Paying it forward: Bruce Oake’s memory continues to inspire others

Tamarack Recovery Centre alumni finds purpose in sharing the gift of recovery

WINNIPEG, January 18, 2018 – A Winnipeg woman says she would likely have died, had Tamarack Recovery Centre not offered her a spot that happened to be available through the financial support of Scott and Anne Oake. The trauma-informed, residential treatment centre was the only organization that was able to provide a treatment spot to Stephanie Johnson when she sought help for a drug and alcohol addiction in 2016.

Tamarack Recovery Centre, with an 87% annual completion rate, are among the leaders in sustainable recovery and offer a 78 day addictions treatment program, longer than the average 28 day duration of many treatment centres. Scott and Anne Oake, the same family spearheading the Bruce Oake Foundation, began quietly and privately donating to Tamarack Recovery Centre, after their son Bruce died from an overdose in 2011, in hopes of progressing the recovery movement.

Tamarack became the foundation on which Stephanie would save her life and pay the gift of recovery forward. Says Executive Director, Lisa Cowan: “Due to the generosity of the Oakes and our donors, people like Stephanie are given the opportunity to access help to be free from addiction, and become contributing members of society. At Tamarack we want our clients to feel cared for and supported so they can ultimately be able to care for themselves and others”.

Today, 16 months after she first walked through Tamarack’s doors, Stephanie is now employed within the indigenous community as a trauma-informed workshop facilitator and with the support of the Winnipeg Foundation and Tamarack Recovery Centre, developed the “Addicts & Artists” project, an expressive arts therapy initiative that provides those in recovery the opportunity to explore alternative healing. She credits her drive and interest in this line of work due to gratitude and a desire to give to the very field that saved her life. “I am the first to say that addiction will ruin more than the addicted persons life”, says Johnson. “However, I’m also going to say conversely, that recovery goes beyond the addicted person’s life. When you help someone like me, it doesn’t end with me. Often, someone given an opportunity like I had will decide to dedicate their lives to paying it forward.”

Listen to the CBC Radio One interview here:

About Tamarack Recovery Center

Tamarack Recovery Centre provides residential, abstinence-based addictions treatment and recovery services in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tamarack's structured program builds in flexibility, providing client-driven, community- based treatment and support. Tamarack's extended program and continuing aftercare strengthen clients' ability to make sustainable change as they take the first steps towards recovery and as they rebuild their lives.

Tamarack uses recognized best practices and provides evidence-based supports and treatment to work with individuals who are wishing to recover from addictions. The program takes a trauma-informed approach in the provision of all aspects of treatment to ensure that individuals who have experienced trauma and/ or who have substance use and concurrent mental health issues receive the most appropriate care.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

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Tamarack Recovery Centre Fact Sheet

Tamarack Recovery Centre is a 12 bed co-ed treatment centre providing residential, abstinence based addictions treatment and recovery services in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tamarack uses recognized best practices and provides evidence-based supports and treatment to work with individuals who are wishing to recover from addictions.

It is a non-profit, federally registered charity, which was incorporated as KIAZAN INC in 1975. In 1998, the name was changed to Tamarack Rehab Inc. and in 2011, an “operating as” change of name was registered with the Provincial Companies Office as “Tamarack Recovery Centre”.
The organization is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors who meet ten times per year. Day to day management is conducted by a full time Executive Director who reports to the Board and is responsible for operations.
The program takes a trauma-informed approach in the provision of all aspects of treatment to ensure that individuals who have experienced trauma and and/or who have substance use and concurrent mental health issues receive the most appropriate care.
In the year 2015-16, Tamarack enrolled 40 clients into the program, 35 of whom graduated. Our average completion rate since 2013 of 87% exceeds the average of 44% for long term residential addictions treatment.
In February 2014, Tamarack achieved “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” by Accreditation Canada, a not-for-profit, independent organization accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). Exemplary Standing is the highest level performance that can be attained in the Accreditation Canada program and demonstrates Tamarack’s commitment to high quality client care.
Tamarack Recovery Centre is funded in part by the Provincial Government (Addictions Policy & Support Branch of Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living) through an annually renewable Service Purchase Agreement, stipulating the provision of professional addictions treatment and care through a recognized program which must meet provincial standards as determined by government.

For More Info: For more information, visit www.tamarackrecovery.org or contact:

Contacts:

Lisa Cowan
Executive Director
(204) 772-9836
lcowan@tamarackrecovery.org

Stephanie Johnson
Communications Manager
(204) 204-914-4020
stephjael@outlook.com

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