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 disabilitiesin Wolfville, N.S.

Devon Edmonds, the community'sfinance and administrativeco-ordinator, said Friday the insideof the old hallhas been gutted and rebuilt from the plumbing to the walls.

"It's very exciting,"said Edmonds, addingthat a highlight ofthe 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'ArcheHomefiresopened in Wolfville, a university town about 90 kilometres northwest of Halifax, in 1981.Today, it is among more than 140L'Archecommunities across40 countries.

The Wolfville branchemploys and provides housingfor 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 andaretirementprogram.

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

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

"We're ready for a change,"Edmondsaid. "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 onGaspereau Avenue and it hopes to hold a grand opening in the fall.

L'Arche Homefireshas 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.