L’Arche targeted by thieves
Building materials stolen from community for people with intellectual abilities
The project manager of a new building under construction for L’Arche Cape Breton says he can’t believe thieves would target such a worthy cause.
The community for people with intellectual disabilities and those who share their lives with them was hit by thieves who stole building materials from the site where it is constructing a new gathering place for its members.
Sometime between 6 p.m. and midnight on Monday, thieves stole 19 sheets of exterior grade plywood from the construction site of the new centre under construction at Iron Mines, Inverness County.
Project manager Cammie MacLean said one of his employees discovered the theft when they arrived at the scene Tuesday morning.
“He noticed that the pile of plywood was gone,” he said, noting they intended to make use of the materials later this week.
“I just can’t believe that anybody would not look at things and say, ‘Listen, this is a great cause, why would we want to touch anything there?’” he said.
L’Arche Development co-ordinator Josephine MacEachern said Tuesday they’ve been fundraising in support of the construction project for about five years.
The value of the materials stolen is in the $500-600 range.
“It’s fund-raised dollars, it’s money that came from $10 and $20 and $50 donations from our friends throughout Cape Breton Island,” MacEachern said. “That means a lot to us and we wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be doing this today if it wasn’t for those people that support us in every way they can.”
“This here is for L’Arche, anything that costs any amount of money that disappears like that is certainly affecting a budget, in the end.”
MacLean said work on the building, which will be just under 4,000 square feet, started about a year ago with site preparation.
“We have the shell of the building going up pretty well … this plywood was there to cover up the gable ends,” he said. “We didn’t think it would be a problem with this kind of a thing happening, since it is for L’Arche.
“I’m forever grateful that there is such a place where those people can be happy.”
Because access to the property from the Trans-Canada Highway had been blocked off, MacEachern said the thieves would have had to come onto the L’Arche Cape Breton site and drive right through it, “which is not a short drive.”
“They had to go in through the community in order to get it,” MacLean added.
The new building is intended to support L’Arche Cape Breton’s varied social enterprises.
“This gathering place will assist us by allowing us to take items that are made at those businesses, work programs we call them, for our folks with disabilities and put them up there so it will be easier for people to see them and appreciate them,” MacEachern said.
They also plan to hold popup markets featuring produce from their organic garden, goods produced in their bakery and items from their craft studio.
It will also provide a space where the whole L’Arche Cape Breton community — which numbers about 80-90 people in total, including about 25 people with disabilities, assistants and other staff — can gather together for special activities such as Christmas dinner or meetings.
MacEachern noted they currently have to rent a local fire hall to meet.
“We don’t have space in any of our buildings where the whole community of L’Arche Cape Breton can gather,” she said.
It will also provide an area where they can hold training sessions.
“We provide all our own professional development, training and then we can invite the wider community as well to take part in the training, once we have the space,” MacEachern said.
The L’Arche Facebook page notes its accessibility features will include entranceways, kitchen, washrooms, counter space, stage and enhanced acoustics. It will also provide fully accessible office space. Fundraising efforts in support of the project are ongoing.
L’Arche Cape Breton is asking that if anyone has any information about the theft that they contact the RCMP