Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jul 2002 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Hacker Press Ltd. Contact: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 Author: Trudy Beyak Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women) CAMPAGNOLO OPENS $3.5 MILLION PEARDONVILLE HOUSE A former hard-core crack cocaine addict with two children is now a social worker helping people with the Ministry for Children and Families. Two school principals struggling with addiction are now clean. Those are some of the success stories that keep Peardonville House and the Valley Recovery Support Society motivated to continue to help people overcome their drug and alcohol addictions, said Gerry Palmer, chairman of the society. He recounted the history of Peardonville House - the only women's treatment centre in B.C. that also offers a daycare centre for children - during Friday's official opening of the new facility at the corner of Peardonville and Ross Road. B.C. Lt.-Gov. Iona Campagnolo unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion and praised the efforts of Peardonville House staff, volunteers and community donors who made the dream of the new facility a reality. When women have had their spirits compromised and crushed, Peardonville House offers human compassion and encourages these downtrodden women to experience miracles, she said. "Self knowledge is such a dynamic weapon," said Campagnolo, adding that women regain their dignity through sobriety. Valley Recovery Support Society first founded Kinghaven for men in 1970 and then in the mid-80s decided to start Peardonville House treatment centre for women in the historical Peardonville School that had been built in the 1880s. In 1992, the provincial government helped fund a pilot project for female addicts who could bring their children into an accompanying day-care program. Since Peardonville House first opened, more than 2,000 women have been helped to kick their addictions and many now lead honourable lives, said Palmer. The old Peardonville School is gone and in its place is the new $3.5 million treatment facility with 25 beds: 16 beds for adults over the age of 19 years and nine beds for children. The surrounding landscape of trees, farms and cows ambling on the back hillside offer a tranquil country-side ambience. In one of the bedrooms, a woman has written her prayer: "My creator, I am powerless over drugs and alcohol, please keep me clean and sober today." During the 10-week stay at Peardonville House, the women go through the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program and group sessions help them to deal with self-esteem, grief and loss, anger and resentment and forgiveness, to name a few aspects of character building. Diane Robinson, a substance abuse counsellor who offers out-patient service at Community Services, said she is thrilled with the way Peardonville House has transformed women's lives. Josie Kane, also a counsellor, noted there remains a serious need in B.C. to help young female addicts between the ages of 13 to 18 who need to get into a full treatment program. "There's still no place for them." The B.C. government has paid about $1.2 million toward the new buildings at Peardonville House, with a number of local companies, and charitable and church organizations making substantial donations, said Palmer, adding that the Lion's variety telethon also pitched in about $200,000. The Valley Recovery Support Society still owes about $1.5 million to the government to repay a loan, he explained. A plaque that was unveiled on Friday shared the following wisdom: "If you treat a woman as she is - she will stay as she is - but if your treat her as if she were what she ought to be and could be - she will become as she ought to be and could be." - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel