I am asked the same question many times, “Jodee, what brought you to this place of being so passionate and advocating for Addiction & Recovery?”

The truth is it wasn’t planned. No one, including me, wakes up one morning and thinks to themselves- I want to become addicted or I am going to love someone addicted to drugs or alcohol and it is going to affect everything about my life. But it can happen. To anyone.

I am no different than anyone else. I am a sister, wife, mom, friend, neighbor, co-worker…. But I was also hiding a painful secret; I am also the grand-daughter, step-daughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, great-niece, aunt and cousin to alcoholics. But nothing impacted me more than when my younger brother Brett Tisdale became addicted to alcohol. This affected me so deeply, and I wanted to make an impact on the world. While we teach our children “don’t do drugs” what I am very aware of is that we also need to start educating them (and everyone else) to “respect alcohol.” It is for that reason, that I wrote a book and now share openly and honestly in order to help eliminate the shame stigma, not only for those addicted, but their families as well.

I grew up in Red Deer, and have enormous pride, that on Saturday, September 9th from 11am-2pm at Red Deer City Hall I will join with friends, family, loved one’s, strangers and community partners to come together to support Recovery Day. We are proud to be a part of a changing world, where we are no longer encouraged to remain silent but rather share our inspirational and sometimes painful stories in hopes of helping others. WITHOUT SHAME.

Who should attend? Everyone. Whether you are in recovery, need help, friend or family member, a child affected, or someone in the community who wants knowledge and to make a difference. And even those, who wish to remain anonymous and want to just absorb some information from the sidelines.

HIGHLIGHTS

-Mayor, Tara Veer, to read the procolimation

-Recovery Advocate Speakers

-I will be proudly speaking from a family perspective and signing copies of my memoir, THE SUN IS GONE: A Sister Lost in Secrets, Shame, and Addiction and How I Broke Free.

-Professionals in the Recovery Resource Community

-Memoriam tiles for loved ones to create/write on to remember those we lost to addiction (to be displayed on a wall in the upcoming Red Deer Community Recovery Centre)

-Prizes donated by supporters in the community

-Miss tease as a hip hop performer

-Children’s activities and fun photo booth

-Moment of silence for those we lost

There are over 30 cities across Canada celebrating Recovery Day. Together we CAN make a difference…

See you Saturday!

I wish you all love, happiness and strength on your unique journey. Hugs.

To contact me anytime visit www.jodeeprouse.com OR email- [email protected]

To learn more about the Recovery Day event contact coordinator Krista Black email- [email protected] (Yes, she really is the best 🙂 )