L'Arche Wolfville awaits 'princess' moment when turret crowns renovation

Renovations are underway to convert a former church hall into a multipurpose home for L'Arche Homefires, a community for people with disabilities in Wolfville, N.S.

Devon Edmonds, the community's finance and administrative co-ordinator, said Friday the inside of the old hall has been gutted and rebuilt from the plumbing to the walls.

"It's very exciting," said Edmonds, adding that a highlight of the renovation will be coming in the next few weeks when the top of the turret is craned into place.

"We have joked about wearing silly princess hats with ribbons for the classic turret moment," she said.

'Vibrant opportunity' 

L'Arche Homefires opened in Wolfville, a university town about 90 kilometres northwest of Halifax, in 1981. Today, it is among more than 140 L'Arche communities across 40 countries.

The Wolfville branch employs and provides housing for about 60 people, many of whom have intellectual or physical disabilities. It operates five homes in the local area, a candle-making workshop, a day program and a retirement program.

The new building on Main Street will be fully accessible and house the Applewicks candle store and workshops, offices, the retirement program and the Cornerstone day program. 

Currently, those programs are spread out around Wolfville while Applewicks has a steep staircase into a dark basement workshop, which is inaccessible for many community members with physical disabilities. 

"We're ready for a change," Edmond said. "It's a vibrant opportunity to be together."

Community raised millions

Edmonds said the conversion should be complete by July or August. The community is selling its longtime home on Gaspereau Avenue and it hopes to hold a grand opening in the fall.

L'Arche Homefires has completed its $2.8-million fundraising campaign, though it is still taking donations to cover the usual unexpected extra costs of such a big project.

"We're incredibly grateful now to have funding at the municipal, town, provincial and federal levels of government, which is wonderful," Edmond said.