L'Arche communities are spread across Canada from Vancouver Island to Cape Breton. While the size of communities varies and their lifestyle reflects the rural and small and large urban centres where they are located, all the communities are characterized by the same spirit of welcome and the valuing of relationships where each person, with or without a developmental disablity, is enriched. Besides those who share life in homes or day settings, each community has a circle of friends who participate in its life in various ways. L'Arche has existed in Canada since 1969. It has grown steadily through the years. The newest communities, welcomed into the International Federation of L'Arche in 2004 and 2005, are in Saint John, New Brunswick and, in the project stage, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.