Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Education and support to be found in abundance on Recovery Day 2017

Sep 6, 2017 | 11:47 PM

City Hall Park will be bustling with information on September 9th when the fourth annual Recovery Day event takes place.

Kerstyn VanSandick said the event is to celebrate recovery from addiction as well as to provide education and support to those affected. There will be inspirational speakers and some performers throughout the event.

From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. members of the public of all ages are invited out to take in the recovery celebrations with information booths from local agencies and organizations as well as a kid’s table, prizes, and even a giant photo booth.

VanSandick said the point of having so many information booths is to get the agencies’ names known in the community both by people in recovery and those looking to start the journey into recovery.

“A lot of people struggling with addiction they don’t reach out or ask for help, they’re not even aware of what services are available for them so it’s a nice way to bring it to kind of a one stop shop so to speak.”

Since the age of 14 VanSandick said she struggled personally with different substance abuses and as she got older it got worse.

“I grew up feeling normal in that, and it wasn’t until I got into my twenties that I realized there was a different option out there.”

She added that getting involved with Recovery Day as a volunteer has been an amazing experience and has aided her in maintaining her long term recovery.

“As a volunteer I want to of course lead by example and empower others that they can choose their path.”

She added that providing a community space with information to show the support is imperative to the continuation of recovery for many people.

“We never have to feel rejected or alone again; we have a community of people who will believe in them until they believe in themselves.”

September is the month of recovery across Canada and while Red Deer’s Recovery Day is in only its fourth year, she said the interest and popularity of public events is increasing every year.

“Our big thing right now is changing the public perception on recovery. As long as we are focusing on the problem we are not part of the solution.”

VanSandick said everyone is welcome to come out and see what agencies are in the community and what organizations have to offer to the public and even to the families of those in recovery or dealing with addictions.

“Recovery saves lives, it really does, and it’s about being part of it as a community. The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety; the opposite of addiction is community connection.”