Wolfville approves $80K donation to L'Arche Homefires

Wolfville council has approvedan $80,000 donation to an organization that supports people with intellectual and physical disabilities, a request that was previously turned down by a council committee.

L'Arche Homefires says the money will go toward a $2.8 million fundraising goal to refit an old church hall into a fully accessible workshop and meeting space.

Director Ingrid Blais says they are "very pleased" with the outcome.

In recent weeks, she says many of the town's residents have contacted her or written to the town expressing their support for the organization, which includes several residential houses and the main Applewicks business on Gaspereau Avenue.

"Just expressing how much they value the presence that we are in town and are witness I think to the fact that everybody mattered. So that's been really heartening," she said.

Vote tied 3-3

The final decision to approve the charitable donation was made at a meeting on May 18.

In January 2015, the community asked Wolfville for an $80,000 contribution over four years to help them meet their fundraising target.

Mayor JeffCantwell says the request has prompted discussion about the town's policy relating to grants to organizations andit is nowbeing reviewed.

• L'Arche Homefires asks Wolfville to reconsider funding for new building

Reviewing policies

He says the rules are set up so that organizations that receive grants don't return year after year for operations contributions or become an ongoing part of the budget.

"It's kind of a one-off and has to not commit the town for more than one or two years at the most," Cantwellsaid."Some of the concerns was around the policy itself and some thought it was not tight enough."

The L'Arche donation came from the town's reserve fund and was not part of the annual budget deliberations.

Blais made a presentation to council prior to a second vote of the committee of the whole two weeks ago. She says the organization wasn't invited to take part in initial discussions, which she's been told was an oversight.

"It did seem to make a difference when we were present," she said.

• Wolfville tentatively backs $80K donation to L'Arche Homefires

35 years in Wolfville

Blais says fundraising has been going well and the organization hopes to start work on the project in the next month or two. The board will be meeting to finalize plans at the end of the month.

L'Arche Homefires has been in Wolfville since 1981. It 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, which is inaccessible for many people with physical disabilities.