Becoming a L’Arche Assistant is an extraordinary and life-changing experience. There are some things you need to consider if you are interested in joining one of our communities:

• The rhythm of each L’Arche house is set by the needs of the people with intellectual disabilities (Core Members) who have made it their home.
• As a live-in Assistant you will typically live with 5-7 other people;
• Everyone is given their own bedroom space
• Living and building community isn’t a 9 to 5 job.  Our model integrates living and working and therefore, responsibilities extend beyond typical workplace hours;  Personal time is built into the structure of each day, typically taken in the afternoon.
• Assistants are asked to support Core Members with personal care;
• You will be expected to do a share of the housework.
• All L’Arche communities have a spiritual dimension In Canada our communities are rooted in the Christian faith. We welcome people of all faiths and those with no particular faith tradition. We expect assistants to be open to and supportive of other’s spirituality and to join in our celebrations including Christmas, Easter, grace at mealtime and silent reflection.

We are regulated and inspected by the government and must legally meet set standards of competence.  Therefore, all Assistants are supported to participate in required training.