To make way for The Anchorage, the original house built in 1955 is scheduled for demolition in the coming week. Although empty now, the building still holds the imprint of years of daily life, gatherings, and memories. To recognize this, L’Arche held a paint party in the house, creating art and leaving a message of appreciation.

During the recent groundbreaking, Pastor Ryan Slifka, a Grieve Ave. neighbour and pastor at St. George’s United Church, also blessed the land. Together, these moments expressed gratitude for the site’s past while marking the beginning of its next chapter.

“We’re mindful that this house has long been part of the neighbourhood,” says Lynda Brosko, Community Leader and Executive Director for L’Arche. “We want to honour the connections people may have had to it. As we prepare the land for its new purpose, we look forward to the friendships, belonging and shared life that will flourish here.”