20th Annual Vickar Automotive Group Walk with L’Arche

From the June Gratitude Newsletter, 2024

“We’re all in this together- and it shows when we stand hand in hand, make our dreams come true,” sang the L’Arche choir as the final walkers arrived back from our 20^th annual Walk with L’Arche.

A beautiful sunny day on May 5^th brought together nearly 300 people to support our community during our milestone Walk with L’Arche event. Participants strolled down the Transcona Trail, visited over burgers, danced to live music, took home prizes and enjoyed a dance performance by our L’Arche community members. “I just find it a deeply joyful event,” shared one participant- appreciating the ways the gifts of our core members were celebrated through artwork, volunteering, leading prize draws and performing alongside the live band.

But why do we walk together?

Julie Rempel (L’Arche Spiritual Life Coordinator), has been walking with L’Arche for over 13 years. “It was exciting for me because I’ve seen the changes over the years… seeing that progression of how [the walk] has grown; how that spirit of community continues, and how there’s new life as well,” she shared. “The highlight is seeing people as you walk- like I’m going one way, and some people are coming back- and that engagement is so much fun because people are so joyful… and the outdoor part of it brings the joy of the springtime and new life along with it as well.”

She explained how she fell in step and in conversation with a variety of different people along the way- old friends, long-term community members, and assistants and their families.

“That movement of friendship is kind of a metaphor for how we are in community… This movement of touching each others’ lives at L’Arche. I think of this Biblical quote- ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’- and I just feel that that spirit of God was present on that day and within the community.”

Stacie Farrant (L’Arche Administrative Assistant) shared a similar takeaway from her first Walk with L’Arche event- how the time spent on the trail mirrors the way the community shares life together. “They took their time; it wasn’t a rush- it was just community walking together. And some took a long time, and for some it was done very quickly. I really enjoyed that.”

Of course, the walk also supports our community in more tangible ways. Together we raised over $51,000, which will make a huge difference in sustaining and growing our community over the year ahead! We are so grateful to Vickar Automotive and numerous other sponsors for your incredible support through the years; for the dozens of volunteers who gave your time and energy to make this event happen, and to all the participants who came out to show your support.

As we dream about our community’s future, it is deeply meaningful to know that our larger L’Arche family is there, walking alongside us for the journey. We really are all in this together, and for that we are incredibly grateful.