‘A place where everyone is welcome’: L’Arche Hamilton opens inclusive coffeehouse
A new cafe in Hamilton's Stipley neighbourhood is hoping to build community - one cup of coffee at a time.
The Inclusion Coffeehouse is run by L'Arche Hamilton, the local chapter of the international organization that helps create homes, programs and supports for those with intellectual disabilities - known as core members within the group.
Located within the Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre, community relations co-ordinator Paige McIsaac said the cafe is run by core members of L'Arche, as well as volunteers and assistants who work alongside them.
One group takes care of the baking, while the other operates the cafe. Divided into pairs, they take on roles such as taking orders, running the cash register, serving drinks and grabbing baked goods.
Executive director Sarah Tuck said the idea for the cafe stemmed from their core members' desire to one day open a social enterprise, as well as examples from other chapters around the world.
Some core members had also already worked at local coffee shops including Vintage Coffee Roasters on King Street East and 541 Eatery & Exchange on Barton Street East.
Coffee and tea have been really popular for us," Tuck said with a laugh.
But aside from the desire to open the cafe, the organization was also hoping to create a space where those in both the surrounding neighbourhoods - as well as the L'Arche community - could gather and connect.
And working with the Sherman Hub and the City of Hamilton, they found a home within the Cannon Street East recreation centre.
Tuck said the building, which hosts a fitness centre, a swimming pool and a number of organized programs for people of all ages, will allow their core members to be more visible to the greater public while displaying their abilities and talents.
Everything that we're doing is really centred on showing the gifts of people with disabilities that we support," said Tuck. And contributing to our community and making a place where people are welcome."
Michael Mattice, a core member of L'Arche Hamilton who volunteers at the cafe, said the goal of the space is to bring the spirit" of L'Arche to those who may not have a place to call home."
It's a place where everyone is welcome," said Mattice. We want the best for all the people who come to the cafe."
Tuck said they're also hopeful that core members will be able to learn new skills and eventually work elsewhere.
Once restrictions lessen and COVID case numbers recede, the organization plans to host events as well as open the space up for other core L'Arche members to connect with the community - whether that be through puzzles, colouring or chatting over a cup of hot chocolate.
McIsaac said they're also planning to eventually display paintings and pottery created by core members at their Main Street East art studio.
We really want to make it a community space," said McIsaac. It's a place where all can come and gather and learn about each other. Everyone can feel that they are valuable, unique and that they have gifts to share."
McIsaac said the cafe was set to open its doors on Jan. 11, but with Hamilton recreation centres now closed to bolster the city's COVID booster rollout, that date may be delayed. Once they can operate, the cafe will be open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com