After 10 years Bruce Oake Recovery Centre open and accepting admissions

Scott and Anne Oake are celebrating the opening of a recovery centre in honour of their late son Bruce who passed away from an overdose. 

Greg Kyllo is the Executive Director at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre in Winnipeg. The centre officially opened this week.

"We're a long-term, science-based residential program. We are 50 beds so 50 individuals receive evidence-based over a 16 week period right here in Winnipeg," says Kyllo.

The idea for this centre came up when sports newscaster Scott Oake's son, Bruce passed away from an accidental overdose. 

"Scott, Darcy, and Anne have been on this mission for over 10 years now."

Darcy is the brother of Bruce and he has been a big part of this centre opening as well as his parents. 

"Originally it was planned for the fall of 2021 for the opening. We're ahead of schedule during a pandemic and on budget. It's been a really magical and exciting time."

Construction began in January 2020. In the week of May 25, 2021, the centre started opening beds and admissions for participants caught in addiction. 

"We have a waitlist. We've been working with folks virtually on a daily basis as they have waited for a space to be available and for us to be open. Everyone on the waitlist is able to receive counselling over the phone, support, and connection to resources until it's their time to move in," says Kyllo.

Safety is a number one priority for participants entering the program. This means that if someone isn't fully clean yet, they will assess each individual to see how they can be best supported coming into the program.

The Oake's chose a program and model for the centre based on Calgary's Fresh Start Recovery Centre.

"They chose this based on the success they've been having in Alberta and the outcomes that have been achieved over many years."

Other recovery centres in the city often have people for a shorter period of time, such as 21, 28, or 45 days. Whereas the Bruce Oake program has people in residence for four months.  

"We try to build a treatment plan that includes family and loved ones that are based on what that individual needs. We have a family room and section that Anne and Scott have helped to design and create specifically they have that lived experience of a family going through addiction."