About Us
The Legacy Building Project is a newly-founded initiative that works with special needs families to realize affordable, sustainable, and innovative housing solutions for special needs children who are entering their adult lives. Such an example of this is our youngest son, Evan, who inspired the Legacy Building Project.
Evan, 26, has been non-verbal all of his life. He has battled with extreme autism challenges and OCD tendencies – but has always found a way to express himself through his artistic endeavours. His dream is to create a live-work space for those with similar challenges to help them realize their craft.
CRAFTING A LEGACY - BUILDING A FUTURE
Their tenacity finally paid off as they were successful in championing a severance of their family home allowing them to construct an additional home on their property that would finally meet all of Evan’s needs, including accommodations for live-in help providing full time care. Having already secured building permits and having paid up-front all development fees, the family are now reaching the completion of construction on the second-floor level of the home. They are now, desperately seeking help from the construction and design industries to make this dream home a reality and a springboard to help other young adults with similar stories and challenges.
THE STORY OF EVAN: A GIFTED CREATIVE
From his detailed streetscape drawings to his expressive abstract acrylics, Evan has found great relief and joy in communicating his eye for colour, shape, and texture through his work. Having been recognized as a promising young artist, Evan’s work has been exhibited as a part of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Evan’s future looked even more exciting as he would finally be able to realise his unique purpose.
A STAGGERING SETBACK
Shortly after this promising news, Evan sustained a catastrophic injury to his right arm that dramatically hindered his ability to pursue his art career. This setback proved very difficult for Evan, as he faced additional frustrations that compounded upon his many other daily challenges. However, through the miraculous work of a team of nine gifted surgeons and staff, his arm was successfully reconstructed, and he eventually gained full function after years of physiotherapy.
SHAPING A WAY FORWARD
Evan’s family worked relentlessly to re-establish the dreams of his future, facing many hurdles to find the right support, programs, and care for his exceptional needs. Through limited living conditions, it was difficult to accommodate Evan’s need for art studio space, as well as suitable living quarters for such a unique young man transitioning into an independent adult life. Facing decade-long waiting lists for suitable supportive housing for Evan – even finding respite care for him on occasion, was proving extremely difficult, as the many-hours journey to reach available homes made it impractical to accommodate Evan’s needs. Despite these many challenges, his family pushed through the conventional boundaries restricting autistic adults living full, balanced, independent lives.
