Board of Directors

The sister of core member Maureen “Tiny” Mackinnon, Sheilah worked as an educator at various levels of the secondary and post secondary education system both teaching and in administration.

Her volunteer time was given to working with women’s organizations such as the Provincial Advisory Council of the Status of Women, WISE (Women in Successful Employment), Women’s Institute; community organizations, for example, the NL Public Library Board, Queen’s College Board, Community Food Banks; and, going back in time, Scouting/Guiding, hockey and ringette when her four children were growing up with her and her husband, John Drover, in Springdale and Grand Falls-Windsor.

Her involvement with L’Arche has become an important part of her life in addition to the Association for Community Living in Newfoundland and St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia.

Lewis is a retired partner from the law firm Stewart McKelvey in St. John’s. He and his wife Marilyn, who is also active with L’Arche Avalon, have three sons, Brad, Mark and Todd, and five grandchildren, Maren, Teagan, Ethan, Lily and Kate. Mark, who is 40 years of age, was diagnosed shortly after birth with Tuberous Sclerosis and has profound intellectual disabilities. Lewis and Marilyn want the best care possible for Mark when they are no longer able to care for him. They believe that L’Arche Avalon can provide that care for Mark and others with intellectual disabilities. Lewis attended the L’Arche International Federation Assembly meetings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in June 2017 as delegate on behalf of L’Arche Avalon. Watching the interaction between those with and without disabilities made Lewis even more committed to bringing a L’Arche Community to the St. John’s region. Lewis has been on the Board of Directors of L’Arche Avalon since its inception and he has been Chair of the Board for two prior years.

Lorraine is a graduate of Memorial University. She is the mother of four sons – John, Gregory, Spiro and Paul. Paul has severe cerebral palsy. She joined L’Arche Avalon in 2013. Like every parent of a child with intellectual disabilities, she constantly carries the worry of what will happen to her son when she can no longer look after him.

Several years ago she saw a program about Jean Vanier and L’Arche and was taken with Vanier’s philosophy of caregiving for the intellectually disabled. She has been committed ever since joining L’Arche Avalon to creating a L’Arche Community in this province. She became a Board member in 2015 and serves as Board Secretary. Paul is involved in the L’Arche Avalon community, by attending monthly gatherings, walks, and the jam sessions.

Paul has been involved with disability rights and advocacy for many years including as past-Chair of both the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities and the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.  Paul became involved with L’Arche Avalon a number of years ago and sees the L’Arche model as significant part of the solution to residential needs.

Professionally Paul is CEO of the Autism Society of Newfoundland & Labrador.  Prior to joining ASNL Paul spent the majority of a 35 year career in private enterprise in the utility industry,  He is a proud alum of both Memorial University and Gonzaga High School and was the 2020 recipient of the Cecilia Carroll Award for Independent LIving.

Paul and his wife Robin Bartlett live in St. John’s.  Paul has two children, one grand-daughter and one very special dog, Meeka.  An active volunteer in many organizations, Paul spends his spare time reading, playing golf, and watching sports.

Cindy is the mother of core member, Mitchell Bishop and his sister, Manisha. She is the wife of David. After Mitchell’s birth, Cindy gave up her career as a nurse to become a stay-at-home mom. In this role she was ready to take on the world, if necessary, while advocating for Mitchell. She is a support person for families with special needs children, especially those with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and cognitive delay.

Cindy spent ten years on the Board of Directors for the Cerebral Palsy Association in various roles. With two other moms she helped set up a support group for parents under the CPANL.

During her daughter’s teenage years, Cindy spent a great deal of time driving, counselling, mothering, and feeding teens.  She was even known to have opened her home, for months at a time, to distraught teens with serious issues at home.

In 2018, Cindy became involved with L’Arche Avalon where she has found a community of friends, acceptance, and a place where Mitchell can enjoy life’s “little things”. Deep down she has always been concerned with what Mitchell’s life would look like without her. Should he be so lucky to find a home with L’Arche Avalon her concerns will all be allayed, as it will be a dream come true.

Peter is a psychospiritual therapist and manager of bereavement services. He has supported the growth and development of L’Arche Communities and specifically people with development disabilities since he first heard of the movement in the mid-seventies. He had the opportunity to visit a L’Arche home in Trosley, France in 1976, where he met the founder of L’Arche, Jean Vanier. He was involved in a church sponsored group home in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the mid-eighties and subsequently worked with the large group of people with developmental disabilities at the Waterford Hospital in the early-nineties.

His interest in the L’Arche movement continued when he moved to Ottawa in 2002, where he was associated with the L’Arche Ottawa community. He believes L’Arche Communities represent: (1) collaboration and community which fosters compassion, mutual care, and interdependence amongst its members, core members, assistants, and others alike; (2) a core value of life that is to appreciate and learn from diverse people in society and L’Arche Communities represent diversity; and (3) L’Arche Communities help people to laugh and enjoy life. Peter is a Director on the Board and Chair of the Community Building Committee.

Mary-Anne is wife to Don and mom to three grown children. Mary-Anne is a substitute teacher, a doctoral student (in Spiritual Formation) as well as actively involved in leadership and musical activities at The Crossing Church in St. John’s. She loves to travel, try new foods, play the piano and sing. She has lived all over Canada, from coast to coast. Mary-Anne has volunteered with many different organizations including Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, schools and with  several community boards. Mary-Anne is inspired by the vision of L’Arche to be a light in the world. Being there for each other, sharing the joys and sorrows of life together and celebrating every person is what makes L’Arche special.

Michel Genest became a member of L’Arche Avalon in 2022. He found in L’Arche a caring, focused, and determined community and is committed to contributing to community building.

Michel was born and raised in Montreal. His move to St. John’s in 1982 was related to his work with a Science based organization. Shortly after getting settled here, the school board, one of his clients, asked him to consider moving from business to teaching. Michel’s career in education spans over 37 years. He taught the French Immersion program for nine years before being seconded to the Department of Education to develop programs for the French First Language schools. Twelve years later he became the Director of Education/CEO at the NL Francophone School Board. Five years after that he returned to the classroom at St. Bon’s where he currently teaches French.

Michel holds a Bachelor of Science degree from McGill University and Bachelor and Masters degrees in Education from Memorial University.

Soon after moving to St. John’s, Michel found a parish community and got involved in various ministries. One of his favourites was as coordinator for the youth group. Other community involvement important to Michel was as a volunteer for several years in the Pastoral Care Department at St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital. He served on a consultative team for The Lantern to develop an operational plan. He has also been a Board Director with the NL Francophone Association.
Michel’s wife, Eleanor, is also a member of L’Arche Avalon. They have two grown children, Charlotte and Claire.