Avalon Recovery Society Radio

Join Leanne Utendale from Avalon White Rock every week as she hosts women and allies in recovery to share their stories of experience and hope.

Helen Burnham: Avalon Recovery Society 09/30/2021

Helen Burnham: Avalon Recovery Society As the co-founder of Avalon Recovery Society, Helen Burnham knows all too well the unique challenges women face when battling drug and alcohol addiction. In 1990, Helen and her co-founder opened the first Avalon Women’s Centre in Vancouver. For over 30 years, It continues to be a warm, inviting space for women to share their stories, free of judgment, and with others who had been there before. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17026280

Valerie K: Change is always possible 09/16/2021

Valerie K: Change is always possible Val is a woman, mother, and grandmother to five grandchildren in long time recovery. She is celebrating 29 years of sobriety. She is a nurse and has worked in a variety of roles within the addiction field for over 27 years. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19738373

Lara Bolton: Big bold beautiful life 09/02/2021

Lara Bolton: Big bold beautiful life She is a sober and life coach, founder of Westcoast soul food society and an executive business consultant, and most importantly a woman in recovery with 14.5 years clean and sober, my date is March 25, 2007. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19738070

Brooke Robichaud: Seek Purpose Now 08/31/2021

Brooke Robichaud: Seek Purpose Now Brooke is the co-host of Seek Purpose Now Podcast, a sober content creator who designs at Sober Lifestyle clothing, a published author, and a mom of three that is in recovery. She shares her story of recovery and how she tragically lost her brother to an overdose earlier this year. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17448491

Jennifer M: A Gitxsan person sharing her experience, strength, and hope 08/12/2021

Jennifer M: A Gitxsan person sharing her experience, strength, and hope Jennifer M. is a Gitxsan person who is a wife, mother, and teacher. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19738421

Lena: Forever Grateful 07/29/2021

Lena: Forever Grateful Lena is a 63-year-old woman living in S Surrey and retired from a career as a Special Education Assistant. Born in Finland her family immigrated to New Westminster where she attended school there and then moved to South Surrey in 1980. She was married and had 2 daughters. Alcoholism brought her down in 1998 and she finally surrendered and went to AA. After a divorce and going back to school she has continued to attend meetings and raise her daughters in a sober home. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19738283

Mari: Healing in recovery 07/22/2021

Mari: Healing in recovery Mari was born and raised in Vancouver residing in the Kitsilano/ Kerrisdale area. She is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (Graduated in 1988). She retired early in Feb. 2020 from my 27-year full-time nursing career and now works casually in the elder community. She has raised her daughter on her own and She is the bright light of her life. She will have 5 years of sobriety as of Sept 6th, 2021. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19738217

Janice K: Your arms are too short to box with God 07/01/2021

Janice K: Your arms are too short to box with God Janice entered into Recovery in Winnipeg in 1970 after a disastrous series of events which brought her to the “jumping off” point. She’s been successful in Recovery for 48 years; and in that time time enjoyed an amazing career, a lovely marriage, extensive travel and an ever increasing sense of joy about life in/ after Recovery. She moved to BC with her husband and became painfully aware of the barriers to Recovery for young women .. especially if they had young dependant children, thus begun Avalon W /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19635977

Olga: One woman’s recovery journey from one side of the world to the other 06/17/2021

Olga: One woman’s recovery journey from one side of the world to the other Olga started her recovery journey in 2002. She grew up in Russia and felt isolated in Canada and in the recovery community. She met a lot of obstacles before she was able to gain lasting sobriety in 2008. Today Olga facilities Avalon’s first Russian-speaking AA meeting. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19502567

Guylaine: A woman of a trans experience and an alcoholic. 05/20/2021

Guylaine: A woman of a trans experience and an alcoholic. Guylaine is a woman of a trans experience and an alcoholic. By the age of five, she knew she was inwardly a girl. The expectations of these times were if you are born with anatomy, and then you are that anatomy in the culture. She suffered from anxiety and found alcohol in her teen years. The path to recovery enabled a lifelong dream of actually being one authentic, true person to the world. This is a journey she is so grateful she has been given a chance to walk. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19138700

Hibby Bartlett: It's all about love 05/13/2021

Hibby Bartlett: It's all about love Born in Cape Town, South Africa, but raised in Vancouver BC - Hibby Bartlett is a, Serial entrepreneur, humanitarian, and a contributing member of the recovery community. She is committed and inspired to show up authentically every day. She believes in the power of words and knowledge, and is known to say “when we learn the lesson, the suffering stops”. She is now developing and preparing to launch a community wellness coaching business in Spring 2021. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/19053080

Kevin Diakiw and Jas Sandhu: A conversation on Mindfulness 05/06/2021

Kevin Diakiw and Jas Sandhu: A conversation on Mindfulness Kevin Diakiw is a Qualified MBSR Teacher through University of Massachusetts Medical School in Amherst and is also Certified CISM (trauma work) through the Justice Institute of B.C. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18977141

Tara MacDonald: Women in recovery are dignified 04/29/2021

Tara MacDonald: Women in recovery are dignified Tara began working alongside women in recovery in Ontario more than 8 years ago. She instinctively gravitated to those who hurt, who have been marginalized and who have suffered. This led her to her current work in the DTES of Vancouver BC at Union Gospel Mission. She is the Manager of Women’s Recovery & Housing and is able to strategize to provide women with trauma informed, culturally aware, individualized and accessible care. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18752894

Avalon Volunteer Appreciation 04/22/2021

Avalon Volunteer Appreciation Tune in to hear Jody, Erin, and Megala share their unique experiences in volunteering at Avalon Recovery Society. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18713195

George Passmore: The Community is our Client 04/15/2021

George Passmore: The Community is our Client George Passmore is currently the Director of Personal & Family Counselling and Support at Sources Community Resources and has managed the Substance Use Services program since 2010 with a strong involvement in the community of White Rock/South Surrey and the larger continuum of substance use services throughout Fraser Health. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18699113

Jen E: She realized she wanted to live 04/08/2021

Jen E: She realized she wanted to live Jen was born in 1965, adopted by a Caucasian family, at 10 given back to the system. She soon realized if you can't beat them then you should join them. She received her degree in Social Work. After a traumatic event, her career came to a halt and her drinking took over. The next six years were dark. After a two month stay in hospital, she met someone who would bring her to Avalon, she got into a recovery house and her journey began. She is 17 years sober and has an amazing life. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18457337

Jean McCarthy: Living wholeheartedly 04/01/2021

Jean McCarthy: Living wholeheartedly Jean McCarthy is an award-winning blogger, podcast, and the author of 2 books about recovery. She began chronicling her adventures in life-after-alcohol on her first day of sobriety in 2011 in her blog, UnPickled. Every week she holds space for others in recovery as host of the podcast The Bubble Hour. Jean lives in Alberta, Canada. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18351479

Kathy W: Many different paths to recovery 03/25/2021

Kathy W: Many different paths to recovery Kathy has recently celebrated 34 years in recovery. She is a woman who is grateful for her recovery and is a member of Al-Anon and AA. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18305039

Stacy H: Without my sobriety, I don't have anything else 03/18/2021

Stacy H: Without my sobriety, I don't have anything else Stacy is a mom of 2 beautiful boys, a nurse, and has been separated from my spouse for the past 3 years, with whom she continues to enjoy a lifelong friendship. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18194438

MLA Stephanie Cadieux: Women in Leadership 03/11/2021

MLA Stephanie Cadieux: Women in Leadership Stephanie Cadieux was first elected MLA for Surrey-Panorama in 2009, and elected MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale in 2013, re-elected as MLA for Surrey South in 2017, and again re-elected as MLA for Surrey South in 2020. She currently serves as the Caucus Chair and the Official Opposition Critic for Gender Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18001484

Anne H: I was not ready, until I was ready. 03/04/2021

Anne H: I was not ready, until I was ready. Anne describes herself as once a lover of crack, now is clean, filled with compassion but often drowns in co-dependence, a chameleon, a comic, a creative soul who struggles with connection, crazy quirks and has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Anne is.....becoming. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/18164261

Natasha Roop: Decolonizing Counseling 02/25/2021

Natasha Roop: Decolonizing Counseling Natasha Roop is a Master’s student in Counselling Psychology at Adler University and is currently completing her Social Justice Practicum with Avalon Recovery Society for the 2020/2021 academic year. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17989268

Jenn Morrow: Keep Coming Back 02/18/2021

Jenn Morrow: Keep Coming Back Jenn Morrow is the centre manager at our Avalon North Shore, a mother of two, and an active member of recovery. She is a new addiction counselor and uses those skills to thrive in her work at Avalon. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17810825

Michelle Swan: Hope is alive and well! 02/11/2021

Michelle Swan: Hope is alive and well! A Prince Edward Island native, Michelle has adopted the West Coast and enjoys exploring the natural beauty of British Columbia. Hiking, biking, birdwatching, gardening, cooking, and doing yoga. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17868113

Shonah Marie: Steady in the Storm 02/04/2021

Shonah Marie: Steady in the Storm Shonah Marie is the author of Steady in the Storm, a personal journey of what it was like growing up as a sheltered, fearful and anxious Christian. This background was not the ideal set up for what it would be like to be married to an alcoholic. ⁠ /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17801603

Shelly J: Inner Wisdom 01/28/2021

Shelly J: Inner Wisdom Shelly is a sober mom of three, recovery coach, trainer, mentor and she is currently exploring her indigenous culture. Over the last three years has experienced a life and career shift that has enforced her inner strength and resilience. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17717420

Rosemary Keevil: The Art of Losing it 01/21/2021

Rosemary Keevil: The Art of Losing it Rosemary Keevil has been a TV news reporter, a current affairs radio show host, managing editor of a professional women’s magazine, and the author of The Art of Losing it. She has a master’s degree in journalism and is currently a journalist covering addiction and recovery. Rosemary has been clean and sober since 2002. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17615099

Leah Strange: Gratitude and More 01/14/2021

Leah Strange: Gratitude and More Leah Strange is the owner of Gratitude and More, author of a series of guided journals, self-published poet, and lover of sobriety and deep conversations. Leah shares her journey of how she found recovery at 25 years old, fueled by sadness and rage. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17523731

Arlene Geres: Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness 12/31/2020

Arlene Geres: Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness Arlene is a clinical counselor who is known for her workshop Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness. In this episode, Arlene shares her recovery story and how she found her freedom. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17341802

Frances Stone: Mother's Recovery Society 12/24/2020

Frances Stone: Mother's Recovery Society Frances Stone is the founder and board president of Mothers Recovery Society, a self-published author, former radio host of Talk Recovery Radio, a Canadian certified addictions counselor, and a mother of three. Frances walks us through her journey of recovery and what inspired her to create Mother's Recovery Society. /episode/index/show/avalonrecoverysocietyradio/id/17286362

Avalon Recovery Society Radio

TOPICS