Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference

03/26/2026

We were so honoured to have Chris share his story with us at SARRCon. For those who couldn’t be there, or want to hear it again, check out the link below.

We are absolutely delighted to share this very special podcast episode, our first LIVE episode recorded at Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference just last week.

This episode, hosted by Poncho Parker, features Medicine Hat business owner and city councillor Chris Hellman, sharing how escalating alcohol use and worsening mental health after COVID led to isolation, depression, and not caring if he lived.

He describes how his wife, parents, and especially his sister intervened with a careful plan that got him into a Vancouver Island (Duncan/Victoria area) treatment centre, where he detoxed, completed 60 days, and returned home with shame and fear of stigma before gradually rebuilding through therapy, medical support, 12-step meetings, peer support work, and community connection.

Chris discusses service gaps, transitional housing, and how gentle, non-judgmental support and listening helped him find hope and sustain 17 months of sobriety.

You can find this episode by searching “From Darkness to Life” on your favourite podcast streaming platform, or by visiting our website here: https://www.ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

03/10/2026

This is it, folks! Ticket sales close tonight at midnight.

In just over a week, professionals from across Southern Alberta will gather in Medicine Hat for two days focused on strengthening recovery, leadership, and community collaboration.

SARRCon is built for the people doing the work every day; addiction counsellors, mental health professionals, educators, outreach workers, recovery coaches, and community leaders.

Over the two days, you’ll experience:

• Dr. Jody Carrington speaking on building resilience in recovery work
• Jill Drader’s keynote and applied workshop exploring Knowings: Where Logic and Intuition Meet
• Panels on collaboration between peer supports and system partners
• Local voices sharing powerful lived experience recovery stories
• A discussion on Indigenous women’s wisdom in healing
• Community spotlight talks highlighting collaboration happening right here in our region
• A live recording of the From Darkness to Life podcast featuring Medicine Hat City Councillor Chris Hellman
• Meaningful networking with professionals across the recovery and mental health sectors

Attendees will also earn 12 CACCF-approved continuing education hours while gaining practical insight, new connections, and renewed purpose in the work.

If you’ve been considering attending, this is the moment to act. Tickets disappear tonight at midnight!

Join us March 19–20 in Medicine Hat and be part of the conversation shaping recovery in our communities.

Secure your pass to SARRCon ‘26 here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

03/08/2026

Ticket sales for SARRCon 2026 close March 10, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

If you work in addiction, mental health, education, or community support, this conference was built for the people doing the work every day. Over two days in Medicine Hat, you’ll be in a room with professionals who understand the challenges, the purpose, and the impact of recovery work.

At SARRCon you’ll:
• Earn 12 CACCF continuing education hours
• Learn from Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader
• Hear powerful local recovery stories and cross-sector collaboration in action
• Participate in an immersive workshop on resilience and leadership
• Experience a live recording of the From Darkness to Life podcast

This isn’t just another conference. It’s a chance to reconnect with the work, the people, and the purpose behind recovery and resiliency building.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, this is the moment to decide.

Ticket sales close March 10.

Join us March 19–20 in Medicine Hat. Secure your pass to SARRCon here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

03/07/2026

Only a few days left.

Ticket sales for SARRCon 2026 close March 10, and this is your last opportunity to secure your seat.

If you work in addiction, mental health, recovery, education, or community support, SARRCon is designed for the people doing this work every day.

Over two days in Medicine Hat, you’ll join professionals from across Southern Alberta to learn, connect, and strengthen how we support recovery in our communities.

Your registration includes:
• 12 CACCF-approved continuing education hours
• Keynote sessions from Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader
• Practical tools for resilience, leadership, and recovery-oriented practice
• A live recording of the From Darkness to Life podcast
• Meaningful connection with others who understand the work

This is more than a conference. It’s a room full of people committed to doing this work well and supporting each other along the way.

If you’ve been thinking about attending, now is the time.

Ticket sales close March 10. Secure your conference pass here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

03/05/2026

If you work in addiction, mental health, recovery, or community support, you already know how heavy the work can be.

You hold space for people in crisis.
You navigate complex systems.
You carry stories that most people never hear.

SARRCon exists for the people doing that work.

In two days you will:
• Earn 12 CACCF continuing education hours
• Learn from Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader
• Gain practical tools for resilience, regulation, and leadership
• Connect with professionals across Southern Alberta who understand the work

You’ll also experience a live recording of the From Darkness to Life podcast, featuring real conversations about recovery, leadership, and community.

This isn’t just a conference.
It’s a room full of people who care deeply about the same work you do.
SARRCon 2026
March 19–20
Medicine Hat
Two weeks left to secure your seat. View the full schedule and get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

02/26/2026

We have a powerful announcement to share.

At SARRCON 2026- Building Resilient Communities, Recovery Through Connection, we’ll be hosting a live recording of From Darkness to Life featuring Medicine Hat City Councillor Chris Hellman.

When Chris attended the 2025 State of the City Address, it was his first public event after completing treatment for alcohol. One year later, he returned not just as a community member, but as an elected official, a student in the Addictions Counselling program at Medicine Hat College, and a person committed to serving others from a place of lived experience.

Chris’s story reflects what we see every day in recovery work: depression, overwhelm, self-medication, and the life-changing impact of support, treatment, and community. With the backing of his wife, family, and friends, he entered treatment and chose a different path. Today, he is using his voice to support others and strengthen the community he serves.

Join us as Poncho sits down with Chris for a candid, meaningful conversation about recovery, leadership, and what it looks like to rebuild with purpose. Whether you’re a recovery professional, supporting a loved one, or navigating your own journey, this live episode will offer insight, honesty, and practical takeaways.

This special recording is part of SARRCon 2026, happening March 19–20 in Medicine Hat, alongside keynote speakers Jill Drader and Dr. Jody Carrington, immersive learning, and connection across the recovery community.

Tickets and full lineup: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

02/19/2026

SARRCon equips educators with practical, evidence-informed tools to better understand resilience, recovery, trauma, and protective factors; we’re here to collaborate.

Educators are often the first safe adult a young person turns to. When we strengthen educators, we strengthen youth.

We’re proud to be at the Medicine Hat Teacher’s Convention today connecting with educators who are doing some of the most important work in our community.

Coach Derrick and Coach Hannah are on-site sharing how Our Collective Journey’s resilience and recovery programs support youth both inside and outside the classroom.

From:
✔️ Resilience coaching for youth
✔️ Recovery-informed supports
✔️ Community partnerships
✔️ Professional development opportunities

…to highlighting how SARRCon equips educators with practical, evidence-informed tools to better understand resilience, recovery, trauma, and protective factors; we’re here to collaborate.

Educators are often the first safe adult a young person turns to. When we strengthen educators, we strengthen youth.

If you’re at the convention, stop by and connect with Derrick and Hannah! We’d love to talk about how we can partner to support your students and your staff.

02/17/2026

The work we do in recovery, mental health, and community support matters.

But it’s also heavy.

Burnout happens when people care deeply and don’t get the space to reset, learn, and reconnect with why they started.

That’s part of what SARRCon 2026 is about.
Two days focused on resilience, leadership, and sustainable ways to keep showing up for the people we serve featuring Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader.

You’ll leave with practical tools, stronger connections, and renewed clarity for the work ahead.

March 19–20 | Medicine Hat

Because supporting others starts with supporting the people doing the work.

Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

02/09/2026

Our friend Karen’s episode of From Darkness to Life just dropped, and it is an incredibly inspiring listen. Karen will be joining us for SARRCon ‘26 as a member of our indigenous panel, as well as for our land acknowledgement. Give Karen’s story a listen at ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast or by searching From Darkness to Life on your favourite podcast platform.

Did you get a chance to check out our most recent podcast of From Darkness to Life?

In this emotionally supercharged and heartfelt episode Poncho sits down with Karen Worrell, a member of the Fire Keeper’s Women’s Society, to discuss her journey of healing after the devastating loss of her grandson Denver and mother in 2024.

Karen delves into the cultural significance of the Fire Keeper’s Women’s Society, her family’s role in her healing process, and the collective impact of Denver’s memory, which continues to inspire many through various initiatives including Denver’s Destinations on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573938644262).

The episode underscores the importance of community, family, and cultural connections in the process of grieving and healing.

Listeners are encouraged to reach out for support through ourcollectivejourney.ca or on Facebook at Our Collective Journey.

Karen will also be joining us at Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference as part of our Indigenous Panel as well as leading our land acknowledgement.

You can find Karen’s very special episode on your podcast platform of choice, or by heading to ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

01/25/2026

We are SO EXCITED to welcome Jill Drader to SARRCon ‘26 and to participate in her immersive workshop based on her work, Knowings.

For a preview of what’s to come, and to learn more about Jill’s story of perseverance and resilience, check out this amazing episode of From Darkness to Life here:

https://www.ourcollectivejourney.ca/podcast

The Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference is shaping up to be our best one yet, and Jill Drader’s recent podcast with our team at fdtlpodcast is a great indicator of what’s in store.

In this episode of From Darkness to Life, Poncho speaks with transformation strategist and keynote speaker Jill Drader about the power of embracing change, intuition, and community in personal recovery. Jill shares her own journey through trauma and addiction, and how these experiences led to the development of her Knowings methodology.

Throughout the conversation, Jill emphasizes the importance of mental health support, self-forgiveness, and learning to trust one's intuition. She challenges the idea that recovery follows a single, linear path, advocating instead for a personalized and multifaceted approach that honours individual experience.

The episode explores the role of supportive communities, as well as the impact of nature and spirituality in healing and long-term resilience.

These same themes will be explored more deeply when Jill Drader joins SARRCon (Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference) as a keynote speaker, where she will lead an immersive workshop grounded in Knowings: Where Logic and Intuition Meet. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with the tools and insights

Jill discusses in this episode, translating personal awareness into meaningful leadership and community action.

Listen now, and join us at SARRCon to continue the conversation.

Visit the OCJ podcast at https://ourcollectivejourney.ca to listen to this and past podcasts and get your ticket to SARRCon '26, and Jill Drader's website at https:// www.jilldrader.com/

This episode and others are also available to stream on all major podcast platforms.

01/19/2026

You already know this part is non-negotiable.

If you work in addiction, mental health, recovery, or community support, you need continuing education hours. That requirement isn’t optional — it’s part of doing this work well and staying credentialed.

The real question isn’t if you’ll get your CE hours.
It’s how much time and energy you want to spend getting them.

SARRCon 2026 makes it simple.

Attend the Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference on March 19–20 in Medicine Hat and earn 12 CACCF-approved CE hours in just two days — no juggling webinars, no piecing credits together, no scrambling at the last minute.

You’ll also leave with:
• Practical tools you can use immediately
• Leadership and resilience strategies for demanding roles
• Insight from Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader
• Connection with professionals across Southern Alberta

You need the hours anyway.
You might as well get them in a way that actually adds value.

Register now right here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y

01/13/2026

Today is the final day to get Early Bird tickets for SARRCon 2026.

If you’ve been thinking about it, this is your last chance to secure the lowest price for the Southern Alberta Regional Recovery Conference, happening March 19–20 in Medicine Hat.

SARRCon brings together addiction counsellors, mental health professionals, community leaders, and people with lived experience for two days of meaningful learning and connection. Attendees gain practical tools for resilience and recovery, earn 12 CACCF continuing education hours, and learn from powerful keynote speakers Dr. Jody Carrington and Jill Drader, including an immersive leadership and self-awareness workshop.

This is more than a conference. It’s an investment in your practice, your purpose, and the communities you serve.

Early Bird pricing ends tonight. Secure your seat now.

Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/3LCp54y