Giving Back to GSS

Moving to Edmonton from Vancouver Island after a detox…

was supposed to be a change of scene and fresh start for Robert. Instead, the move led to fifteen years of addiction and street life. But that change of scene has ended with Robert, successfully, on staff at GSS.

At first, life in Edmonton was good. Robert had a job, money and friends, but those friends were partiers. By 2006, he was on the street and struggling. Staff at Shelter and SCS tried to get him into housing but, as he puts it, “I didn’t want it. I was too far into my addiction and preferred being on the street.”

Then in 2021, after partying for days, Robert went into a long black out and woke in a jail cell. He only recalls a sense of ‘losing track’ of his mind in that period with memories of seeing friends who had passed on and seeing ancestors trying to guide him.

Robert spent three days at the Hope Mission after that lost period. Three people passed while he was there. Now on methadone, Robert desperately wanted to change. He called GSS Detox every day and when he got a call back asking how soon he could come in, Robert says, “I literally ran there. I was completely done.” After a tough withdrawal, he wanted to give back so, while in the program and working on himself, he volunteered to help with laundry and cleaning.

That’s when Robert realized he wanted to work in this field, ideally at Spady. Detox Manager, Leah-anne Graham, said to ‘stay clean and stay in touch’. He’s done both. In the meantime, Robert volunteered on the GSS Client and Family Advisory Committee. He had just accepted the role of Client Co-Chair for the Committee when he learned about and successfully applied for a casual housekeeping job at Detox.

Robert started with a few casual hours but, reliable and willing to take on more work, his hours and his role grew. This is a win-win according to Leah-anne: “ Robert is doing really well in his work, and he’s really engaged with clients and staff. We’re lucky to have him on our team.” His role will grow even more in January when Robert starts training as a Detox Support Worker.

Robert’s appreciation of Spady and commitment to the agency continues: “It was just a blessing that it all fell together. I feel so grateful to all the people at Spady who helped me get to this point and keep on helping me.” Laughing, he says, “I don’t think I’ll ever leave.”