(Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

at long last

Red Deer Dream Centre welcomes first clients this week

Nov 1, 2022 | 4:15 PM

The Red Deer Dream Centre (RDDC) is now fully operational.

Clients will begin arriving to the 40-bed treatment facility this week. Clientele will be men over the age of 18, who’ll stay for up to a year.

In the works for more than four years, the facility is located in what used to be Lotus night club (4614 – 50 Ave), in Red Deer’s downtown core.

A construction permit was granted in 2020, and more than $1.4 million was raised to pay for renovations, almost entirely from private donors, officials say.

“A community-backed, grass-roots solution to drug and alcohol addiction in our community like the Red Deer Dream Centre is an incredibly powerful movement; a movement I am honoured to help champion and be a part of,” says Wes Giesbrecht, Dream Centre Society board chair. “Offering programming not only to address the physical, emotional & mental side of addiction, but also the spiritual side, we’re excited to be opening our doors to serve our community.”

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Giesbrecht explains that the RDDC uses what’s known as the Genesis Process, a relapse intervention program used for over 20 years.

A release notes the RDDC’s goal is for clients to find help, hope and healing, as well the abilities to reconnect with their families, and become productive and contributing members of society.

The Dream Centre will welcome clients coming straight from detox and support them with housing, a release states, as well as individual and group counselling.

There will also be assistance with education upgrading and referrals to job skill training.

“Safe Harbour is thrilled that we finally have a residential treatment option in the City. This long-awaited service will be of great benefit to anyone who is looking for support in their recovery journey,” says Kath Hoffman, executive director, Safe Harbour Society.

“This is such good news and we are excited to have a local recovery program to refer people to. A huge Captain’s salute to everyone who made the Red Deer Dream Centre a reality!”

A nonprofit, the RDDC notes that the cost of treatment is $3,700 monthly per bed. Thus it continues to accept contributions from the community.

“Seeing the opening of the Dream Centre in our community supports city council’s goals of building Red Deer as a Recovery Community,” says Mayor Ken Johnston. “We are excited to see the Dream Centre provide a new recovery-oriented approach for our community. Congratulations on this momentous occasion.”

More information is at www.rddc.ca.

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