There was a celebration recently at Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community & Farm to honour five graduates entering the integration stage of their program.
Baldy Hughes believes that recovery from addiction is possible through connection and community and offers unique, routine-focused programming that supports men to achieve a higher education and life skills that will be applied in their lives as they move into sobriety and beyond.
“A lot of the time when people are in recovery and leaving treatment they have little support when they go back into their own community,” Angela Carter, executive director at Baldy Hughes, said. “So we’re really trying to emphasize that last phase where residents are given the tools they need to look for employment and housing after leaving Baldy Hughes.”
The program also builds self esteem.
“When there is addiction there tends to be stigma and discrimination against people who have had a history of substance use so building them up here and then ensuring they have the skills they need when they leave is essential to their success,” Carter said.
Several dignitaries were invited to the recent graduation celebration and among those in attendance was Lheidli T’enneh First Nation Chief Dolleen Logan and Mayor Simon Yu and MLA Shirley Bond.
“Councillor Kyle McIntosh and I were honoured to participate in the graduation ceremony at the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community & Farm,” Chief Logan said. “It was heartwarming to see the pride in each of the grads. Each has experienced some tough challenges in their lives but with the help they received from the caring staff at Baldy Hughes are now ready to move forward. I am so thankful that we have this facility in North Central BC.”
Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community & Farm has continuously showcased leadership and capacity to provide high quality addiction recovery programs for our region, Yu added.
“I was so pleased to see the personal progress of this cohort because of the great work by Baldy Hughes staff," Yu said.
“I am looking forward to seeing the continued success of Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community & Farm.”
MLA Shirley Bond has attended many graduations and celebration events at Baldy Hughes.
"Every time I do I am touched by the courage of the residents who are on their recovery journey," Bond said. "The stories shared by the graduates who are moving on to the next phase of the program demonstrated the hope they had for the future.”
For more information about Baldy Hughes visit https://www.baldyhughes.ca/
