A Warm Meal on a Cold Day Brought Healing To My HeartRobbie's Story

I was born on the Morley First Nation and was the youngest of three. My father was an alcoholic and so my mom left him when I was two and raised us on her own. She was able to stay sober and always showed us love; my mom was my rock. 

At a young age, I was adventurous and always willing to try new things. My mom put an outfit on me and threw me on the dance floor when I was twelve, so from then I was dancing, and I loved it.

My addiction started when I was 13. I got drunk with my brother and it went on from there. We moved to the city around the same time, and I made new friends, but they were the wrong crowd.

At one point I tried to sober up a bit. I got into school and started to upgrade. It seemed like everything was going well, but then my mom passed away from cancer, and I lost it.

She had been my rock. I was over 30 and did not know how dependent I was. The day we buried my mom I ended up on the streets.

I was broken, addicted to drugs, deeply depressed, and dumpster diving for food. I wouldn’t eat for a week at a time and I’d stay up for five days straight. I might sleep for a couple of hours and then I would be up again. I was starting to have a lot of brain damage and began to experience severe psychosis.

One day I was walking by the Dream Centre. I remember being so hungry, and I thought maybe they would give me a sandwich. When I walked in, a staff member gave me a bagged lunch and an application. I filled it out and brought it in the next morning. They took me in that day.

My journey wasn’t spotless. I did fall a few times, but each time the Dream Centre was there with open arms. On August 3, 2019, I stepped into the Dream Centre for the third time, and I’ve stayed sober and thriving since.

The Dream Centre has helped me become a man. I never lived on my own before and always depended on my mom. This place taught me independence and how to stand on my own two feet.

Everything went downhill and my life began to spiral. I was constantly in trouble with the law and moving from treatment centre to treatment centre. My addiction only progressed, and inevitably, I found my drug of choice – crystal meth. It took a hold of me. Everything was intensified, and I felt like I was on top of the world.

I received three square meals a day, and after each one I would look back and say thank you because I felt so happy to have dinner ready. A warm meal on a cold day brought healing to my heart.

Before I didn’t like myself. I thought I was ugly. I just didn’t respect myself at all. But slowly my feelings and happiness started to come back, and my mind began to function better. I was motivated and had confidence in myself again.

Looking at where I came from, I truly believe if it weren’t for God, I wouldn’t be here. God is what pulled me out of that mess. When I started to sober up, I saw a flow of good things and I realized I’m walking with Creator on earth.  Now when I give my prayers, I pray for the Dream Centre often and say thank you. I got as job as an Outreach worker with people living on the streets downtown, and my hope is to plant a seed in their lives. I want them to know that they can change too. My journey is just starting, but I know there will be many people to impact, and I can’t wait.