Fresh Start Addiction Treatment Program

A Life Transformed: Chico’s Journey of Recovery

Before recovery, Chico’s life was a cycle of survival. Addiction led him in and out of homeless shelters, sometimes being asked to leave for breaking the rules. Jail was a recurring reality. For more than five years, Chico relied on the kindness of family and friends, couch surfing wherever he could. Work came through a temp agency, but it was always minimum wage—just enough to get by, never enough to move forward. Surrounded by people, Chico still felt stuck, complacent, and alone.

A turning point came when Chico met a woman in a shelter who became like a sister to him. She saw something in Chico that he couldn’t see in himself and encouraged him to believe he could do better. While Chico could hide his drinking from most, the pain of withdrawal was impossible to mask. Realizing he needed help, he made the difficult decision to go to detox. The journey was so daunting that he drank half a bottle of vodka just to steady himself enough to get on the bus, hiding the rest outside the detox centre before walking in.

Support from the detox centre staff led Chico to Fresh Start Recovery. He arrived with hope and never looked back. Inside Fresh Start, Chico discovered the power of community—he learned about himself by listening to others, seeing his own struggles reflected in their stories. The program gave him structure and discipline, tools he’d never had before.

Chico learned that while everyone’s story was different, addiction was the common thread. He realized it was okay to admit when he wasn’t okay, to reach out for support, and to be vulnerable. He understood that addiction could make you feel isolated, even in a room full of people.

After completing treatment, Chico returned to the detox centre, found the half-empty bottle he’d hidden, and poured it out—a symbolic act of letting go. He developed a strong connection with his higher power and felt called to share his experience to help others. The program raised his consciousness, transforming his life—like turning lead into gold.

The fog that once clouded Chico’s life lifted. He learned to visualize and manifest good, embracing gratitude, love, and authenticity. He cleared up the wreckage of his past, learning to forgive and let go. Around the time of his “Gratitude,” Chico experienced a personal renewal—shedding his old self like a snake sheds its skin, moving forward with purpose.

Today, Chico practices spiritual principles and lives a life of abundance and purpose. He looks forward to opportunities to share his message and inspire others on their own journeys of recovery and transformation.

 Since our last report, we have achieved the following:  

• 231 people actively participated in the intensive 90-day Phase 1 recovery program at Fresh Starts 3 locations in Calgary and Lethbridge.   
• 130 people participated in Phase 2 of our program. Phase 2 is a 100-day transitional phase that builds on the work done in the initial 90-day program. 
• 81 people participated in Phase 3, which includes living in transitional housing units or returning to community with continued access to Outreach support and involvement with Fresh Start Alumni.
• 82 people participated in Phase 4, living in Fresh Start’s recovery-oriented housing.
• Note that the Phase 2, 3 and 4 numbers include clients living in community, in the main Fresh Start treatment facilities or in our recovery-oriented housing.
• 27 people participated in our Friends and Family – Coming Together Series (formerly called the Family Healing Program) that helps people who have someone in their life who is affected by addiction. The program helps people deal with the effects of their loved one’s addiction on them and learn how to live in recovery also.