit of context

Raphael Amato offers some background on the role of institutions in the 20th century

Investing in Justice for Institutional Survivors

Patricia Seth, an institutional survivor, put it this way, “It was like living in a prison. The only thing is, we didn't know when we would even get out.” Inspired by the founding story of L’Arche, L’Arche in Ontario is engaging in Investing in Justice, a series of projects promoting healing and belonging, truth and reconciliation for survivors.

Summer in the Forest: One L’Arche Perspective

Summer in the Forest is an extraordinary film – a feature-length documentary by British filmmaker Randal Wright beautifully shot and scored. The subjects of the film are Jean Vanier and several members of his community of L’Arche Trosly in France and of the L’Arche community in Bethlehem. (Vanier speaks in English with dialogue in French and Arabic with English subtitles.)

Holocaust Education Week: Remembering Aktion T4, the Nazi Euthanasia Program

A few years ago, I went with Mel Kirzner, a man with an intellectual disability who welcomed me to L’Arche in 1985, to visit the Maxwell and Ruth Leroy Holocaust Remembrance Garden at the Reena Community Residence in Vaughan.


Themes


News from L'Arche in Canada

Program on the abuse of religious women in the Church airs in Canada

L’Arche Canada reiterates our deep compassion for the victims of abuse and our commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and abuse.

BROKEN: Institutions, Families, and the Construction Intellectual Disability

A new book by Madeline Burghardt, long-time member and former assistant of L’Arche Toronto and L’Arche Daybreak.