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I’m Thankful – Darcy’s Story

My addiction started when I was 13. It was really a lot of peer pressure – you know everyone was doing it and I didn’t really fit in, so that’s how I fit in.​

I didn’t have a good childhood at all. Right from the time I was born it wasn’t good. It was abusive – verbally, mentally, and physically. Now I look back and I guess I was lashing out.

I started out with what everyone does – pot and booze. I ended up quitting school just before I turned 16. I started working and I just partied. That was it. Then I hit about 20 and I got into harder drugs. That almost killed me – literally.

I managed to quit that on my own, but instead of choosing recovery, I turned into an alcoholic. I drank and drank and drank. Every day I went to work and then on my way home from work I’d pick up beer or whatever. It was just a way to cope.

I broke off from everyone – family, friends. It continued all my adult life. I guess I was covering up what I went through when I was younger because until I came here I never talked about it – never.

My partner at the time was four days due with our child when she moved to Red Deer and cut off contact with me. I carried on drinking, and then everything fell apart towards the end of that year.

I had given up. I didn’t care about anything.

I eventually got in trouble with the law. It all happened pretty quick. Thankfully, through a court program I was able to serve my time at the Dream Centre. So on July 5 started the 49-day Recovery Program.

The day I got here it happened to be the Stampede Breakfast. There was so many people around. I thought “what am I getting myself into?” I almost took off. Thankfully, instead I walked through the front doors and stuck to my guns.

Since then the change has been night and day. It was almost right away. My second day here I got to sit through a graduation. Seeing the connection that takes place in this building helped big time. I still wore my ruggedness for a while, but then something flipped one day and yeah, now this is me – happy.

I can be without a mask now. I don’t need substances or any of that stuff to make me forget my past because I realized getting it out is actually helping me.

I’m thankful for my life, this place, and just thankful I can actually be happy for once, because I went my whole life feeling miserable to its nice to be able to finally smile and mean it.

I’m just over a year sober, and it’s thanks to this place. I absolutely owe everything to the Dream Centre.

I’ve been able to forgive myself for stuff, forgive other people for stuff and in return I’ve gotten forgiveness as well.

We can’t do it without you.

Together we can remind the people of Calgary that no one is beyond hope.

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Bio coming soon.

Steven Balisky

Steve Balisky is an intrapreneur with over 15 years of experience driving data-driven transformation within national companies Suncor and Mark’s. He has also been providing leadership consulting to nonprofits for the last 10 years and has served on the CDC board since 2019. Steve holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Operations Management and an MBA in Strategy. He is a husband and father of two, and has his own faith-filled recovery story, which inspires him to support others on their path to recovery.

Ben Johnson

Ben has been the Lead Pastor of First Assembly Church in Calgary since 2014, bringing over 30 years of ministry and leadership experience to the non-profit sector. He’s also an executive leadership coach, helping leaders thrive across various sectors since 2012. His experience includes serving on national and regional boards within his denomination, as well as supporting Vancouver’s homeless through his past involvement with Operation Compassion. Ben has served on the CDC board in Calgary for the past decade and believes the Church plays a vital role in creating lasting community impact.

Craig Hill

Craig Hill has been involved with the Calgary Dream Centre (CDC) since its inception. Starting with trips to the LA Dream Centre where seeds were planted in him that were never forgotten. After years of working in business, real estate, and church ministry, Craig returned to the CDC to step in as the CEO. Craig has a deep appreciation for the life change that happens here, the incredible team, and seeing the redemptive work that God is doing. Outside of work, Craig is a family man who loves nothing more than being with his wife and kids at the lake.

David Taylor

David grew up in northern Canada and attended the University of Alberta where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He worked as an engineer for about seven years before moving into project management and then business management, primarily focused in the oil and gas production and refining industry.

David stepped into the COO role of a business that was in trouble due to the 2008 financial crisis. After turning that business around, he took an international role leading project managers who managed a portfolio of $1.5B of projects around the globe.

Since then, David has consulted for businesses and organizations in medicine, engineering, homelessness, and addiction recovery, and serves on various not-for-profit boards.

David is currently running another business in California that was also in need of a dramatic turnaround and now scaling this business for further profitable growth.

Cal Johnson

Cal has spent 35 years in the agricultural industry and brings domestic and international executive leadership experience in strategy development, operations, business development, and M&A in a rapid growth environment.  He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Post Merger Integration Specialist, and is a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors Director designation (ICD.D).

Throughout his life, Cal has volunteered in his community in sport and programs that focus on relational, emotional, and spiritual health.  He has served on non-profit boards in both governance and advisory capacities.  Cal truly believes no one is beyond hope and counts it a privilege to serve at the Calgary Dream Centre.

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Bob Nash

Bob Nash is a dedicated and service focused professional Electrical Engineer volunteering as Board Chair and Project Manager for the Calgary Dream Centre (CDC). Bob’s involvement with the CDC extends to its earliest days.  His faith, and his sincere passion for helping people overcome addiction and restoring their lives, have motivated his service. Using his 35 years of senior management experience at Canadian Pacific Railway, Bob has effectively used his leadership, management, strategic planning, project management skills and philanthropic support to help propel the Calgary Dream Centre to where it is today. Bob and his wife of 44 years have two children and six grandchildren.