Global Market to host Recovery Day event in Sept.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/07/2022 (1324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When it comes to struggles and personal journeys, it’s important to celebrate the successes, say advocates for those working through mental health and substance-use challenges.

To highlight the milestones of those battling substance use and mental health challenges, a Brandon Recovery is hosting the third instalment of Brandon Recovery Day on Sept. 3.

A proclamation was made in early June, said Dee Taylor-John, chair of Recovery Day Brandon. They will be hosting the event at Global Market starting at 11 a.m. and running until 2 p.m.

The event will include an opening ceremony by an elder, followed by speeches by city council members and anyone wishing to talk about their recovery experiences, then a free barbecue for the public.

“This is to celebrate those in recovery and to reach out to those considering recovery,” Taylor-John said. “September is National Recovery Month, so throughout Canada, communities hold their own celebrations on whatever day they choose.”

An international organization has been overseeing all celebrations since 2017, Taylor-John said.

Brandon’s first Recovery Day was in 2018, followed by another in 2019. The group took a break in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, so technically, this will be their third event.

Now that they have returned to live events, Taylor-John said they are looking forward to continuing with their collaboration with the market organizers. Along with the barbecue and speakers, agencies and organizations will also have booths and representatives on hand to talk about what services they provide that are relatable to recovery.

What everyone wants to get across is recovery has to take a holistic approach to be successful, and it’s different for everyone, said Taylor-John. Some take longer than others, and many are still facing stigma and even legal battles, which make things even more complicated.

People are more open to talking about their struggles, but there is still fear and confusion around recovery and asking for help.

“Events like this help people connect with each other, let them know they are not alone and there are organizations and services they can access to help them on their journey when they are ready to take it,” Taylor-John said.

The city officially declared Sept. 3 Recovery Day in an event last June, which Taylor-John said was reassuring because the wording in the proclamation included language calling substance abuse disorder and addiction a disease and anyone on a recovery journey “brave souls” walking together, with the whole city celebrating alongside them.

With support secured, the group is looking for agencies wanting to get involved and even people who want to share their recovery journey with the public. There is interest among people and groups, said Taylor-John, but they need commitments to make the day a successful one. Anyone wishing to get involved can email brandonmbrecovery@gmail.com.

More on the international movement can be found at internationalrecoveryday.org/

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @arenleighmcki1