Born in Cape Town, South Africa, but raised in Vancouver BC - Hibby Bartlett is a, Serial entrepreneur, humanitarian, and a contributing member of the recovery community.  Her start up businesses have always been focused on services to improve society, such as parenting and connecting families.  She is committed and inspired to show up authentically every day. Through her experiences with life's hurdles, such as sorrow, sobriety, and success, she strives to stay in the solution to any problem with optimism, grace and a sense of humor.  She believes in the power of words and knowledge, and is known to say “when we learn the lesson, the suffering stops”.   She is now developing and preparing to launch a community wellness coaching business Spring 2021.

Kevin Diakiw is a Qualified MBSR Teacher through University of Massachusetts  Medical School in Amherst and is also Certified CISM (trauma work) through the Justice Institute of B.C.

He is the founder of Still Here Mindfulness Inc.

Jas Sandhu is a Substance Use Counselor at Sources in White Rock where he works with many clients incorporating mindfulness into his sessions.

Tara began working alongside women in recovery in Ontario more than 8 years ago. She came from a place of having experienced an internal transformation despite living with complex trauma and the shame, behaviours and self- hatred that often go hand in hand. No longer the woman believed least likely to succeed, she was now emanating a powerful sense of hope, confidence, and so much gratitude with a renewal of spirit, soul, and body. This provoked a passion to journey alongside others and share this deep and lasting hope she had found.

She instinctively gravitated to those who hurt, who have been marginalized and who have suffered. This led her to her current work in the DTES of Vancouver BC at Union Gospel Mission. She is the Manager of Women’s Recovery & Housing and is able to strategize to provide women with trauma informed, culturally aware, individualized and accessible care.

Tune in to hear Jody, Erin, and Megala share their unique experiences in volunteering at Avalon Recovery Society. 

George Passmore is currently the Director of Personal & Family Counselling and Support at Sources Community Resources and has managed the Substance Use Services program since 2010 with a strong involvement in the community of White Rock/South Surrey and the larger continuum of substance use services throughout Fraser Health.  As Chair of the Tides of Change Overdose Prevention and Response Community Action Team, he is currently involved in developing a network of support, outreach and system navigation for people using substances, producing overdose awareness videos for people in the trades, and increasing compassionate understanding for first responders.  He has a busy private practice on the side in White Rock and is a proud dad of 3 teenagers.

Jen was born in 1965, adopted by a Caucasian family, at 10 given back to the system. She soon realized if you can't beat them then you should join them. She received her degree in Social Work. After a traumatic event, her career came to a halt and her drinking took over. The next six years were dark. After a two month stay in hospital, she met someone who would bring her to Avalon, she got into a recovery house and her journey began. She is 17 years sober and has an amazing life.

Jean McCarthy is an award-winning blogger, podcast, and the author of 2 books about recovery. She began chronicling her adventures in life-after-alcohol on her first day of sobriety in 2011 in her blog, UnPickled. Every week she holds space for others in recovery as host of the podcast The Bubble Hour. Jean lives in Alberta, Canada.

Kathy has recently celebrated 34 years in recovery. She is a woman who is grateful for her recovery and is a member of Al-Anon and AA.  

Stacy is a mom of 2 beautiful boys, a nurse and has been separated from my spouse for the past 3 years, whom she loves co-parenting with and continue to enjoy a lifelong friendship. 

She has been sober for 14 years, and attributes a significant portion of that to Avalon which she had the privilege to help set up when it first came to White Rock.

While still sober, She has experienced grief with the loss of loved ones in addiction and without a doubt knows that her continued recovery was through the support of the fellowship, friendships, service, step work, sponsorship and her higher power. 

She is a grateful alcoholic and is excited to have the opportunity to share her story with others.

Stephanie Cadieux was first elected MLA for Surrey-Panorama in 2009, and elected MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale in 2013, re-elected as MLA for Surrey South in 2017, and again re-elected as MLA for Surrey South in 2020.  She currently serves as the Caucus Chair and the Official Opposition Critic for Gender Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion.   

She is a member of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and served as Vice-Chair of the Committees to appoint the Representative for Children and Youth and the Human Rights Commissioner.  Stephanie served as Minister of Children and Family Development, Minister of Social Development, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government. She also previously held roles as Co-critic for Advanced Education and Finance, and Critic for ICBC.

Stephanie worked with SCI-BC as director of marketing and development and was manager of accessibility for 2010 Legacies Now.  She has been an active community volunteer and was the president of Realwheels Theatre Society, a member of the advisory panel with International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD), and a mentor with the YWCA.