Luke 15 House Annual Fundraiser

Speech
10/23/2009

Good Evening,

Thank you, Nigel, for such a warm welcome. 

I would also like to thank you for allowing me to be part of tonight’s event and celebrating the important work that Luke 15 House does in our community and for our neighbours.

For over 16 years, Luke 15 House has been an integral part of the Greater Vancouver Community. 

Founded in 1992 in Burnaby and relocated in 2005 to Surrey North, Luke 15 House has helped hundreds of area residents in their efforts to fight addictions and transition into a new life free from alcohol and drugs.

But alcohol and drugs are not the only issues these residents have to fight.  For many, mental health problems are also a part of the uphill battle.

Some also have to combat schizophrenia, depression, bi-polar disorder, OCD or suicidal tendencies, placing added stress on their recovery and their efforts for sobriety. 

These mental illnesses, coupled with drug and alcohol addictions provide a challenge that is hard for many of us to imagine. 

It is not an easy task to first admit you have a problem and then to commit to seeking help. 

Stress and tension on participants is a very powerful force and can lead to many difficult challenges. 

Many addictions are sustained by resorting to low level criminal activity in our community.

This does nothing to address the increasing poverty and homelessness amongst users.

All resources get consumed by the addiction.

Simply treating alcohol and drug addiction while not providing an encompassing program and treatment plan for other supporting issues make the recovery unfeasible and most likely will lead to failure and a relapse in the resident’s progress.

I am proud of both the Surrey community and the Surrey municipal government for the strong efforts in combating not only crime, but also the issues that cause it. 

And in order to properly address the crime problem, the Surrey Council and many community organizations have looked at the factors that lead to a life of criminal activity and have pledge support to address them. 

The City of Surrey, under the leadership of Mayor Diane Watts and her colleagues on council, such as Councillor Mary Martin, have been strong advocates for community organizations that combat homelessness, crime, poverty, drug and alcohol addictions. 

Our community has strong organizations such as Luke 15 House, Newton Advocacy Group Society and Project Comeback that work tirelessly to make our city a stronger, more responsive and aware community.  

What makes Luke 15 House a special and unique organization is its requirement, that its residents have total abstinence from mind altering substances and opiates, during their recovery process. 

Instead of offering its residents prescription drugs to treat their substance addictions, Luke 15 House offers a holistic approach to addiction.

The recovery program focuses on the participant’s spiritual, emotional and physical well-being, while coaching them through the process with support staff and volunteers.

These people understand the challenges and obstacles that each resident must overcome during this difficult journey. 

But here at Luke 15 House, they just don’t help participants through their recovery process, they encourage them and support them by providing skills training and educational opportunities so that when they finish their recovery program, they have the tools they need to succeed.

When organizations take the time to ensure that participants understand the importance of life goals and dreams, coupled with an education, and support, the clients will be well served.

For some of you, you may have read in the papers or in a book, the record of events that changed my family’s life forever, but for those of you who don’t know, my life too was affected by substance abuse – only it wasn’t myself or my family abusing a substance, it was a group of young teens who were busy destroying their lives and the lives of people around them, with their drug and alcohol excesses.

To them, it was just a joy ride, but for us, a life changing experience.

In October 1992, I was living the life of any suburban mom.   

I had two children, a husband, and I was always running to keep up with my family. 

I had a great life, until a phone call came one night which was every mother’s worst nightmare. 

I don’t often talk publically about it, but I will tonight.

The date was October 17, 1992 and it was a Saturday like any other. 

My kids were gone to hang out with their friends while my husband and I were at home relaxing and enjoying a quiet evening. 

As we waited for our son Jesse to get home, there was a call that would shatter our lives forever.

As I answered the telephone…..expecting it to be Jesse or Jodi, a strange voice stated that there had been an accident involving my sixteen year old son and I was asked to come to the hospital. 

I asked what happened. They wouldn’t tell me. They said “Just come quickly”.

When my husband, Chuck and I arrived at the Hospital, we were informed that our son had been involved in a “random act of violence” where another teen had started a fight with Jesse and then stabbed him while he struggled to get up. 

Despite every procedure and effort made by doctors at the hospital, I lost my son, at the age of 16, on October 18th, 1992; a date that will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. 
Sometimes people ask me “how did you feel?”; the answer can’t be put into words – there is no feeling that compares or can explain how I felt. 

I just felt so violated. My secure and happy family had become a statistic.

What had we done to deserve this?  Nothing!  There was no reason. 

Simply put, it was a matter of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

That night, Chuck and I made a vow to each other that we weren’t going to just sit there and take it!

We became community advocates for criminal justice reform, for better programs and services to help our youth and for parents to become more active in their children’s lives.

We continued our fight for many years with the support of our friends, neighbours and community.

In 1997, my husband Chuck was elected to Parliament in Surrey North where he served for 9 years until his death in 2005. 

We understood Surrey and we understood the needs of our community. 

What we knew then, and what I know now, is that we need organizations like Luke 15 House, an organization that continues to give hope and help when few others are willing or able!

In 2006, I made a decision that has altered my life once again and has brought me to where I am today. 

I decided that I wanted to carry on the work my husband and I had started over the past fourteen years and to bring another “Victims” voice back to Parliament. 

I spent the following two years meeting people in my community and listening to the issues, and I made a vow to continue our work for the betterment of the community.

I’ll always be honoured and privileged to represent Surrey North in Parliament; and it’s a pleasure when I get to work with organizations such as Luke 15 House… making our community stronger, safer and more promising for all our residents, no matter who they are.

For me, being a Member of Parliament isn’t a position of power or fame, nor is it a game of political promises. 

Honestly, I’m following through on a “Mother’s” personal quest, to change the justice system in hopes that no other mother will have to experience what I have in the past.

I believe, the solution is education, deterrence and opportunity.

We need to make sure we continue our work in these areas.

I share with you my story, because I wanted to illustrate to you, what a drug and alcohol addiction can do… not only to yourself, but also those around you – both the ones you love… and others you haven’t met. 

Although I know that many people would never, in their right mind, commit such disturbing acts of violence, which I experienced, I also know that drugs and alcohol make people do things they would never dream of doing.

That is why I am honoured to stand here tonight to congratulate Nigel, Anne, Joey and all the volunteers of Luke 15 House for their work in our community. 

But most importantly, I want to congratulate all of the residents, past, present and future, who have made and will make the commitment to changing their lives.

This was not an easy task and there will be roadblocks at many points - but it is an important decision and I am very proud of you, for taking control of your life and making changes.

We know you can, and pray you will, be successful.

Changing the crime rates and deterring criminal activity is not, in my opinion, the sole responsibility of any one level of government. 

To me, it is the responsibility of all levels; federal, provincial and municipal, as well as the responsibility of all Canadians.

I strongly believe that we must work together to ensure we have the funding for programs and services to help those in need with addiction.

I’m doing my best to try to get as much funding as possible for many deserving programs and centers in our community.

We must work in partnership to change our community and to change the lives of those who need it most. 

I am ready to continue to work to better our community and I know that those of you here tonight feel the same way, or you wouldn’t be here.

Unfortunately, due to the requirements set out by provincial governments in Canada, organizations like Luke 15 House do not received much needed and well deserved funding.

We have a strong community, full of support, for organizations that work tirelessly to help those around us and to help those in need with a guiding hand.

As the Member of Parliament for Surrey North, I once again offer my deepest and heartfelt appreciation to the staff, volunteers, and participants.

What’s happening here, gives inspiration and encouragement to Surrey residents.

I have a quote that I live my life by and I want to share it with you in closing this evening. 

I think it is very reflective of many organizations in our great community and especially by Luke 15 House and its supporters. 

Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never underestimate the power of a small but committed group of people to change the world…. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."   Luke 15 House is doing just that!

Thank You and God Bless!

(To learn more about Luke 15 House, please visit their website at www.luke15house.com)