As 91大黄鸭-Centre MLA Kristina Loewen put it, "It defies human instinct to climb off a building" -- except when it's for a worthy, and needed cause.
Loewen made the remark moments after rappelling down the five-storey TownePlace Suites by Marriott in West 91大黄鸭 on Friday, May 23, as part of the Over The Edge fundraiser. The event supports Freedom鈥檚 Door, a non-profit organization that provides addiction recovery programs for men in 91大黄鸭.
This year鈥檚 fundraiser focused on the Belaire Avenue Project, an ambitious initiative to build transitional townhomes behind three existing Freedom鈥檚 Door residences. The project will eventually provide housing for up to 60 men transitioning from recovery to independent living.
鈥淭hey are doing such good work,鈥� Loewen added. 鈥淭he project that we are fundraising for will house about 60 men who are transitioning out of recovery to the next phase which is functional housing.鈥�
Peter Lees, Executive Director of Freedom鈥檚 Door, emphasized the importance of community support and the organization鈥檚 independence from government funding.
鈥淲e could not have done it without them,鈥� Lees said. 鈥淲ith not relying on government funding we can do what we want to do. We want a sober facility and make sure our guys are looked after from day one until they leave.鈥�
Lees also singled out Sandy Shier and Todd Peters of Freedom's Door for spearheading the Over The Edge event.
The Belaire project extends the recovery timeline by offering up to 18 additional months of housing after the initial 90-day program. Residents are expected to work, volunteer, or pursue education during this phase.
鈥淐onstantly we have a wait list of 40 people,鈥� Lees noted. 鈥淚n recovery, it doesn't take just 90 days, it takes a lifetime. The longer you can have clean time 鈥� is what we call it 鈥� the better chance you have in recovery.鈥�
The first four units of the Belaire project are expected to be completed by fall 2025, with the remaining townhomes scheduled over the next two to three years 1.
Loewen also following his receipt of the , honouring his leadership in addiction recovery.
