The Power of Family Connections Pt.1

Simon House Recovery Centre is located in the beautiful Treaty Seven lands of the city known as Moh-kíns-tsis, which, in Blackfoot, means “elbow” because it marks the meeting point of the Bow and Elbow rivers (Calgary, Alberta). In Alberta, we celebrate Family Day on the third Monday of February. Other provinces commemorate this day as Islander Day (PEI), Louis Riel Day (Manitoba), and Heritage Day (Nova Scotia). While British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan share the Family Day namesake.

In our addiction recovery work, we are so conscious of the role families can play. Sometimes, our families have caused our trauma, and through careful counselling, we can work through the impact of our past. Sometimes, it is a parent, a sibling, or a child who serves as a pillar of stability for us. When starting the recovery process, one of the things we often find broken is family connections. Whether we need to let go or reconnect, this decision is significant in our healing journey.

Something I often hear when talking with our program participants is about forming new connections. We are surrounded by the language of brotherhood and hear the comments that these brothers are my new family. We see men cry and hug at our commencement ceremony and witness the bonds that can be created in just 84 days. We watch alumni come back as sponsors and see graduates start companies and begin hiring their brothers from the programs.

While family is most often defined as two or more people connected by birth, marriage or adoption and living under the same roof, at Simon House, our definition of family is expanded considerably. While our brothers may not meet traditional definitions of family, whether nuclear, extended, or otherwise, the connections made here are undoubtedly family-like as brothers care for each other by sharing a common history, likes, and, most importantly, the goal of continual recovery. 

So, on this and future Family Days, we celebrate the new connections made because of Simon House! Happy Family Day!

Dr. John R.

— President & CEO, Simon House