Molly’s Reach: Cape Breton couple to build retreat for neuro-divergent children
As a growing little girl, 3-year-old Molly McNamara has a lot of energy, and she’s lucky enough to live in a place where she has room to let it all out.
"Wide open spaces,” her father Sean McNamara explained. “She loves to run, and she doesn't really stop from the time she gets up until the time she goes to bed at night."
Molly has autism, and until fall 2022, the family lived in Dartmouth.
In a stroke of fate, the family ended up packing their bags to live at a large piece of farmland in Big Baddeck, N.S.
"We moved here in November, and we have noticed since moving out of the city here that she is just doing amazing,” Molly’s mother Stephanie McNamara said.
Difficult experiences while traveling led to the couple coming up with a big idea for their big property.
"We were looking for a place to take Molly on vacation, and we noticed that there weren't really too many autism-friendly locations even across Canada,” Sean explained.
Now, they plan to convert their land into a retreat called 'Molly's Reach'.
The idea is to create a place for children who are neuro-divergent, along with their families.
"I mean autistic kids, kids with ADHD or Tourette's Syndrome,” Stephanie said.
The hope is that their location, which is close to the start and end of the Cabot Trail, will be convenient for families who are traveling.
"We're breaking ground, I guess as they say, in the fall,” Molly’s mother said.
By next summer, they hope to have two brand new accessible cabins, and hope to welcome their first families.
"Then after that, we're building a massive sensory barn,” she added. “The barn will have everything a neuro-divergent kid may need."
The couple is in the process of getting a business loan, and they're looking for community support.
The first of many fundraisers for Molly's Reach, a concert, is set to take place July 16 at a church just down the road.
"There are so many kids here in Nova Scotia who are neuro-divergent, and there isn't a space like this,” Stephanie said.
The hope is also that by having kids like Molly McNamara -- the project’s namesake and inspiration -- around will mean Molly's Reach will be its own reward.
For the latest Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.