Judy Hagen is a L’Arche friend and donor. She describes her experience with Donald, a person with diverse abilities who was part of the L’Arche community.
By Judy Hagen
The other day as I worked in my garden I remembered what “The Donald” would have said that first day of clean-up. “March is for power washing, April is for painting the garden boxes and May we dig up the bulbs to be ready for the seeds.” That would be our routine for seven years.
“The Donald”, was Donald Taylor from Cumberland, but anyone who had ever met him, would simply call him The Donald. He was an eccentric. Most would say he was handicapped, special needs and incapable. Many would turn away, because he had his own opinion and his own way of viewing the world.
The first time I ever really was confronted with his style was at a political rally in 1986. I had no idea what he was talking about! The rant would take twists and turns until he finally figured out what he wanted to say. He had led a very difficult life of neglect and abuse. He had suffered in institutional care. I soon learnt that there was a wonderful man just waiting to do something good in the world.
It was not until 2009 that he began getting my yard “into shape”. He came under a Provincial work plan and was accompanied by a volunteer from L’Arche Comox Valley. I was told not to expect much from him, but I could see he wanted to do more and more, so the three of us tried together.
Every week we had a coffee break, usually with juice and cookies and there was also discussion. He always had an issue that he wanted to “discuss”. We became such good friends that I was invited to his birthday party. His dream was to live long enough to receive a pension and become a man of leisure. Sadly, he “slipped away” one night while lying comfortably in his easy chair. We all like to believe that he was watching the news thinking about the political issues he liked to discuss.
The Donald Taylor Bursary
Donald passed in 2017. In his will, he gave bequests to his family and also expressed his desire that people with developmental disabilities be better supported to find their place in the world, not “warehoused” or placed in situations of dependency.
“Donald was a very strong advocate for people with disabilities,” says Hollee Card, Community Leader & Executive Director for L’Arche Comox Valley. “He believed it was important that people have their own voice and be heard.”
The Donald Taylor Bursary arose from the intention that the gifts and abilities of people like Donald be recognized, by supporting the education of individuals who share that aim. The bursary is given annually to a high school student in the Comox Valley school district who is moving on to post-secondary education in a field related to work with people with disabilities.
Each year Hollee and Terry James, Donald’s long-time friend, review bursary applications. “We consider it a privilege to learn about the students applying, their lives and why they have chosen a specific field of study that supports people with disabilities,” says Hollee.
Donald is remembered for his ability to connect with strangers, his love and sense of belonging to the Comox Valley community, and his perseverance. He would be happy to see the difference that his bursary makes year after year.
