The turning point came when a core member Jen shared that she wanted to work at the same shops where she already felt at home as a customer. That simple statement reframed the entire project and opened the door to a community-wide vision of inclusion.
”
Wolfville:
Building an Inclusive Employment Community
Project Snapshot:
Client: L’Arche Homefires
Location: Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Sector: Nonprofit / Community Development
Services: Inclusive employment strategy, community engagement, feasibility research
Timeline: April–August 2025
Impact at a glance:
Expanded employment pathways for people with intellectual disabilities
Formal partnership with the Town of Wolfville and Business Development Corporation
Shift from “inclusive jobs” to inclusive workplaces across the community
The Challenge:
L’Arche Homefires was committed to expanding employment choices for its core members through its social enterprise, AppleWicks. What began as a question of enterprise growth quickly became something bigger. Core members shared a clear desire not just to work within L’Arche, but to participate fully in the broader community workforce.
The opportunity was there, but the path forward required collaboration, research, and community-wide alignment.
Our Approach:
We began by listening closely to core members to understand their aspirations for employment. What we heard was a desire for choice, visibility, and inclusion in everyday community life.
Conversations with the Town of Wolfville quickly revealed strong leadership support. With enthusiastic engagement from the Mayor, Town staff, and the Wolfville Business Development Corporation, the project evolved from an organizational initiative into a shared community goal: establishing Wolfville as an inclusive employment community.
We Delivered:
Best practices research on community-based inclusive employment models
Interviews and engagement with employers, families, caregivers, and community leaders
Collaboration with local businesses to identify opportunities and readiness
A feasibility report outlining a clear path forward
A recommendation for a jointly funded coordinator role to support inclusive hiring and workplace learning
Our Impact:
The Town of Wolfville and L’Arche Homefires are pursuing funding to jointly hire an inclusion coordinator
Paid employment opportunities have already been identified through municipal programs
Local businesses are actively exploring participation
The conversation has shifted from placing individuals into roles to building inclusive workplaces as the community norm
Other communities are reaching out to learn from the Wolfville model
A Human Moment:
The turning point came when a core member Jen shared that she wanted to work at the same shops where she already felt at home as a customer. That simple statement reframed the entire project and opened the door to a community-wide vision of inclusion.
Client Reflection“I am very impressed with the depth, breadth, and quality of this work. It puts L’Arche Homefires and the Town of Wolfville in a strong position to move forward. Unbelievable, really.”
~ Jeff Moore, Founder, L’Arche
More Case Studies