First-in-Canada recovery program opens in East Vancouver, B.C.
A new, first-in-Canada café has opened a permanent location East Vancouver in hopes of filling a gap in care for people who are recovering from substance use, mental illness and homelessness.
The Kettle Society will operate The Recovery Café, a drug and alcohol-free space located at 620 Clark Drive, adding to 48 of the same community hubs in the U.S.
“Typically, an individual in crisis receives emergency intervention until they begin to experience stability. The lack of options for ongoing support leads may people to become isolated in the community,” The Kettle Society said in a statement Friday morning.
Once people sign up to be a member at The Recovery Café, they're provided with opportunities to learn new skills they can then apply to help run the space, like barista training.
The cafe itself will be comprised of a group meeting space, multi-purpose rooms, a computer lounge, and a coffee bar.
"At the recovery cafe, everyone is recovering from something," the statement reads.
One free meal will be served daily at the cafe, coffee and other beverages will be available, which members will help prepare.
The program also provides connections to resources and specialists who can help members navigate their recovery journey, including housing and employment options.
The Kettle Society says 50 members are already participating in the program following a soft launch earlier this year, and it hopes that number will grow to 300 in the coming years.
Prospective members can visit the café between 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.