‘We are the shining light’

Winnipeg

There’s an important day coming up to remind people that there is hope for anyone struggling with addiction, that recovery is real, attainable, and sustainable.

For the fifth consecutive year, Recovery Day Winnipeg will be held at The Forks on Sunday, Sept. 7, starting at 11 a.m. and running all day.

The national movement is dedicated to raising awareness, challenging stigma, and celebrating the transformative power of recovery for individuals, families, and communities.

The annual event, organized by the Recovery Day Winnipeg committee consisting of numerous community organizations, will feature Ace Burpee as the MC, Doc Walker as the headliner, and Red River Métis fiddle player Morgan Grace, who has performed for King Charles and Queen Camila. Northern Royals, Crossfire, Soaring Eagles, and more will add their musical talents.

The gathering will bring together inspiring speakers, including Kyle Goertzen and Kash Constant. The free event is open to people of all ages.

“I see hope, we are shining the light,” said event co-ordinator Chris Dsouza.

“It’s about family members getting help from professionals. Physical health, mental health, it’s information about addiction, substance abuse, emotional stability, community belonging, life stability, and how we bring it all together,” he explained.

“We like to look at it as recovery blends celebration with education and inviting everyone to recognize the strength and resilience within the recovery community. We share this through music, storytelling, community resources, inclusive programming, and by fostering connections that promote healing, hope, and unity within families and communities. At the end of the day, everyone wants to have fun. You can have fun without booze and drugs.”

The drug crisis has become a tsunami, Dsouza said, but there are improvements, with shorter waiting times for treatment.

At 61, Dsouza knows a thing or two about addiction and recovery. Born and raised in Pakistan, he immigrated to Canada with his family in 1981.

He used to run three nightclubs downtown and was well-versed in that lifestyle. When the drugs and alcohol took over his life, he found himself on the streets, having lost his family and everything else. It was 1999, and nothing was going well for Dsouza.

“I was very into my addiction and I didn’t realize it,” he said. “I had pneumonia, and my mom got pneumonia from me. She had given me $100 at Christmas, which I used on drugs. On Boxing Day, she was in a coma. She passed in January of 2000.”

That’s when he was determined to end his life. He attempted suicide many times, at one point climbing up the railing of the Disraeli Bridge to jump off.

“Apparently, I fell down backwards, ended up in a crisis ward at Higgins and Main, lockdown for 10 days. There weren’t a lot of supports, just one bus ticket, then basically asked to leave. I was on the bus talking to God. My family didn’t know what to do,” he continued, sharing his story of hospitals and shelters and living under a bridge.

“My story is not that special; we all have similar stories. Mental health and addictions do not discriminate, but many people do.”

He eventually connected with a full time day program and attended from 9 a.m. until 9 at night for 30 days. That was the beginning of healing. Nov. 13 is his recovery date.

“It feels great, I’m finally living life one day at a time,” he said, as he looks forward to celebrating 25 years of sobriety. “I thank God every day. I hated myself; that internal hate was projected to people, places, and things. I got rid of that inner hate. Now I love my life. I’ve started to love myself.”

Eventually diagnosed with dyslexia, PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, Dsouza now understands the importance of mental health and how to thrive through the steps to healing.

Recovery Day provides an opportunity for anyone looking to learn more to come by, ask questions, and access resources. There’s a community tent with information from over 40 agencies, including shelters, Child and Family Services, justice, and gang prevention groups. Dsouza says a number of videos will be shown, as many people with ADHD lose interest in reading, but they can more easily watch movies and listen to songs.

“We need to stop working in silos and start working together. We talk about bridging the gaps, I think it’s time to close the gaps.”

Last year 1,500 people attended Recovery Day and this year organizers are anticipating 2,500.

Nowadays, Dsouza, who works in the recovery field, couldn’t be happier as he and his team plan to do more to build awareness not just in Winnipeg, but throughout the province.

“Stay tuned for the next phase of Recovery Day. It is growing.”

Visit recoverydaywinnipeg.ca for more information.