L'Arche Homefires asks Wolfville to reconsider funding for new building
Current workshop is inaccessible, a problem for an organization that employs people with disabilities
A Nova Scotia organization for people with intellectual disabilities says it's disappointed the Town of Wolfville turned down its funding request to help with a new, accessible building.
Ingrid Blais is the director of L'Arche Homefires, which includes several residential houses and the main Applewicks business on Gaspereau Avenue.
L'Arche employs about 60 people in Wolfville and many have intellectual or physical disabilities. The current Applewicks gift shop has a steep staircase into a dark basement workshop.
"The stairs. There's no natural light in this place. It's a basement of a home that the original timber work leads me to believe it's probably 100 years old," Blais said Monday. "Nobody with a physical mobility challenge can work here."
In January 2015, the community asked Wolfville for an $80,000 contribution over four years to help them meet their $2.8 million fundraising target to create a new space in a former church hall.
"We know the lack of available, accessible, affordable meeting places in this town, so we offered to the Town of Wolfville to enter into a partnership, where the town could have use of the new hall," Blais said.
But Wolfville's council turned them down.
"We were disappointed at the response. We were also disappointed that there were some inaccurate statements made at the meeting," she said. "It's not the money — we will keep fundraising — it's the principle."
L'Arche wasn't invited to the meetings and so couldn't clear up the misunderstandings, she says.
L'Arche Homefires has been in Wolfville since 1981 and Blais says the town leaders are usually great to work with. Wolfville has already helped out at the new building with about $20,000 in civic upgrades, such as adding a parking area near the new building and moving a power pole.
But when L'Arche sought $80,000 in funding, Wolfville's council didn't support it.
Council discussing donation again Tuesday
Mayor Jeff Cantwell said the issue is returning to the table Tuesday under the charitable donation policy.
"The council discussion tomorrow will involve talking about whether we need a less tightened policy, or whether it already has the flexibility council needs," he said Monday.
"Like with anything, we need to decide is this good for the town, or is this not good for the town? Not because somebody in the audience makes you think one way or the other."
He hopes the council will soon make a final decision on the matter.