Conference on love and inclusion

By Thalie Beaumont

March 21, the official date of the arrival of spring, marks not only the arrival of buds on the trees, but also the budding of initiatives such as the one organized by L’Arche Agapè as part of la Semaine Québécoise de la Déficience Intellectuelle and World Down Syndrome Day. L’Arche Agapè will host a public conference on inclusion at the Université du Québec en Outaouais on March 21, 2019.

At this conference, the public will have the opportunity to hear Yves Séguin, Executive Director of CIPTO (Center for Intervention and Prevention of Addictions Outaouais) and Jean Dansereau of L’Arche Canada. This will be followed by a time for questions and the screening of the web series Mon Ami Gil, which highlights the daily life of this endearing man who lives with an extra chromosome.

This conference will explore different facets of inclusion while reflecting on the construction of inclusive environments. For Laurence Lendormy, event coordinator and development officer at L’Arche Agapè, there is another dimension to all this: “I wish this evening would go beyond our individuality so that our humanity can flourish.”

At L’Arche Agape, living together is a mission. Offering a home for 18 people living with intellectual disabilities supported by 15 assistants, this community might be called a small family. Everyone who sets foot in it feels immediately welcomed. No one should be afraid to be themselves because in L’Arche, differences are celebrated. Those who attend the conference will have a chance to see welcome, acceptance, and unconditional love for themselves.