Vision

Our Vision is Rooted in Relationship and Belonging:

• Mutual care, respect, and compassion between people with and without intellectual disabilities.

• Sharing ordinary, daily life with all its joys and sorrows.

• Living, working, learning, and celebrating together in communities of belonging.

• Transforming our lives as we embrace our gifts and imperfections.

• Recognizing that we need each other and are better together.

• A model of inclusion, a way of peace, and a sign of hope for our world.

The L’Arche relational model breaks down barriers between those who give and those who receive supports. It replaces society’s emphasis on independence that leaves so many people lonely, with interdependence where each person flourishes as they contribute their gifts for the good of others.

Read more on L’Arche’s Vision on Inclusion and Belonging on the L’Arche Canada website.

Inclusion

An Openness to Others

At L’Arche Ottawa, we discover meaning in sharing daily life and reflecting on our common humanity. L’Arche embraces inclusivity and is shaped by people of different beliefs, cultures and experiences. As referenced in The Charter of the Communities of L’Arche, we believe that:

• We encourage all individuals to be their true selves and express their authentic nature.
• We choose to include and embrace all people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• We believe an environment with total acceptance of each other and one’s own beliefs fosters a healthy, supportive and more connected society rather than divisive.

These are all central to the goal of removing barriers and division in order to create more meaningful and honest relationships which contributes to a better society.

Diversity

We All Belong

As stated in The Charter of the Communities of L’Arche:

• Each L’Arche community is a network of relationships, bonded to other communities across the global Federation.
• L’Arche looks different in different cultures while sharing values and practices. We are engaged in the societies where our communities are located.
• There are many ways of being committed to L’Arche, and new models are emerging. Such expressions are grounded in our Charter.
• We are all, people with and without intellectual disabilities, engaged in the work of partnership, advocacy, and justice.
• We acknowledge both the fruitfulness and brokenness of our story. Learning from our experiences, we strive together for greater integrity, accountability, and solidarity.
• Through unity in diversity, strength in fragility, and freedom in interdependence, we discover our belonging.