Empowering recovery through continuous connection—our outreach is your lifeline to lasting change

If you’re struggling with addiction, you’ve come to the right place.

We know it may not feel like it right now, but trust us, change can start here. Since 1992, Fresh Start has been helping individuals and family members recover from addiction, find the courage to change and learn to use the tools they need to live happy, productive lives in recovery.

By the end of 2027, Fresh Start seeks to be viewed as a principal in the growth of the recovery community and the choice for the treatment of addiction and co-current disorders in Alberta. We will utilize and further develop evidenced-based approaches that will not only contribute to the delivery of successful outcomes for the individuals directly served but also create expanded engagement with both family, Alumni, and the recovery community at large.

Our employees will benefit from a workplace that encourages and enables them to grow professionally and personally, with a specific focus on leadership. Through our people, programs, and approach, we will seek to improve the quality of life for every person who contacts our organization.

Our Mission:

Fresh Start is recovering lives by Housing, Treating and Supporting people affected by addiction.

Our Vision:

Every individual, Recovery for Life.

Fresh Start Strategic Approach

Fresh Start has developed a five-year strategy based on an understanding of the current situation and an analysis of the key elements impacting our communities and the people we serve. We feel confident in achieving this through an introspective review of our services and how they are provided. This planning process included input from the Board, stakeholders, staff, clients, and other community engagement, all of which have directed the development of our vision, mission, and values.

Our strategic plan is a testament to Fresh Start Recovery Centre’s commitment to its core mission: to house, treat, and support individuals by guiding them toward meaningful development in the quality of their lives. This commitment is reflected in our efforts to increase understanding of addiction and trauma and foster resiliency through a holistic, culturally sensitive, and supportive experience.

Generousity, Gratitude and Community

As we embrace the holiday season and the New Year approaches, I wanted to take a moment to connect and wish you a happy holiday. Reflecting on the journey of Fresh Start Recovery, I am filled with immense gratitude and sincerity for the incredible year we’ve shared.

This past year has been extraordinary. Together, we have created opportunities for recovery, opening a new facility and creating a place of hope for those ready to rebuild their lives. We also made 36 more affordable homes available, providing stability for individuals in recovery and their families. These homes offer safe and sustainable housing for 66 individuals after treatment, empowering them to take confident steps into a new chapter of their lives.

These milestones are not just numbers or achievements—they are stories of transformation. They represent mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, families and friends who have found healing, stability and hope through recovery. They confirm the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community.

As we enter the New Year, we are guided by three simple but profound principles: Generosity, Gratitude, and Community. Generosity fuels the resources needed to provide treatment and support. Gratitude reminds us of the progress we’ve made and the remarkable support we’ve received along the way. Community is the foundation for healing, a space where individuals and families come together to thrive and rebuild.

These principles form a perpetual circle—one that feeds itself and grows stronger with every contribution. Generosity inspires gratitude, which deepens connections within the community. A strong community fosters even greater generosity. Each element enriches and strengthens the others, creating a cycle of hope, healing, and growth. This circle is at the heart of everything we do, reminding us that our collective efforts are but threads in the fabric of life.

But our work is far from over. The need for recovery and aftercare continues, and your support is so essential. With your help, we can continue to provide life-changing treatment, expand programs like our Family & Friends helping heal loved ones, and strengthen our foundation to meet the constant demand for our services.

Whether through donations, advocacy, or simply sharing our mission, your support turns hope into action and recovery into reality. As Maya Angelou said, “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” This holiday season, I am reminded of the profound truth in those words and the extraordinary impact we create when we come together.
From all of us at Fresh Start Recovery, thank you for standing with us, for believing in our mission, and for helping to make recovery possible. I wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, connection, and peace. Let’s carry our shared mantra of Generosity, Gratitude, and Community into the New Year and continue making a difference in the lives of others.

With deepest gratitude,
Bruce Holstead
Executive Director
Fresh Start Recovery