SUPPORT SWELLS FOR THE PAD: LAUNCHING PAD BENEFITS FROM COUNSELLORS, NURSES
AND MORE

Alcoholism and drug addiction is "pitiful, incomprehensible demoralization"
unfathomable by those unaffected.

Sufferers, say supporters of a South Surrey drug and alcohol recovery
house, deserve the best chance possible to recover in a clean, safe-and
supportive-environment.

If that opportunity's available in their own community, all the better.

"If our family had had this in our neighbourhood, we wouldn't have gone
through what we did," Stayte Road resident Laura Bednarz said.

Bednarz, a vocal proponent of The Launching Pad, grew up with an alcoholic
father.

"The support they have there would have helped us. We need to support them."

The Launching Pad, operated at 984 160th St. by Dave Houston and Ed
Warnke-both recovering alcoholics-has been the subject of much discussion
since opening its doors to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in June.

Petitions of protest launched soon after garnered hundreds of signatures;
'Not-in-My-Backyard' was the determined chant of a public information
meeting in October.

Surrey city officials are set on the facility conforming to regulations
which, according to a well-known Vancouver lawyer, it already meets.

Despite all the hoopla, support grows, and efforts to help those struggling
learn accountability, responsibility, sobriety, and how to be a productive
part of community continue.

Residents-there are 11 now-stay anywhere from three months to a year. The
program they follow is based on a 12-step model, like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Daily support meetings are part of the program, as is regular one-on-one
sessions. Recently, residents gained access to the experience of a former
nurse and counsellor, a counsellor certified in addictions, and a psychiatrist.

Mark Flynn has 15 years counselling experience, a masters degree in social
work, and a certificate in substance abuse from the Justice Institute.

The high school guidance counsellor is donating his expertise in education
and employment counselling to LP residents, teaching skills in job search
and resume writing. He's also linking them with training and re-training
programs, all toward the goal to get them back into community.

Flynn, who is Bednarz' husband, said Friday his commitment to the recovery
house is both personal and professional-personal through knowing what his
wife went through with her family; professional through what he's seen for
himself.

"I know there's a real shortage of resources for people" with addictions,
Flynn said.

"I've seen what (the disease) has done to victims and to families. There's
obviously a need. For these people to have to go outside their own
community doesn't seem right."

Flynn described Houston and Warnke as "committed to the work they're
doing," and said the program adds "a nice dimension to the community. It's
a sign there's compassion within the community."

He and Bednarz are among a number of residents to put support in writing to
Surrey and White Rock city councils, and attend meetings to stand behind
the recovery site.

Robin, a former nurse, counsellor and teacher, came to The Launching Pad
Monday.

Eleven years sober, the Semiahmoo Secondary graduate said the move was not
planned. She was there visiting a friend when Houston and Warnke asked her
to lend her background to the mix.

In search of a meaningful direction in life, "that was my sign," she said.

"This place is really important to these men...and it's important to me
that these guys have a place to find recovery," she said.

"If this place doesn't get to stay here, some of them may not live to see
next Christmas."

Still learning the rhythm of the house, Robin described addiction as "a
soul sickness. You can't even believe you're there.

"I'd like to help these guys, so they can be productive members of society.
To help their souls a little bit, so they can face life successfully."

Such outpouring, Houston said, has been unbelievable, frequent and swelling.

The Launching Pad was inundated with donations of Christmas presents and
decorations, and calls from neighbours and others wanting to know how they
can help.

Houston said LP is going to be a "bigger scale and more organized...way
more structured" recovery program than that offered at the house's former
site in Aldergrove.

Many past and present residents say the support and compassion found within
the facility's walls has changed their lives.

At that October meeting at South Meridian Elementary, Devon Martin credited
the recovery house with helping him attain his longest clean stretch away
from alcohol and drugs. He's previously stayed at two houses.

"With a lot of other recovery (homes), they give you the first couple of
lessons and say, 'Go on out there,'" he said.

"I wasn't making it."

One of the first to move in when the house opened, the professional
musician and father of four said the opportunity to get back on his feet in
a safe environment has meant a new beginning.

"This is the longest I've been clean.

"I've been able to start building up for my family, and I wouldn't have
been able to do it if I didn't have a chance in an environment that was clean."

Addiction cost 30-year-old Aaron a wife, house, and, for a time, his
family. He wasn't even allowed in his father's home; and, he spent last
Christmas alone.

This year, he and his girlfriend are invited to his father's house in
Arizona to celebrate the season.

Jan. 8, seven months after coming to The Launching Pad, the father-to-be
celebrates a year of sobriety.

"They saved my life, basically," he said.

"I've got pride today; I'm ready to live life for the first time."

Mark Dietz, a Crescent Beach resident who's struggled for six years to get
clean and stay there, said The Launching Pad gave him "a good, safe,
healthy environment for me to get back on the beam again.

"I have to get back on track and this place did it for me. I don't believe
I had the information to stay stopped. I think I've got it now."

In addition to the structured side of the program, residents share in tasks
around the house, and volunteer in the community.

Martin performs at Sandpiper Pub. Former professional hockey player Keith
Redmond coached hockey during his year. Others donate time to the food bank.

Neighbours Sharon and Emerson O'Krane came home one day to find their
gutters cleaned.

Sharon O'Krane, whose father is an alcoholic, said at an open house at The
Launching Pad Sunday the couple have never taken issue or had a problem
with facility-its concept, operators or residents.

"Launching Pad fills in the gap (between detox and back into society)," she
said.

"We're fully in support of it. They're a great bunch of people."

The status of the facility next comes before council in early January, to
discuss Houston's withdrawal of his rezoning application.