Careers at L’Arche bring opportunity to learn, grow, and share gifts.
Those who work and share life at L’Arche belong to a community where they can learn new skills, develop meaningful relationships, and are given opportunities for personal growth and leadership. More than a job, employment at L’Arche Sudbury offers an exceptional career opportunity and life changing adventure in friendship and self-discovery. Relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
We cook and eat dinner together, get together with friends, participate in activities in our neighbourhoods, go on vacation together, and celebrate often. In living this simple yet profound experience, Assistants gain valuable life skills, opportunities for personal growth and self direction, as well as enhanced leadership abilities.
Career Opportunities
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Assistant Role
Through friendship, meaningful work, fun social activities, and home life, Assistants and Core Members build communities of belonging together.
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Leadership Training
Assistants will be supported to learn and grow through their daily lives in their home and community, and, through our more formal Leadership Training Programs.
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Who We Hire
We are always happy to welcome new Assistants to the role of living with, supporting, and developing friendships with our members with intellectual disabilities.
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What's it like to live in a L'Arche community?
Assistants come to L’Arche from around the world and from their local areas. Together people with and without intellectual disabilities create homes of welcome and celebration. The key to life in L’Arche is a commitment to helping one another build positive, supportive relationships.
- Assistants come with a broad range of backgrounds and qualifications.
- All new assistants participate in a program of orientation and training.
- Compensation and benefits are provided.
What Assistants Say About L'Arche
Live-In Assistant Role
Becoming a L’Arche Assistant is an extraordinary and life-changing experience.
The rhythm of each L’Arche house is set by the needs of the people with intellectual disabilities in the home. As a live-in Assistant you will typically live with at least 5-7 other people. Everyone is given their own bedroom space. Sharing life in a community isn’t a typical 9 to 5 job. Our model integrates working and living together, therefore hours of active support vary. Assistants are asked to support people with intellectual disabilities with personal care and share in the housework.
Learn More about being a House Assistant
Lisa: An assistant with a Sense of Adventure and a Compassionate Heart
One thing to know about Lisa Wilianto is that she loves adventure, especially if it involves travel. Over a decade ago, she left her homeland of Indonesia to pursue a Master’s degree in Rural Systems Management in Australia. In the fall of 2021, Lisa was itching for a new adventure and feeling that she’d like to try living in Canada. She noted a posting for an assistant’s position in Sudbury. Lisa felt a pull, but signing up for this job did not come without sacrifice for Lisa. She had to leave her husband and her children, who were still in school, and to make the long journey alone.
She landed in Northern Ontario just in time for her first real experience of winter. “I was excited about it,” she says. “When I lived in L’Arche Liverpool, it snowed only once and the snow melted that same day.” An Ontarian might say, “Be careful what you wish for!” but she’s loved her winters in Sudbury, especially the winter walks and hockey games. She’s learned that “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing, and the best way to embrace winter is through sports.” Early on, she went with assistants and core members to a Sudbury Wolves game. Seeing a hockey game in person for the first time, she fell in love with the sport. “The adrenaline is great,” she says. “I have to admit I like the fighting too.” She also likes watching figure skating, where her favourite star is Elvis Stojko.
However, another, even more profound experience than a Canadian winter awaited Lisa in the coming months in L’Arche Sudbury.
Read more about Lisa's experience
Why a career at L'Arche Sudbury?
- Make a positive impact on the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Be part of an inclusive community where individuals with and without disabilities live and work together, where diversity is embraced, and the unique abilities and perspectives of individuals are celebrated.
- Develop deep, authentic relationships with the core members (individuals with disabilities) and your teammates.
- Help advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities by actively contributing to the promotion of social justice and while helping challenge stereotypes and discrimination.
- Experience personal growth and a greater understanding of human dignity and potential.
- L’Arche offers a wide range of career opportunities, from direct support roles to administrative, leadership, and healthcare positions, with opportunities to grow within our organization.
At L’Arche, people with and without intellectual disabilities live, work, and learn together creating communities of friendship and belonging. Share your gifts and enrich the lives of others.
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