Alcare Manor celebrates recovery
By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on August 27, 2024.
Southern Alcare Manor hosted Celebrate U at Henderson Lake Park on Saturday afternoon to make people aware of the recovery that does happen in the city.“Celebrate U is about stepping up and enjoying the company of other people that are also celebrating recovery from whatever their addiction might be,” said Holly Lemieux, SAM program manager.
“There’s a lot of people in the community that have hurdles and barriers, and have faced fears and challenges and jump those hoops.”
Lemieux said everything we do is for educational purposes.
“We’re demonstrating how people can come out and have fun and it doesn’t have to cost a gob of money,” said Lemieux.
“You can pull in support from the community if you want and gather and gather and just embrace the positive side of addiction.”
Celebrate U’s game section that included cornhole, a frisbee challenge and box hockey were created by residents of Southern Alcare.
“That’s the educational component because sometimes when they clean up, they just need a little bit of a nudge or some direction and just reminded that you used to have fun and you can have fun today, too and it doesn’t have to cost a bunch of money,” said Lemieux.
Vendors within the organization were on hand such as Grant’s Closet.
Paige Lemane created this closet in honour of her late son Grant, who died of an overdose, to make sure people have the basic necessities in early recovery such as clothes, tooth brushes and underwear.
Lemane receives clothing donations as well and washes them at home before bringing them in.
“I think it’s important to focus on the recreational side of our lives as well or coming out and enjoying time together,” said Rick Johnston, the board of directors government and public relations committee chair.
“Addiction is an isolating disease and so I think that as we try to work with folks through recovery, we try to bring them into community-based activities, and this is a great opportunity for people to get together and meet new people and have some fun.”
SAM residents were allowed to bring things that they made to sell in the handmade market. 2
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