My Story
I'm Darrell, born in Reserve Mines, Cape Breton — a village shaped by coal dust and community spirit, proud to be known as home of Canada’s first housing co-op. It was there I first learned that stories matter, that neighbours show up for one another, and that small places can teach big truths about belonging.
My path and experience has been a tapestry woven from service, curiosity, relationship-building and the wonder of human connection. After graduating from Mount Allison University in 2000, I pursued philosophical and theological studies at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario, drawn by the possibility of priesthood. During these formative years, I also trained with the Canadian Armed Forces through the Reserve Entry Scheme Officer program and completed a 15-month pastoral practicum on a Mi’kmaq reserve in Nova Scotia. These experiences shaped my understanding of reconciliation, cultural humility, and the sacredness of witnessing another’s story. Though I ultimately chose another path, those years remain a foundational part of my human journey.
In 2006, I encountered the world of media through VisionTV, where, as a media librarian, I honed communication and storytelling skills that would later prove invaluable in fundraising and advocacy. I then joined the Last Post Fund, a national non-profit organization founded in 1909 to ensure dignity in death for Canadian Veterans. During this time, I pursued bereavement education courses at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto, deepening my ability to hold space for others with empathy and respect.
Politics called next, and I spent several years in Northern Ontario as a constituency assistant in Greater Sudbury at both federal and provincial levels, including with the Minister of Energy for the Province of Ontario. In these roles, I navigated complex systems, advocated for constituents, and saw firsthand how government policy can both help and hinder. The work was meaningful, but I longed for a more personal, community-rooted experience.
That calling led me back to L’Arche, a global movement dedicated to creating compassionate spaces and places where the gifts and voices of persons with intellectual disabilities are recognized and valued. I first encountered L'Arche as an undergraduate student. In 2016, I joined L’Arche Sudbury as a Program Leader supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, then became Development and Communications Officer. I went on to work with the Board of Directors of L'Arche Sudbury as Capital Campaign Leader and Capital Project Coordinator for their multimillion dollar capital project, L'Arche Sudbury Place. My focus was on securing funding, stewarding donors and coordinating project elements. In June 2024, I was appointed Ontario Regional Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Giving for L’Arche Canada.
Through every chapter of my work — whether in faith, public service, media, or community development — one thread remains constant: the radical power of presence. Whether I’m listening deeply, building bridges between people and purpose, or simply showing up during someone’s hardest hour, I aim to lead with humility, authenticity, and the unshakable belief that meeting people where they are is at the heart of lasting relationships.
My story is still unfolding — but it remains rooted in that small Cape Breton village that taught me the power of people and community.
