“When I arrived at Portage, I had no idea I would be so well supported by the staff at the CDJ (Quebec Day Centre). The counsellors saw potential in me that I was unable to see myself and believed in my recovery even before I dared to believe in it. Post-care follow-up allows me to… Read more »
I attended the aftercare program assiduously and still go every two weeks. Due to my age, my sobriety and the fact that I’m retired, my social circle has become much smaller than it used to be. Short-term After transitioning from therapy to aftercare, I felt exhausted and extremely fragile. I often wondered if I… Read more »
I can honestly say that Portage completely changed my life… Nothing was ever just black or white for me while I was there, but one thing’s for sure: I am not the same person I was when I first entered Portage. I went from being a boy who would use any substance he could find,… Read more »
After our son overdosed, we knew he needed help — and fast — only we had no idea how to get it. We felt like we were flailing and spiraling all at the same time, so we did what most lost people do: we took to Google. Turns out, we’ve never been so thankful for… Read more »
My name is Geneviève. I’m 51 years old and I’m a former addict and alcoholic*. On May 21, 2023, I decided to take back control of my life. I started by attending the Portage Day Centre, until June 2023, where I met other people who, like me, were struggling with difficult circumstances. On June 6,… Read more »
When I arrived at Portage, I was broken. I was in pain, I cried, and I ran from everything that scared me. I was a bundle of tiny fragments held together only by my skin. One day at a time, I had to dig deep inside myself—gather each scattered piece, examine them, understand them… and… Read more »
On April 24, Vicki Grondin shared her story on CFAI FM, speaking with great sincerity about her journey toward recovery. She reflected on the challenges she faced while struggling with substance use, and on how the Portage Atlantic program for adolescents and young adultsat Cassidy Lake played a key role in her journey toward a… Read more »
I started drinking when I was only nine years old, under pressure from my own mother. As I got older, I learned to self-harm for the numbness I craved. At just 14, I started using drugs. Some might say my consumption wasn’t severe, and my close family and friends never realized I had a problem…. Read more »
At 43, alcohol had completely isolated Christian from the outside world. A former hotel general manager, he spent his days alone in his room drinking, his only connection to the outside world being the errands he ran for his mother. Following his stay at Villa Saint-Léonard and the Portage’s Employment Reintegration Centre, Christian completely transformed… Read more »
I arrived at Portage as an altered and damaged version of myself, filled with anger and continuous reckless behavior. During the year leading up to my admission date, my world seemed to be crumbling around me. I blamed everyone but myself and dove deeper into my addiction. When it was first suggested I should go… Read more »
