Category Archive for: Recovery

Stories of Advent – Wayne

by NightShift

Wayne's Story of Hope and Recovery Wayne’s story is a powerful one of receiving, and giving, hope and love. After decades struggling with addiction, Wayne will spend this Christmas embracing life and serving others! Wayne embraced freedom from addiction and reclaimed his life through a very special recovery program that operates here at NightShift Street…

Stories of Advent – Kelly

by NightShift

Kelly's Story of Hope and Healing During the Advent season, we love sharing with you stories of people in the NightShift community. Sharing stories is a powerful way of connecting with others, and giving Hope. Kelly’s story is one of healing, hope and serving others. She is a committed volunteer at NightShift’s Welcome Centre drop-in.…

Stories of Advent – David

by NightShift

A thoughtful and quiet man, when David speaks, the words are powerful and from the heart. After 15 years lost in addiction, and struggling with homelessness, David will spend this Christmas clean, sober, and excited about his future. David embraced freedom from addiction and reclaimed his life through a very special recovery program that operates…

Feeding us keeps us healthy, but it’s more than that

by NightShift

Surviving the day – and night – can be an overwhelming challenge for men and women who are on the streets or at risk of becoming homeless. Many people who are homeless are also battling the effects of past trauma, addiction and mental illness, which can lead to isolation and exclusion. At NightShift, we know…

The journey to finding freedom

by NightShift

The journey to finding freedom Laureen (Reenie) Fox knew she wanted to help other people. As someone who had volunteered in the past she wanted to get back to serving others. So Reenie enthusiastically signed up for a recovery program helping folks find freedom from addictions and complex trauma, called RE:ACT. She believed she could…

The other side of the mountain

by NightShift

George is one of our regulars. Most nights we see him at our outreach meal, helping volunteers, joining new faces for dinner and carrying on conversations with the friends he’s made over the years at NightShift. Born and raised in Fiji, George came to Canada when he was 16 and completed high school here. After…

Thank you for treating me as though I am somebody

by NightShift

By Leah Baugh Today I had the privilege to listen to Jonathan’s* story. Jonathan had been in recovery for eight days. Eight days without heroin, but kicked out of a recovery house for smoking a cigarette. He came into the NightShift office a couple of hours later full of fear. He was fearful of being…



Recovery Ride 2012 – Day Five: camaraderie

by NightShift

Whitecourt Church sent us off with full bellies and prayers! I climbed on the bike of one of their congregants. I admit I was more than nervous with travelling down the highway open to the elements, bugs and hefty semi-trucks! As Freedom Biker Church is creating a two-hour documentary, a helicopter followed us for a…



Recovery Ride 2012 – Day Four: an interlude of friends

by NightShift

Lord, You own the cattle on a thousand hills. We claim a few to provide for our needs at the Care Cottage and Care Village… It was hard for us to leave behind this very special place after only such a short time, but our journey on Tuesday morning beckoned. Thank you, Pastor Steve, for…



Recovery Ride 2012 – Day Three: a place of healing

by NightShift

As we travelled the Hudson’s Hope Route for Fort St. John on Monday, we were awestruck once again with God’s brushstrokes on His incredible painting. We arrived at SCARS, Wagner Hills Farm’s northern recovery home, late in the afternoon. I hope we encouraged and inspired them as much as they did us. One of our…