It's one of the most heartwarming traditions in the region, and Saturday night was no different when several dozen people got together in downtown Penticton to watch the Christmas lights switch on at Discovery House.
It was the eighth annual "Light Up" for Discovery House, the Penticton-based men's recovery program that currently houses and treats 25 men across three facilities in the city core.
The schedule kicked off at 4 PM with an open house at the program's headquarters and primary treatment centre at 633 Winnipeg St.
Attendees moved outside an hour later to listen to a variety of speakers and watch the building's outdoor Christmas lights illuminate for the season.
The event was the high point of the 2024 "Shed the Light on Addiction" campaign, one of Discovery House's most important fundraisers of the year.
Speaking Saturday afternoon were dignitaries like Penticton mayor Julius Bloomfield and brand new Penticton-Summerland MLA Amelia Boultbee.
But the truly captivating stuff came from folks like Discovery House resident Max T, who read aloud a beautifully written self-penned look into his own situation, skipping none of the lows or highs along the way.
Max finished his turn at the mic as many Discovery House residents do, by saying the program saved this life.
Running the show and emceeing from start to finish was DH clinical director Brent Rowland, who explained beforehand that the event aims to do more than raise bucks.
"It’s also way of saying we’re here, we love you, we're part of this community, and we're proud of what we do in beating some of the stigma of addiction," he told PentictonNow.
"And something else. A lot of these guys don't have a positive association with Christmas and the holiday season. So this helps show them there is a joy. It gives them some love they maybe haven’t received in the past."
Rowland, who isn’t an ex-client like many Discovery House staffers but freely admits he's had more than his fair share of "lived experiences," was up front about the challenges of 2024.
"We’ve seen a drop in our fundraising because of the Canada Post strike and the general economy," he said. "But we're grateful for what anyone can give. We understand people are struggling."
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Moreover, he added, Discovery House was able to add services over the course of the last year.
"We now have an employment program for our second-stage guys at the Wade and Edna Avenue houses," he said.
"It's very individualized and it depends where each guy is in his life. Some guys have a lot of skills but don’t want to get back into the same profession simply because that's when they were in their addiction. Some guys have never had a job. Some guys don’t need any help other than a little urging.
"So we assess and provide the services they need, like vocational counseling, resume writing, interview skills. More often than not, it’s just encouraging them to take control of their lives."
Also on hand was beloved Discovery House benefactor Janet Parker.
Parker, who lost her son Colin to a drug overdose in 2016, has since contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the cause. Indeed, the Discovery House facility on Edna was instantly dubbed "Parker Place" in her honour.
Her most recent donation of $50,000 – from just a couple days ago – has only added to her legendary status.
"Well, we finished Parker Place and we've built a carriage house too, and now I want a new project," she said matter-of-factly prior to Saturday's Light Up.
"After our clients leave Discovery House, they need a safe place to live. We already have second-stage housing at Parker Place and Wade, but as more clients go through we have a logjam. So I'm always looking at how many more people we can help."
Parker didn’t have to look far for a prime example of the client she had in mind. Sitting directly across the kitchen table was resident Stephen Bradley, who just completed his 90-day primary treatment phase and is now headed for his second-stage stint.
And he hasn’t been happier in a long, long time.
"I was born in Surrey and moved to Penticton and brought my drinking problem with me," he graciously told us.
"I came here to be close to my kids, but I struggled with alcohol and finding work. It got to the point where I lost my job and burnt all my bridges. And I was pretty much given an ultimatum about seeing my kids by my ex-wife."
The prognosis was bleak. Bradley stared drinking young, at 14. He'd never been able to control the desire, no matter how much trouble it caused – including a divorce and trips to family court.
And now jobless in Penticton, he embarked on a three-week bender. Booze from morning 'til night for 21 days straight.
But then, somehow, he dragged himself to detox.
"I went through the DTs ("delirium tremens," a severe form of alcohol withdrawal)," he said. "I was shaking. It was terrible. My eyes were turning yellow."
But he did it. Then he was accepted into Discovery House.
"And I've never looked back," he said enthusiastically. "It's been tough for sure. One strike and you're out.
"But it's been four months now since I've had a drink and that's the longest I've gone since I was a teenager."
Now Bradley has nothing but praise for the abstinence-based program.
"This place has helped me in so many ways," he said. "It introduced me to my addiction. It taught me how to move through life in a positive direction. It made me accountable. It got my relationship back with my kids.
"And as long as I do my part, stay sober, work hard and keep moving in a positive direction, the possibilities are endless. Now I'm looking forward to the future."
To donate to the Shed the Light on Addiction campaign and help guys like Stephen Bradley move forward, head here.
