Julia knew her life had become unmanageable. Her substance use shifted from alcohol to include cocaine, and in the months before she attended treatment at Renascent, Julia lost her job. “I think I was always very driven by alcohol. I focused my whole life around that next drink,” shares Julia candidly. “I wanted to go … Continued
In 2003, Kathryn and her Dad embarked on a trip that she will cherish forever; one that was only possible because of his recovery. “The summer after Dad completed treatment, I decided to become a visiting student at a university out West. Dad drove me there and it was the first adventure we had where … Continued
In July, Alison will give birth to her first child. If you asked her one year prior whether motherhood was on the horizon, she would have said “no.” Despite wanting to start a family with her long-time boyfriend, her alcohol and cocaine addiction meant that she wouldn’t be the mother she wanted to be. “My … Continued
By Colin White, Renascent Alumni Step 4 of the 12 Steps of Recovery is all about self-reflection and self-awareness. In this step, individuals are encouraged to take a deep dive into their inner selves and examine their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This introspective process is an essential part of recovery and helps individuals identify patterns … Continued
Rick Morton knew exactly how he wanted to spend his days in retirement. “I’ve seen a number of people retire and do nothing,” shares Rick. “I left with a plan. I wanted to volunteer.” And volunteer is exactly what he did. Rick took on a volunteer role at Renascent Paul J. Sullivan Centre (Sullivan Centre) … Continued
Richards father had a passion for stamp collecting. Over decades and throughout his recovery, the Royal Canadian Navy veteran purchased and stored hundreds of Canadian stamps. So after he passed, Richard and his sister knew they wanted to give the collection – along with many of their father’s other belongings – to those who would … Continued
March 13, 1994 was the date that Russell took his last drink. For 25 years prior to that, Russell drank heavily. “Before to coming to Renascent, I would have never believed that recovery was possible for me,” says Russell candidly. “I was as low as you could get without losing your life.” Russell recalls meeting … Continued
“Recovery took a guy who was ready to give up and showed me that I have a life worth living,” says Matt. As someone who assumed he’d “die an alcoholic,” he didn’t have much hope for recovery. “I drank heavily for 20 years,” he says. “When I was 42, nothing would stop me. Not my … Continued
For Colin and many who find recovery, the desire to be free of substances came from within. “I have validation issues. I need you to like me,” he shares candidly. “I’ve spent my life performing – for high fives, for handshakes, for accolades. I came to treatment seeking more validation, but fortunately the counsellors knew … Continued
“I just never felt at peace,” Hannah says. “I always felt like the black sheep, the odd one out.” It was this persistent feeling of discomfort that led Hannah to six years of heavy drug use, culminating in a dangerous and all-consuming addiction. “I would find different means of escaping myself and my raw state … Continued
