Vancouver Harbour Light

George is an Alumni and long-time staff member at Vancouver Harbour Light. George entered our Detox & Treatment Program in 2010, as a client and is now the Loading Dock Supervisor on our staff team. In a recent conversation with us, George shared his recovery story and journey in our Treatment Program, and what advice he would give to those seeking to start the program or who are already in recovery. Thank you, George, for your willingness to share and encourage others through your experience. Can you briefly share your background and how you got into substance use? I started taking substances when I was 12 years old which led me to a lifestyle of substance use for 40 years. I grew up in a household with habits around alcohol; everyone around me was in this lifestyle. I got my first try of substances through my brother-in-law’s joint. It was very tough growing up in that environment, and was essentially living on my own at 15. There was a lot of gang influence where I grew up in Ontario, you either fought or got beaten up. What started as smoking weed, progressed into selling and dealing it over the period of years, then I started dealing and using more types of drugs. There are some hard drugs I only sold at first, it is “industry best practice” not to take the drugs you sell, but I eventually end up taking it myself, and had to do crime to support that habit. What inspired you to begin your recovery journey? How did you come into contact with The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light? I used to live with an elderly lady who was part of the gang community to take care of her. One day, two men broke in, and I hit them with a steel bar. I saw blood all over the wall. At that moment, I thought to myself either I’m going to kill somebody one day, or spiral into an even worse lifestyle. I knew of Vancouver Harbour Light through community meals, was aware that there is a Treatment Program and decided to enter it. What happened after you enter the Treatment Program? I came in July 2010, I stayed in Detox for 10 days before moving to the Treatment Program on July 20th. When I did Phase 1, I wasn’t sure about staying, but I knew I didn’t want to go out on the streets to keep doing what I was doing. Eventually, I started working two jobs, and stayed for 14 months to complete the program. Two weeks later I was employed at VHL. I am so glad I stayed. This year, I am celebrating 15 years clean. Along the way, I received help from many people, and had the opportunity to give to them what was given to me. Sometimes, clients come to me to talk, and I encourage them the best I can. Why do you think the program at VHL works for you? It worked because they go right into helping you solve all kinds of life problems and give you the opportunity to experience a different lifestyle. They will also back you in every way they can. Spiritually, and in other ways, just right out help you. Many staff here go out of their way to help you and make you feel more comfortable here. Thomas, our WEP coordinator, was a big help to me at that time. What was the most memorable thing that happened during your program? The program was celebrating with a client who just reached his 1st year clean with a 1st year clean cake. When I entered the room, I saw the whole room was filled with people, and many of them who were previously in a substance use lifestyle but are not in recovery. It was a big eye-opener. On that day, I decided to go through with the program. It was the most memorable thing. How does your journey in recovery through VHL’s Treatment Program still influence how you work today? It is a big influence. Now, I’m on the other side dealing with new clients. I see the effects of substances every day, from the drug use on the streets to the guys in our facility trying to get clean. It is great for my recovery, when I see the streets, it reminds me that I don’t want to be like that. And it’s meaningful to be able to work here and try to help others in their recovery. Stepping into a staff role, it was harder to set professional boundaries especially with non-fraternization in the beginning. That was a big change, but I was able to navigate through it. Overall, how has going through Vancouver Harbour Light Program changed your life? I never thought I would become homeless, but I did. I was married, with kids but everything was gone. Coming to VHL helped a lot, my counsellor was helpful, I did lifeline, (a tool to help identify patterns of coping behaviours), and my counsellor said I had the most colourful lifeline. I met my current wife here in an AA meeting, and we chaired the group together and one thing led to another. VHL gave me an opportunity with recovery, then an opportunity to be employed, then to be in charge of Loading Dock. Now I’m 67. I am very grateful for this place. I’ve seen a lot happen throughout the years, and I am looking forward to the new building. You are celebrating 15 years clean this year. How does it feel? What recommendations do you have for people seeking to start or those who are in recovery? I never thought I would get this far. It feels great! I still have dreams once in a while about it, and you can never say it is done. One thing I learned is that it is up to the individual to make sure it is done. I know people who relapse. And I don’t want to be in that situation, I got too much to lose now. It is important to make sure you get yourself a group that is serious about recovery, a sponsor that helps you throughout the process, not just one that buys you coffee. Don’t stand on the sidewalk and talk about your “war days” in substance use in a glorified way and reminisce about the past, it’s not good for your recovery. Stay focused on the future and you will be building your recovery.

Tiffany has been a group leader for her volunteer group at our community meals programs for several years. This year, we had the privilege to welcome Tiffany to skill-based volunteer role, to facilitate one-on-one piano lessons for our Men’s and Women’s Treatment clients. Our clients sign up through Chaplain Robbie in the Music Department in our Spiritual Care Program. Tiffany was surprised that clients kept signing up. She thought the beginner nursery songs she teaches might feel boring to clients and discourage them from continuing, but found that people are willing to start small and build up to more complex songs. This reflects our encouragement to many clients’ path to recovery. To take it one day at a time, especially in the beginning. Then one day, when you look back, you will see that you were laying the building blocks for a beautiful new road that leads to a lifestyle in recovery. As the lessons went on, our client’s piano skills improved and Tiffany started seeing clients starting to play the piano with both hands. Together with efforts from Chaplain Robbie, clients built confidence in learning new things. Clients also told Tiffany how the lessons remind them of their childhood. Tiffany found that volunteering with a faith-based organization gave her more opportunities to share and practice her faith through songs. She taught faith-based songs like “Amazing Grace” in the lessons and found a different way to serve God here. She also feels that the way VHL structures programs destigmatizes what DTES is like. Before she started sharing her experience at VHL, people used to be worried about her for coming to this area to serve vulnerable clients. After interacting with clients first-hand, Tiffany saw how VHL has a very “human-approach” in serving the community. She noted that while other DTES organizations might not focus on long-term solutions for social issues, she noticed that clients she met at VHL actually get better in time. This past summer, Tiffany taught her last lesson with our clients as she is moving out of the city to pursue further education. We thank her for all she has done in Vancouver Harbour Light and wish her all the best in her future endeavors! — Cindy Cheung, Community Engagement Coordinator