L’Arche Daybreak
L’Arche Daybreak, a member of the International Federation of L’Arche communities, is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The first L’Arche home was opened in France in 1964, creating a culture of welcome and shared living for people with and without intellectual disabilities. Today there are nearly 160 L’Arche communities throughout the world.
As the oldest (founded in 1969) and largest L’Arche community in North America, L’Arche Daybreak is a dynamic example of how people of different intellectual capacity, social origin, and culture can live and learn together, creating a community of friendship and belonging where the unique value of every person is recognized and celebrated. L’Arche Daybreak consists of eight homes, five vocational programs, and the Dayspring spiritual centre.
L’Arche Daybreak also offers retreats and programs to share with the wider community the vision and mission of L’Arche Daybreak and its model of inclusion, lived as a path to peace and a sign of hope for our world.
“I am thinking more and more and finding words to describe what happened to me during my 40 years at L’Arche Daybreak. The short version of my learned experience is: ‘L’Arche, for me, was a school of the heart.’
In general, our education is for our minds to be a success in the world. But think about this! Who taught us how to work and live with our relationships, fears, anger, hurts, hatred and love or other feelings we feel so much in our hearts? I can honestly say that my years at L’Arche Daybreak changed and formed my heart in a whole new way.
So today, I can say that I’m such a happy camper, here now with the Sisters of St. Joseph. My heart is so at peace. It’s gift – all gift – and you, my many friends in L’Arche, are the keys that have allowed this precious life of mine to unfold this way. From my heart to yours, love and thanks.”
Sr. Sue Mosteller, CSJ, OC
L’Arche Canada
L’Arche Canada is a charitable service organization and a national leader in building communities of inclusion and belonging. L’Arche demonstrates that when we welcome their insights, leadership, and gifts, persons with disabilities help build more just, caring, and vibrant communities for all.
L’Arche Canada empowers and supports the 30 local L’Arche communities across Canada to live the mission of L’Arche, collaborating for collective impact and sharing knowledge, services, and resources.
For more online information please see:
L’Arche Collections at the University of St. Michael’s College, John M. Kelly Library, Special Collections
L’Arche Audiovisual Collection
This collection consists of audiovisual materials featuring recordings of talks given by members of various L’Arche communities and others that have been used as resources over the years. This material includes 1,708 audio cassettes, 37 videocassettes, 8 film reels, and 78 audio reels. Much of the material features recordings created at L’Arche events internationally and nationally, such as Covenant Retreats, Summer Renewal Programs, and other L’Arche events. Speakers include Sr. Sue Mosteller, Fr. Henri Nouwen, Joe Egan, Robert Larouche, Fr. Bill Clarke, Colin Maloney, Sr. Brenda Hermann, Claire de Miribel, Fr. Larry Gillick, Therese Vanier, and Jo Lenon among many others.
L’Arche Canada fonds
This fonds consists of organizational, administrative, and community records from L’Arche Canada, including meeting minutes, financial and annual reports, mandates, policies, procedures, correspondence, publications, audiovisual materials, and files maintained by former L’Arche Canada National Leaders Zoël Breau and Hollee Card. Materials in the fonds span three decades of L’Arche Canada operations from 1989-2018 and chart the evolution of the organization at national, regional, and community levels.
While the fonds primarily details the functions and activities of L’Arche Canada, a number of records pertain to L’Arche International and describe the relationship between L’Arche Canada and L’Arche International. These records include meeting minutes, issuances, mandates, policies, reports, and information on global initiatives.
L’Arche Daybreak fonds
This fonds consists of organizational, administrative, and community records for L’Arche Daybreak. The records range in date from 1969-2009
Content Warnings
These collections contain in part content by and relating to Jean Vanier, Thomas Philippe, and M.D. (Marie-Dominique) Philippe. All three were credibly accused of sexually abusing many women (none with an intellectual disability) and the accusations were confirmed by the Study Commission convened by the International Federation of L’Arche Communities. Please see the linked report below. The University of St. Michael’s College and the International Federation of L’Arche Communities condemn the actions of these individuals and acknowledges the harm that resulted from them.
The International Federation of L’Arche Communities convened a Study Commission in 2020 to investigate the matter. Here are links to learn more about the commission and to read the published report from 2023:
- https://www.larche.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Letter_Federation-International_Leaders-2023-01-30-EN.pdf
- https://commissiondetude-jeanvanier.org/commissiondetudeindependante2023-empriseetabus/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Report_Control-and-Abuse_EN.pdf
The collections also contain outdated or offensive language which reflects theological and cultural thinking of the time or of individual speakers. This language does not reflect the opinions or position of the University of St. Michael’s College or the International Federation of L’Arche Communities.
