A special gathering is being held on Walpole Island First Nation this weekend to help break the stigma surrounding addiction.
The Empower2Recover Foundation is hosting Walpole’s Battle for Recovery on Saturday, October 24th.
The gathering brings together community members, families, and individuals to share stories of resilience, healing, and hope.
Keynote speaker Jay Barnard, also known as Chief Recovery, is a former drug dealer turned executive chief and motivational speaker. He will be sharing stories from his more than 18 years of recovery, emphasizing that someone’s past does not define their future.
“Recovery is about so much more than overcoming addiction. It’s about rediscovering who we are, finding our purpose, healing from within, and understanding that our past does not have to define our future,” Barnard said in a news release. “I’m incredibly honoured to bring Battle for Recovery to Walpole Island First Nation. Together, we are the Statistics of Hope.”
Several community members will also be sharing their own lived experiences.
The event takes place at the Walpole Island Cultural Community Centre, starting with a free community lunch at noon, followed by the main program from 1:00 to 3:30 PM.
Everyone is welcome to attend.