LEIPZIG - Off to Leipzig on the grid roads passing the Eaton’s house, standing in the field, is a sign that you can survive anything. Heading south you arrive at the 20,000 square foot stone building, which is the home of Prairie Sky Recovery and the site of Recovery Days. With 2020 being a write-off for everyone in the sense nobody could hold events; this year there was nothing stopping anyone who would want to come out to the Prairie Recovery Centre's yearly event.
This annual festival allows past clients and their families to see exactly where their new journey in life began. It is also a day to celebrate life, to reconnect and visit with staff and visitors from in and around the community. To be able to see old classmates who went through the programs and to recognize their accomplishments together; whilst the newer ones on their newly started journey can find inspiration.
"When the clients come in, they are in crisis. This event gives them a chance to reconnect and gives them a chance to come back 'Home' in a healthy way. They can highlight with pride where their new road started,“ said Jacqueline Hoffman, CEO of Prairie Sky Recovery.
Not being able to get together for a year gave the staff at Prairie Sky Recovery time to plan an even better event once regulations were lifted. Aug. 14 and15, 2021 was going to be the dates during which the show would go on.
One-hundred-twenty-five people descended on Prairie Sky Recovery to attend what would be a two-day event filled with plenty of things to keep everyone busy. There were activities for all ages, from a bouncy castle, face painting and a Jello-eating contest to a volleyball tournament to four different local and surrounding artists entertaining during the festival. There was also a lineup of speakers from Carnduff, Regina Beach and Saskatoon area. Representatives from AA and Al-Anon were amongst the delegates during the weekend to speak to a large crowd sitting in the beautiful grounds of the Recovery Centre.
Not only was the weekend packed with things to do, there was also camping available for anyone who chose to do so. There were 30 campers on the grounds for the weekend event, which allowed residents and returning staff and guests to camp out, visit and catch up on what was happening in their lives. This shows that being sober and staying sober means you can still have fun and enjoy life to the fullest and that recovery continues every day. It makes an easier transition to their habits and keeps them feeling safe while doing so.
Not only were there tours of the building inside and out throughout Recovery Days, but the staff and CEO were incredibly happy to highlight their new addition to the Prairie Sky Recovery Centre. After building a 30x40-foot maintenance shop to accommodate the growing equipment and tools they were left with the predicament of what to do with the shop in the basement that was now empty. A decision was made to install a fully equipped gym with new workout machines and tools for everyone to use in their spare time. It did not take long for them to get it together and the response from all the residents was nothing but delight.
"The biggest thing that the residents liked about the gym being in the basement, was on the hot days they could go downstairs where it is quite cool in that room; work out and not melt in this summer’s heat,“ said Hoffman. “This also allows gives the residents healthy habits for recovery for their body, minds and souls."
"Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations" - Author unknown
