logo no tag 
Last Door Recovery Society NewsletterNewsletter #017
July 2010 
in this issue
:: Youth working with Youth
:: Our answer to Gambling and Internet addiction
:: Kitimat Alumni makes it to Alumni of the Month
:: Play off time
:: Recovery Slo-Pitch
:: Fishing Program update
:: Gay Pride Day
:: First Bathroom almost done
:: Pig Roasat Photos
:: 24 hours profiles Last Door
Greetings!   
 
Last Door was invited to attend the Council of Yukon First Nations Annual General Assembly at Brooks Brook in Teslin YK. The assembly was held on Tlingit Council traditional territory from July 13th to July 15th, 2010 and Louise, Giuseppe and Darren went up to meet with the 14 Chiefs of "Governments" and assembly delegates to discuss Last Door's Programs, the benefits of long term Social Model Programs and how we might partner with Indian and Northern Affairs Health Canada to allow First Nations people direct access to Last Door treatment.

 

The trip was a success, the people, culture, food and vistas were beautiful.  Thanks to Yukon alumnus Billy H., a member of the Tlingit people and to the people of Teslin in general for their great hospitality.
 
Last Door Alumni Billy H, Teslin Chief Peter Johnston, LD Program Manager Louise Cooksey, Grand Chief Ruth Massie
tes3

tes1tes43

 
 
 

Service Canada

 

Last Door Youth programs welcomes three youth program alumni who will be employed as serve as Peer Counsellors this summer. Students Kevin, Hayden and Richard were hired under an agreement between Last Door and the Federal Canada Summer Jobs Program. The three students will work from June through late August gaining career related and early work experience as well as earning wages toward their student incomes. 

 

The Federal CJS (Canada Summer Jobs) initiative is designed to provide funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It is designed to focus on local priorities, while achieving tangible results for students and communities.

 

Without a doubt our student alumnus will be assets to our Last Door community, the local recovery community and youth throughout BC as a result of the skills and experiences they will gain over the summer. Congrats to the boyz and welcome aboard.

 

 
 Last Door launches Media/Gambling Group

mouse

Counsellors Daniel Marks and Vincent Chua have initiated a  Media/Gambling Group -  a focused therapy group designed to educate clients on problem gambling and media (computer, video games etc) addictions. Day to day challenges in gaining freedom from these self defeating behaviours are discussed. The philosophy of this new, value added group is the belief that freedom from active addition is the main goal of recovery and that awareness , education and peer support are helpful tools to elicit change in media & gambling addiction.  This new group meets once a week and already has 13 members.
 
 
ALUMNI OF THE MONTH
 
Living the dream, golfing at home in Kitimat, BC
Rob g
 
The man that once looked at life like there was no hope, love or peace has left and the man that is before you right now took his place. I grew up between the white and yellow line left with my own thoughts of "How could this have happened to me, with parents and family with so much love for me?"

My family taught me how to respect and love life as well as the people in it and I end up alone in despair and pain. With so many in a crowd that I stand in and yet no one can hear me is when silence took my voice. A voice that was raised to speak for my nation has been taken over for 11 years out of a million words in the vocabulary to only using but a few.

I had given this world of addiction the power to rule my life and run it along, with my whole being to the ground to where I had to look up to see the belly of a snake. Although I was going through the motions  of living and always looking to the ground and never looking people eye to eye was not worthy of it.  I became the world's best floor inspector and isolator. I remember thinking at one point "finally they are leaving me alone". I stood in my living room talking to the walls and the loud voices in my head, to which, I began the think they were real. Then from there to a really demonistic kind of growl that even when people talked to me all I could hear was the growl of the beast that came from within.

11 plus years of lying, stealing and cheating has brought me to this place in New Westminster called "Last Door" to which, to this day, I call home.   I was asked a question by an elder "If you could change anything in your past, [would you]?"  My first thought that went through my head was "yes" but i answered him saying "no".  He just nodded his head and threw another log on the campfire and said "why not?  As the sun was setting on the day and became darker and cooler, to where the flames became warmer and brighter, I answered him because I would only be cheating myself and others.  By sharing and accepting my past I can help another addict on how to deal with certain aspects of his/her past and become the person they are striving to be. 

There are 2 important words that I have learned to use a lot through my journey of life and they are love and balance.  There is a saying in my culture.  One that I had forgotten but I live it every day, now and that is "Live within your heart".  Today I have and live a balanced life of recovery.   I am able to look in the mirror and people in the eyes with no shame, guilt or pain.  I have a life that I thought I could never have but I sit here living the dream. It all started with one act of simply surrendering my will and control to a power other than myself.  Right now life for me is so bright that I gotta wear shades. 

Thanks to my home and all my brothers in it (Last Door). 

ONE ADDICT HELPING ANOTHER!!!  

Rob G. (Kitimat Door Boy) December 17th, 2009

 
 
LAST DOOR SOCCER TEAM GOING STRONG
 
 
Last Door Soccer team is in the play offs! 
 
Check out the Soccer Team Homepage for the updated game schedule. 
 

 GO DOOR BOYS GO!

 
 Everyone is invited to
 
Doorslam2010
 
 

Last Door Recovery Society has been presenting its Annual Door Slam Invitational Slo-Pitch Tournament in New Westminster, BC since 1999.  The weekend attracts over 800 people and is held at ball fields in and around New Westminster with Moody Park being the main venue featuring registration, food, music and a kid's zone.

 

Last Door Recovery Society has been providing services for over 25 years. The Society is well known and respected in the addiction treatment field and, in 2005 received the ASAP (Association of Substance Abuse Programs of BC) Award of Excellence in Addictions.

 

Door Slam is another means for Last Door to demonstrate its belief in good citizenship by making community contributions, increasing community awareness and fostering goodwill.  Families, Alumni and friends of Last Door are all welcome to participate in this community event as well as the general public.

 

2010 Tournament Highlights include:

       35 Recovery Teams from BC and the US
        BBQ Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 pm 
        Kids zone at Moody park, Saturday 1 pm - 4 pm
        Dinner at Moody Park, Saturday 5 pm
       Food Sponsor www.tangerinecatering.ca
       Raffle - WIN A DUCTHMAN TATTOO

 

 

Special thanks to our Food Sponsor

 

tang

 
Fishing Program 
 
   
 
  • Various summer trips are planned
  • In October, a week long trip is planned
 
Are you interested in our Fishing Trips?
 
For details on attending, contact Don at [email protected]
 
 
 
Last Door Supports
 
CSP
 
and
 
 cspp 
 
 
 
As years go by and Last Door evolves with PRIDE! we support New Westminster's first Gay Pride Day and the third annual Recovery Float in the Vancouver Pride Parade. 
 
Join our guys and friends downtown on August 1st and scream loud when you see the Clean Sober and Proud Float and visit Last Door's tent at Tipperary Park in New Westminster on August 7th.
 
Happy Pride to all our Gay Alumni.
 
 
 
First bathroom 90% complete
 

The legends garnered in the rooms at Last Door repeatedly hint at the importance of a bed and a shower.  I could tell you some great shower stories, but my hunches are that your own stories are legendary.   The real point of all this shower talk is the urgency of upgrading and repairing the 14 showers, tubs and washrooms in the "Next Door".  When The Last Door acquired this facility we were aware that some major upgrades were essential.  The 14 suites in this building require an immediate washroom upgrade.  The additional complication with the washroom upgrade is the plumbing upgrade essential to support the renewal.  Your participation in this project is one more way of sharing recovery with the newcomer and the addict still to come.

The 14 bathrooms in the three story apartment building will be cleaned to the studs, new plumbing and electrical installed in the walls and upgraded, insulated and new water resistant wall board installed.  New fixtures including, tub, low water toilet and sink will be installed along with new cabinets, counter tops and tile work.  Would you like to donate to the costs? contact [email protected].  

 

b2b9

 before

b6b7

 after
 

First Annual Family Program Pig Roast was a great success!

A huge crowd attended the Betts Family ranch for food, fun and unity. 

pigphotnew 

 
Family Program is featured on the Cover of Vancouver's 24 hour Magazine with an Article and Online Video
 
 to read the article click here
 
to watch the video report click here 
 
24
 
 
NOTE TO SELF:  Keep your eyes open for the upcoming August issue of BC Business Magazine; Last Door will also be profiled in a feature article.
 
 
 
 
facebook
 

Join our facebook group and connect with friends, suporters and alumni.

A great way to network with eachother. 
 
Click here
 to join!
 
 
 
 
 Remember donating to the Last Door is easy and affordable on anyone's budget!
 
Donate now or donate monthly by
 clicking on the following "Canada Helps" logo
    
 donate now
 
Are you thinking about Planned Giving?  Everyone benefits from the power of a Planned Gift- you, your family and your charity. Of course, we want to ensure that each of these groups receives the maximum benefit possible; this is why Last Door Recovery Society offers a wide range of Planned Giving arrangements.  Please call 604-525-9771 to organize your gift giving.  Learn more about Planned Giving by clicking here 
 
  

address block

Thank you for taking the time to read our July edition of our monthly emailed newsletter.  To read past newsletters click here.
 
Please forward this newsletter on to people you may  think would be happy to hear from Last Door.
 
Sincerely,
 
Giuseppe Ganci
Last Door Recovery Society Public Relations
T: 604-525-9771
F: 604-525-3896