Be a Volunteer

L’Arche Halifax volunteers are needed in a variety of situations. Most volunteers choose to develop stable long-term friendships with an individual member or with one of the homes. Others may help with fundraising projects. Some volunteers help maintain the garden, or catch up on the sewing, or do seasonal cleaning or odd jobs in the homes. A volunteer might cook dinner with a core member once every two weeks.

Some people come to L’Arche because they are interested in the field of intellectual disability. They are drawn by L’Arche’s vision, which focuses on the gifts and contributions to our society of people who have intellectual disabilities.

Others come to L’Arche wanting an experience of life in community. The prospect of being with people of differing intellectual capacity, social origin, religion and culture is attractive. L’Arche knows how to create settings where relationships of mutuality can develop. Also, people find L’Arche a good environment for personal growth.

Some people come to L’Arche because of a social justice motivation or because the spiritual dimension of L’Arche attracts them. L’Arche’s life together in solidarity with people who are easily marginalized, its simple and accepting spirituality, and its ecumenical and interfaith dimensions attract them.

Whatever their initial motivation, volunteers soon realize that the people that they come to help and with whom they develop friendships have much to give and to teach them about life.

For more information contact: [email protected]

The Sean O’Regan L’Arche Halifax Volunteer of the Year Award

The Sean O’Regan L’Arche Halifax Volunteer of the Year award was established in 2022 in recognition of his many contributions to L’Arche Halifax. As the Chair of the Capital Campaign which founded L’Arche Halifax and a long-time volunteer with the community for years afterward Sean’s hard work and unwavering support helped make L’Arche Hafax what it is today.  

CRITERIA

The award is presented annually to the volunteer who most embodies the spirit of servant leadership and the values of L’Arche. More specifically nominations are evaluated on the following criteria:  

  • Outcomes: volunteer directly contributes to meeting a specific goal or objective of L’Arche Halifax  
  • Reliability: the volunteer shows up to activities to which they have committed and delivers on projects/work that they have promised to complete.  
  • Attitude: the volunteer shows compassion and caring toward core members and works well with assistants and other volunteers.  
  • Initiative: the volunteer independently undertakes assignments or suggests improvements to programs and/or processes.  
  • Time: Number of hours the volunteer contributes to L’Arche Halifax on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis.  
  • Other: Any extraordinary effort or achievement.  
PRESENTATION

Recipient will be selected prior to the AGM and the award presented in time for publication in the L’Arche Halifax Annual Report. Award will be formally announced at the AGM for inclusion in the meeting minutes 

ELIGIBILITY
  • The award is based on contributions made during the previous fiscal year (01 April to 31 March)
  • Nominations can be made by core members, assistants, community leadership, board members or anyone else who had first hand knowledge of the nominees volunteer efforts.
NOMINATIONS PROCESS
  • Nominations can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] anytime after 01 April up to 14 days prior to the AGM.  
  • A formal call for nominations will be sent out to the L’Arche Halifax e-mail contact list 30 days prior to the AGM.  
SELECTION PROCESS

All nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of the L’Arche Halifax Board Chair, the Executive Director and the Homes Coordinator. The decision of the selection committee will be ratified by the Board secretarially before an announcement is made.

2022 Winner: Sean O’Regan Volunteer of the Year Award

JP The Music Man

 

JP began coming to L'Arche Halifax to lead music nights with the community in 2014. He shares his loves of music with his daughter, Erin, who often joins him, and it's been an added blessing being able watch her grow up.

JP can often be found playing along at the traditional music sessions around NS. He is a big fan of Irish and Cape Breton Traditional music; but also loves acoustic and songs of any kind.

JP volunteers at music festivals such as Stanfest and Celtic Colours. Really, JP will play any chance he gets!

JP invited many musician friends to join him at L'Arche over the years, an old and favourite regular was Erin Dempsey. There was always a crowded living room when Erin came.

JP The Music Man as he was very quickly nicknamed, came as a volunteer to share his love and gift of music and very quickly became a dear friend. Thanks for the music, JP, and here's to many more years to come!