Continuing Education Program Expands

Kevin England, Aaron W., Kevin P., Steve A., David Berner

Prince George, B.C. – The Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre & Therapeutic Community is pleased to announce that three more residents have completed the continuing education program at the Centre and have been awarded their high-school equivalent B.C. Adult Dogwood certificate. Over the past three-and-a-half years there have been 162 Ministry of Education course completions, 85 upgrading course completions, and 32 Adult Dogwood Graduates – with many more to come. “The continuing education program at Baldy Hughes is an important part of the recovery process for our men – it’s a tremendously valuable way to build self-esteem and create a platform they can build on”, said School District #57’s Center for Learning Alternatives Vice-Principal Peter Goudal, who is the architect of the education program at Baldy Hughes.

A Graduation & Commencement Ceremony was held at the Centre on Monday, June 27 to recognize the three men who earned their Dogwood and the four men who were awarded certificates marking their formal completion of the treatment program at Baldy Hughes. The community was joined by family, School District #57 Superintendent, Brian Pepper, Asst. Superintendent, John McLay, Trustee Rhonda White, Chair of the Board, Kevin England and special guest David Berner who is widely recognized as the founder of the therapeutic community movement in Canada.

Baldy Hughes also announced it is now making online Post-Secondary courses and programs available to qualified residents who are seeking to advance their skills and training. Expanding the educational opportunities gives senior residents more options for continuing their personal growth without having to leave the supportive environment of the community. “Our success is built on keeping the guys here at least one year, but often they’ve completed their clinical treatment after 8 months and start to get antsy”, said Bruce Kirk, Executive Director. “Those final four months are a really important phase of their treatment because that’s when they get to give back by acting as mentors and role models to the new guys – it’s the essence of what a therapeutic community is all about.”

Baldy Hughes Unveils New Website

Prince George, B.C. – The Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre & Therapeutic Community has a new website at www.baldyhughes.ca, providing greatly expanded content about the community.

“We expect to complete renovations to an existing 31-bed dormitory early this summer bringing our operating capacity back up to 85 beds. We’re very excited about the potential to impact more lives in a positive way,” said Bruce Kirk, Interim Executive Director of the Centre. “The new website provides a one-stop shop for anyone who wants the latest news, events and contact information for Baldy Hughes.”

“The new website really helps because it provides comprehensive information about the unique aspects of our program and admission requirements for prospective residents,” said Kevin England, Chair of the BC New Hope Recovery Society, which operates the Centre. The new website also provides greatly expanded content about the community for prospective partners, staff, volunteers and donors. Secure online donations can now be processed through CanadaHelps.org or through the Prince George based Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation which includes Baldy Hughes in their Sustaining Supporter Program.

Baldy Hughes Addiction Treatment Centre & Therapeutic Community is the premier therapeutic community in British Columbia catering to men suffering from addiction. The model is an innovative and novel approach to treating substance abuse and is inspired by the highly respected and world-renowned therapeutic community in San Patrignano, Italy. The success of its abstinence-based program can be attributed to long-term treatment in a remote therapeutic community setting.