As a child, I had everything I needed to succeed. I was sensitive and gifted. I played piano, I danced, I was bursting with talent. But my pleasant life shifted dramatically during my primary school and early secondary school years, when bullying and rejection became my daily lot. Wanting at all costs to be accepted… Read more »
“I’m taking the time I need. It’s March 1, 2022 and I am worn out as I walk to the door and away from my home. Behind me is a family that has been torn apart. Empty cans are strewn everywhere. There are bottles of alcohol hidden in my wardrobe; I’d like to fling them… Read more »
After months of turmoil, our family challenge started on November 23, 2020 Covid certainly didn’t make things easy. We discovered Portage by means of a videoconference that walked us through a virtual tour of the premises, the admission process was conducted outside, and we bid farewell to our daughter in the parking lot, hoping she… Read more »
On his Recognition Day, two years after finishing the residential program at Portage Elora, Noah delivered a heartfelt speech to his peers, their families and the Portage staff. Here is a glimpse of his testimonial. “Sobriety will be one of the greatest gifts we will ever give ourselves! It’s now been 15 months, since I… Read more »
What made you ask for help. Tell us about that process. A counsellor at school told me about Portage. I was not ready to even think about a treatment at that time, but it was still in the back of my mind. One night, I realized I didn’t want to live this life of addiction…. Read more »
ʺ At the age of 15, I was placed under the care of the Director of Youth Protection (Direction de la protection de la jeunesse). I was keeping bad company and no longer going to school. My parents couldn’t take care of me anymore. I went to a youth centre and that’s where I heard… Read more »
“My name is Luc Desjardins and I am 59 years old. I attended the Lac Écho Adult Program in 1990. That’s more than 30 years ago now! By the time I started the program, I had absolutely no self-esteem or self-confidence left. I had become antisocial and had a serious problem with authority. I just… Read more »
“I am honoured to be able to give back to such a wonderful and meaningful program like Portage, and that I have members of the Portage family that trust me to represent them by telling my story. This was something I couldn’t have imagined doing a few years ago but with the help of the… Read more »
ʺIt takes a long time for a parent to realize their child has a substance use problem. After all, maybe their child’s behaviour is just par for the course for a teenager? Maybe they’re just going through a bad phase? I had started noticing changes in my son’s behaviour. He had a new group of… Read more »
Stories like Caroline’s are at the core of what we do at Portage. We are proud to share her story and to encourage other residents to share theirs. *Names are fictional for privacy. What lead you to start taking drugs and drinking, and why? I started drugs by wanting to escape my emotions from being… Read more »
