When Ashley was growing up, her home was filled with conflict and drug abuse. She was taught not to talk about her problems. So from a very young age, Ashley learned that she didn’t have any support.
Despite being taught not to share her problems, when Ashley faced the trauma of being sexually abused by a family member at seven years old, she still told people she trusted. Tragically, no one believed her. The abuse continued. Ashley became jaded, and at twelve years old started drinking to cope.
Her addiction slowly got worse, and drinking turned into drugs. When Ashley was 16, she was sexually abused by another person, and again, no one believed her. This was devastating. Ashley says she eventually fell into the sex trade because she felt like men were using her for her body anyways.
By 19, Ashley knew she needed to change her life. She went to treatment, and there met the person who would become her children’s father. They broke up before their second child was born, but Ashley was still determined to turn her life around. She went to college and graduated with honours, even while taking care of her son and her two younger siblings.
However, with her second baby, Ashley fell into postpartum depression which soon derailed many of her plans. She started partying on weekends and got back into drugs. In quick succession, she lost her job, her kids, and her home.
“I felt worthless. I felt like a failure—like I failed my kids. I honestly thought that the addiction was going to take me out. I didn’t see any hope,” says Ashley.
Ashley’s turning point came when she found herself at her lowest: left in a ravine and abused. At that moment, she knew that if she wanted to be the kind of mom her kids deserved, she needed help.
So Ashley reached out and checked into a treatment program. After graduating, she felt like she needed additional supports to get back on her feet. She was connected to the Calgary Dream Centre’s post-treatment recovery program for women, and in June 2017 she moved into a home with seven other women.
“The staff were loving me right away and I felt at home. I hadn’t felt safe and secure in a home in a long time.”
In our post-recovery treatment homes, the focus is on building community and equipping women to transition into society. Here, the women live together in a safe, supportive community house. Counselling and other services provide them with a solid base that they can build on as they become more self-sufficient.
Experiencing this community of other women has dramatically changed Ashley’s life. Since entering the program, things have fallen into place for Ashley. Not only has she been working through many of the underlying issues that led to her addiction, but she has also started pursuing a career. She began school in March and will soon be working in palliative care as a Health Care Aide. Even better, Ashley has been able to become the mom she wanted to be to her kids. She rekindled their relationship, and in February moved back in with them!
Ashley credits the Dream Centre with giving her the support to make many of the positive changes in her life.
“I’ve started to learn that I am worthy and I am valuable as a person and my voice does matter,” she says. “I get to be a mom again. I get to try again.”
Together we can remind the people of Calgary that no one is beyond hope.
Bio coming soon.
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 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 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 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 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.
Stay connected with us! Sign up to receive all our updates, including inspiring stories, important news, event invitations, and opportunities to get involved with the Calgary Dream Centre. Be the first to know how you can make a difference.
Your data is in the safe hands. Check out our Privacy policy for more info.
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.
