By Andrea Nicholl
Thorpe Recovery Centre is one step closer to becoming one of the most recognized leaders in the addictions field as western Canada’s only residential treatment facility.
Grit Industries Inc. and Grithog Sand Control Systems Ltd. have made the first significant corporate contribution to the Thorpe Recovery Centre by pledging $100,000 over the next five years.
The ‘first major pledge’ will be applied to the $3 million capital campaign project and will aid the development and establishment of Thorpe’s new addictions treatment facility in Blackfoot, Alberta.
“It’s really important for us to know that we have the support from the local community,” said Craig Featherstone, executive director of TRC.
“It just speaks volumes that a local business is willing to step up and give us $100,000, it means that they’re really supporting what we do and realizing that addiction is sort of climbing out of the trenches.
“Addiction is a family issue and we’re starting to get away from that stigma that it’s just the drunk on the street, the prostitute or the addict shooting up in the back alley, because it’s not, it’s every day people.”
The $100,000 pledge will contribute to the $16.25 million project and will help TRC open its doors to a new 72-detoxification and addictions facility in winter 2011.
“We look at ourselves as being the little company with the big heart,” said Grit Industries president Wayne King. “What we’re trying to do is encourage other small companies to step up too.”
The significant pledge is an investment that all local companies should be making, said King, because the entire community deals with addiction issues at work or in the home, whether it’s with drugs, alcohol, gambling or smoking.
“We’re moving away from projects where the value is difficult to realize and more towards projects like Thorpe because the long term value and benefit to the community is clear,” said King.
The relocation of TRC will allow the addictions treatment facility to nearly double in size, expand toward a youth program and include a six week residential program, and a five to 10 day detoxification program.
“Addiction is all over, it’s not something that will ever go away and it’s not something you can hide anymore,” said Danika McCullough, fund development coordinator for TRC. “When businesses invest in and share our vision we become one step closer to reaching our goal.”