Fresh Start Recovery

04/02/2026

There’s a moment most people don’t see.

It’s not the first day.
It’s not the celebration.

It’s the first step into a new life.

Rejoining the community.
Walking back into places that once held the struggle, now carrying new meaning.

Everything leading up to this point mattered.
Stabilization.
Treatment.
Connection.

But this is where it comes together.

This is where we begin to understand the power of choice.

A new schedule.
New responsibilities.
A new way of living.

Not within a building,
but within ourselves.

Our surroundings shift.
What once held weight in a different way now carries purpose, value, and awareness.

And this is where it matters most.

Ongoing connection.
Commitment.
Stability.

Outreach.
Housing.
People who stay consistent.

This is why we stay with it.

The steps after treatment aren’t separate from recovery.
They are recovery in action.

Together, without end.

Donate today: www.freshstartrecovery.com/donate

03/29/2026

Today, our community recognizes Bruce Holstead on 28 years in recovery.

That milestone represents far more than time. It reflects a life rebuilt, and a life that has helped build something real for others. Across Fresh Start, in Calgary and Lethbridge, and throughout the recovery community in Alberta, his impact can be seen in lives changed, families restored, and a community that has grown stronger over time.

What stands out most is the way he has stayed close to the work. The consistency. The standard. The belief that recovery is possible and that people deserve the chance to rebuild their lives. That has shaped not only this place, but the people in it and the community around it.

We see the results of that every day. In the people who walk through our doors. In the families that find their way back. In a recovery community that continues to hold, grow, and make room for others.

Twenty-eight years is an extraordinary milestone. It is also a reflection of steady leadership, humility, and a life that has been used to help so many others find their footing again.

Bruce, we are grateful for your example, for your heart, and for the impact you continue to have on this community and across Alberta.

Together, without end.

03/27/2026

Calgary, we’re at the World of Wheels all weekend at the BMO Centre.

Today from 3–9, Saturday from 10–9, and Sunday from 10–6.

The cars, trucks, and motorcycles here are worth the trip on their own. But for us, this weekend is also about community.

Come find the Fresh Start Recovery team, say hello, and learn more about what’s coming up, including the 18th Annual 12-Stop Charity Ride for Recovery, our motorcycle raffle, and our 50/50 draw. You can also grab tickets right on site.

We also have early bird prizes for both the motorcycle raffle and the 50/50 draw, and the best part is your ticket goes back in for the remaining draws.

To get your tickets now, click: www.freshstartraffle.com

And if that wasn’t enough, Rust Bros and Farmtruck & AZN are right by us all weekedn.

Our raffle motorcycles are sponsored by Grover Law Firm. Grover Law is also the Presenting Sponsor of the 18th Annual 12-Stop Charity Ride for Recovery, alongside our Community Champion sponsors: Calgary Harley-Davidson, Cochrane Toyota, and the Government of Alberta.

Come down, take in an amazing show, and stop by to connect.

Together, Without End.

03/27/2026

And then comes what it was all leading to.

Not the end.
The return.

Back into the community.
Back into life.
Back into the places that once held the struggle, now with something different to stand on.

The early days mattered.
Pre-treatment mattered.
Treatment mattered.
Gratitude matters.

But this part carries it forward. This is where recovery becomes real.

The days when choices are real, when it always seems impossible until it’s done. Here, connection has to be maintained, not just received. Where structure doesn’t define you.

Not inside the walls.
Out here.

And what surrounds someone in those first days back matters more than most people realize.

That’s where we stay with it.

Outreach.
Connection.
And the next step we’re building toward.

Because what comes after treatment is not separate from recovery.
It is recovery.

If you’ve been walking through this with us, this is where you stay part of it.

Support the transition.
Help someone stay connected when it matters most.

🔗 freshstartrecovery.ca/donate

Together, without end.

03/26/2026

Our last 50/50 Early Bird has been drawn.

Congratulations to Lindsay Graftaas.

There is always a moment like this in every draw. A name gets called. Something shifts. But what sits underneath it matters just as much.

This 50/50 raffle is part of Fresh Start Recovery’s 18th Annual 12-Stop Ride for Recovery, presented by Grover Law Firm. Their continued support helps carry this work forward in a real way.

This Early Bird draw was made possible through the support of Jenga Homes. A company that understands what it means to build something that lasts. Not just structures, but stability, trust, and community. We are grateful for their support.

If you missed this one, you are not behind.

There are still multiple 50/50 Early Bird draws ahead, along with our motorcycle Early Bird prizes. Every ticket purchased keeps your name in for all remaining draws, right through to the final.

Both motorcycles and the final 50/50 will be drawn live on August 15, 2026, at the close of the Ride.

Together, Without End.

Get your tickets: www.freshstartraffle.com

03/26/2026

March gave us another chance to pause and recognize the people in our recovery community who reached milestones this month.

These moments matter.

Not because of the number alone, but because of what it took to get there.

From Lethbridge to Calgary, and across greater Alberta and beyond, our alumni continue to show what steady, honest work looks like. In our community, in recovery-oriented housing, and out in the world, each milestone reflects the choice to keep going. On the good days, the hard days, and all the ordinary ones in between.

To everyone celebrating in March, we see you.
You earned this.

And in a community like this, your milestone never belongs only to you. It becomes part of the hope someone else holds onto when they need it most.
We’re proud of you. Keep going.

03/25/2026

Milestones Matter.

Tomorrow night at 6:30 PM, we come together for our Alumni Milestone Meeting.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
— Lao Tzu

In recovery, that step isn’t just taken once. It’s taken every day.

A milestone is not about perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about showing up on the days you didn’t want to. It’s about choosing something different when everything in you said to go back.

Some will be celebrating time. Some will be remembering where they started. Some will just walk into the room and sit down. All of it matters.

Because recovery is not measured only in days or months. It’s measured in the decisions we make, the honesty we carry, and the way we stay connected.

The people with time show what’s possible.
The people just starting remind us why we began.

That’s how this works. Together.

Join us in Calgary, Lethbridge, or online.

If you’d like to join virtually, email Rene@freshstartrecovery.ca for the link.

We’ll see you there.

03/23/2026

Together, a night like this becomes something more.

Grateful to the Calgary Flames for welcoming us and creating space for this conversation.

For some of the people we serve, this was more than a game. It was a chance to be present, connected, and part of something again.

That is what recovery in community looks like.

If you have tickets you are not using, consider gifting them, or would like to donate to help support our work.

RodG@freshstartrecovery.ca

Together, Without End.

03/23/2026

Together, a night like this becomes something more.

We are grateful to the Calgary Flames organization for welcoming us, giving us space to share our message, and helping bring attention to recovery in front of a full arena. Seeing Bruce up on the scoreboard was a proud moment for our team and for the people we serve.

There was real excitement in our group walking into the game. The Flames set our alumni volunteers up with incredible seats, and you could feel what that meant. For a couple of them, it had been a long time since they had enjoyed something like this, present and connected, without needing a substance, even with it all around them. That matters. Those are new memories being built in recovery.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to speak with us. We had honest conversations with individuals and families about addiction, recovery, and what it takes to move forward. Moments like that help break down stigma and remind people that recovery is possible.

We were also proud to share more about our 12 Stop Ride for Recovery, presented by Grover Law Firm and supported by community champions Cochrane Toyota, Calgary Harley-Davidson, and the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta), along with our motorcycle raffle and 50/50, all of which will be drawn on August 15 at the close of the Ride.

We cannot do this work without the support of our community.

If you or your organization have tickets you are not using, please consider gifting them. It may seem small, but it can create a moment someone carries with them for a long time.

After the thrilling overtime finish, we were given the chance to go behind the scenes, see a different side of the game, and spend some quality time with Zach Whitecloud. A meaningful way to close out an already special night.

Thank you, Calgary Flames, for your generosity, your hospitality, and for helping create an experience our alumni will not forget.

Together, Without End.

03/22/2026

03/21/2026

Come down and see us today.

Fresh Start Recovery and our friends at Aventa are hosting an Italian Luxury Handbag Pop-Up this morning, and there are still some beautiful pieces available.

If you’re out and about, stop in, take a look, and find something special. These handbags are available at deeply discounted prices from $10 to $110, and every purchase helps support the work Fresh Start and Aventa do to help people and families rebuild their lives and move forward in recovery.

It’s a simple way to support two local organizations and pick up something beautiful at the same time.

We’re here until 3 PM today
📍 610 – 25 Ave SW
Grey building with black doors
Parking available in the off-street lot

Come by, say hello, and have a look before they’re gone.

03/21/2026

Grateful to the Government of Alberta for continuing to invest in recovery-oriented systems of care.

Recovery happens in community, and together we are making it more accessible for individuals and families across Alberta.