{"id":48576,"date":"2026-06-05T08:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/?p=48576"},"modified":"2026-06-25T09:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:15:16","slug":"portage-hosts-the-global-leadership-exchange-in-montreal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/portage-hosts-the-global-leadership-exchange-in-montreal\/","title":{"rendered":"Portage Hosts the Global Leadership Exchange in Montreal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<p class=\"lead\">On June 1, Portage had the privilege of welcoming\u00a0ten experts from Canada, New Zealand, and the United States to its Montreal facilities as part of the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/gle.world\/gle-canadian-leadership-exchange-2026-1st-june-5th-june-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) 2026<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This\u00a0day\u00a0of discussions\u00a0was\u00a0part of an international dialogue\u00a0aimed\u00a0at\u00a0better\u00a0understanding\u00a0how addiction\u00a0is\u00a0evolving\u00a0and at\u00a0fostering\u00a0more\u00a0integrated\u00a0responses\u00a0aligned\u00a0with\u00a0today&#8217;s\u00a0realities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<strong>Addictions Beyond\u00a0Traditional\u00a0Categories\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p>Today, addictions and at-risk\u00a0behaviours\u00a0can no longer\u00a0be\u00a0approached\u00a0in isolation. Substance use, gambling,\u00a0technology\u00a0use,\u00a0video\u00a0gaming, social media, compulsive shopping, and compulsive\u00a0sexual\u00a0behaviours: the\u00a0boundaries\u00a0are\u00a0increasingly\u00a0blurred, and the issues are\u00a0becoming\u00a0more\u00a0complex.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As\u00a0highlighted\u00a0by Dr. Andrew Kim, Associate Professor at Toronto\u00a0Metropolitan\u00a0University,\u00a0research\u00a0findings\u00a0increasingly\u00a0show\u00a0that\u00a0behavioural\u00a0addictions are\u00a0driven\u00a0by\u00a0mechanisms\u00a0similar\u00a0to\u00a0those\u00a0involved\u00a0in substance use\u00a0disorders.\u00a0These\u00a0realities\u00a0are\u00a0often\u00a0interconnected\u00a0and\u00a0may\u00a0coexist\u00a0within\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0individual,\u00a0amplifying\u00a0their\u00a0impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<strong>Toward an Integrated\u00a0Approach\u00a0to Addiction\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p>Discussions underscored the importance of adopting a comprehensive, cross-cutting approach that recognizes the intersection between substance use disorders, compulsive behaviours, and mental health.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Participants\u00a0emphasized\u00a0the\u00a0need\u00a0to:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>improve\u00a0screening for all\u00a0forms\u00a0of addictive\u00a0behaviour\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>further\u00a0integrate\u00a0these\u00a0realities\u00a0into\u00a0clinical\u00a0practice\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>promote\u00a0coordinated,\u00a0person-centred\u00a0interventions\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>strengthen\u00a0collaboration\u00a0between\u00a0health, social services, and\u00a0research\u00a0sectors\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These reflections align with a growing consensus: care systems must evolve to reflect the complexity of addiction pathways and offer integrated, tailored treatment approaches.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<strong>A Practice-Grounded\u00a0Day of Exchange\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p>In addition to presentations and discussions, participants toured Portage&#8217;s Montreal facilities, including <a href=\"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/quebec\/mental-health-and-addiction\/\"><strong>Mental Health and Addiction (concurrent disorders) program<\/strong><\/a> and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/quebec\/mother-child-program\/\">Mother &amp; Child program<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This immersion highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to care-one that treats the whole person-at the core of Portage&#8217;s practices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<strong>From\u00a0Ideas\u00a0to Action\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p>Throughout the day, exchanges fostered the sharing of expertise, promising practices, and concrete avenues for action to better respond to emerging realities in addiction. The day concluded with a synthesis of key learnings and a discussion of collective next steps.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<strong>An International Effort to Better Meet Needs\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p>This event demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in advancing practices and strengthening responses to the needs of individuals living with addiction.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At Portage, the day reinforced a core belief: a deeper understanding of addiction in all its complexity leads to better support for those affected.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<strong>With the participation of:<br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/global-leadership-exchange\/\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\">Global Leadership Exchange<\/a>, Bruce Oak Recovery Center, <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/scattergood-foundation\/\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\">Scattergood Foundation<\/a>, <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/mirror-services-whakaata-tohu-tohu\/\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\">Aroha Ki Te Tamariki Trust &#8211; Whakaata Tohu Tohu | Mirror Services<\/a>, <a id=\"ember2073\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/torontometropolitan-university-98846433a\/\">TorontoMetropolitan University<\/a>, <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/public-health-agency-of-canada\/\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\">L&#8217;Agence de la sant\u00e9 publique du Canada<\/a>, <a tabindex=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/odyssey-house_2\/\" target=\"_self\" data-test-app-aware-link=\"\">Odyssey House<\/a> <\/strong>\nMany thanks to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kris-alcartado-877848159\/\">Kris Alcartado<\/a><\/strong> of the Bruce Oak Foundation for helping organize this event.\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/portage.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_9409-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9409\" height=\"1920\" width=\"2560\" title=\"IMG_9409\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t<\/figure>\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/portage.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_9450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9450\" height=\"1920\" width=\"2560\" title=\"IMG_9450\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h3>\n\t\t\tRELATED CONTENT\t<\/h3>\n\t<p>Share this article:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/?p=48576&#038;fl_builder&#038;title=Portage+Hosts+the+Global+Leadership+Exchange+in+Montreal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/?p=48576&#038;fl_builder&#038;title=Portage+Hosts+the+Global+Leadership+Exchange+in+Montreal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Linkedin\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On June 1, Portage had the privilege of welcoming\u00a0ten experts from Canada, New Zealand, and the United States to its Montreal facilities as part of the\u00a0Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) 2026.\u00a0 This\u00a0day\u00a0of discussions\u00a0was\u00a0part of an international dialogue\u00a0aimed\u00a0at\u00a0better\u00a0understanding\u00a0how addiction\u00a0is\u00a0evolving\u00a0and at\u00a0fostering\u00a0more\u00a0integrated\u00a0responses\u00a0aligned\u00a0with\u00a0today&#8217;s\u00a0realities. &nbsp; Addictions Beyond\u00a0Traditional\u00a0Categories\u00a0 Today, addictions and at-risk\u00a0behaviours\u00a0can no longer\u00a0be\u00a0approached\u00a0in isolation. Substance use, gambling,\u00a0technology\u00a0use,\u00a0video\u00a0gaming, social media, compulsive shopping,&#8230;  <a href=\"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/portage-hosts-the-global-leadership-exchange-in-montreal\/\" class=\"more-link\" title=\"Read Portage Hosts the Global Leadership Exchange in Montreal\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":48567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[178],"class_list":["post-48576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-quebec-news","tag-addiction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48576"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48579,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48576\/revisions\/48579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portage.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}