Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of L'Arche Avalon is responsible for ensuring effective and fiscally sound programs and operations. They do this by providing leadership, advice and direction to the members, committees and volunteers of the organization.
Sheilah Mackinnon Drover, chair
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 b. andrews, vice-chair
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 the past two years.
Lorraine angelopoulos, SECRETARY
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.
Cindy Bishop, Treasurer
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 daughters 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 would be a dream come true.
Sarah King, director
Sarah King has worked as a support worker in varying capacities for over a decade. She started out working at a camp for adults with disabilities for seven summers and has never looked back. Her education includes a diploma as a Developmental Services Worker and she continues to be interested in continuing education on various subjects regarding social services and disabilities specifically. Since moving to NL she has worked as a Behavioural Aide, Home Care worker, Job coach and in respite services. She has been a volunteer at Empower and L'Arche Avalon in various capacities.
Most importantly is her time spent in L'Arche Inverness in Scotland. She was there for 18 months and it has impacted the way she supports individuals in her care. By building mutual relationships that go beyond the caregiver/client relationship that is typically seen.
peter barnes, director
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 Stevens, Director
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.
J Paul Walsh, Director
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.