Article contentInside these walls, residents will learn carpentry skills that will help to occupy their time, while also being therapeutic. They’ll learn skills that will carry them into their futures – perhaps even opening up new employment opportunities.Article contentBezanson, a carpenter himself, also sees opportunities for projects that can be sold to help support the recovery centre.Article content“A lot of these guys that come in here don’t have any financial way to pay, so we pay it forward. We do what we can. But there is an expense to operating the house,” he says.Article content Inside the kitchen at The Carpenter’s Shop in Yarmouth. Nourishment of people’s souls is a big goal of this recovery centre. TINA COMEAUArticle contentHe’s optimistic about all that will take place at this recovery centre, which will provide six-month stays.Article content“God does amazing stuff when you step back and let him,” says Bezanson, who is eight years sober.Article content“I was in detox two or three times. Twenty-eight-day programs. Lots of different recoveries. Faithful to my church,” he says, adding that for anyone fighting addiction, it’s always one day at a time.Article content“Our job is to get guys in here, and get them working a program, giving them the space to get dry and clean, where there’s food and heat.”Article contentArticle contentArticle contentA POSITIVE OPPORTUNITYArticle contentPaul Surette says The Carpenter’s Shop is the type of new opportunity Souls Harbour was hoping to become involved in.Article contentAs the director of expansion opportunities for the rescue mission, he says they’re always looking for new ways to help more people.Article content“The vision that Ian had is to help men that were broken by society to be healed by God, and to bring them into six months of programming,” Surette says.Article contentHe says it’s great that residents will learn useful and applicable carpentry skills.Article content“It helps the men with learning new skills. It’s helping to change habits – habits when they were in addiction,” Surette says. “We’re just trying to change the whole lifestyle, thinking, and habits, through classroom, supporting the community, and projects.”Article content Paul Surette, the director of expansion opportunities for Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, says the mission is proud and excited to be part of The Carpenter’s Shop in Yarmouth, which is a six-bed addiction recovery centre for men. TINA COMEAUArticle contentPeople must be 19 years or older to qualify for a placement. There is an online application form on the centre’s website that is followed by an interview process.Article content“We have a conversation with them. Find out about their history. Drug of choice. Any legal issues. Any things that might prevent them from completing the program,” explains Surette. “We want to make sure that we’re the right program for them, and that this is a good fit, because we don’t want to set people up to fail.”Article contentArticle contentPeople do have to be detoxed from alcohol, drugs or pills since The Carpenter’s Shop is not a detox facility. There will be drug testing when people arrive. If they test positive, they won’t be coming in that day.Article content“We’ll have a conversation. They might say, ‘I had to slip yesterday.’ OK, keep in contact with us. We may give them grace and say, ‘Call us back in a couple of days and we’ll try this again,’” says Surette.Article content“If they have a true desire and a motivation and drive and really want recovery, then we bring them back in again,” he says. “If they test positive again, maybe it’s the right program, but not the right time.”Article contentThe Carpenter’s Shop itself cannot be the place where people are detoxing. Rehab facilities also have this rule.Article content“There’s things that need some medical intervention. If you don’t detox correctly from alcohol, you can actually die from that. Detoxing properly and under medical supervision is the best way,” Surette says.Article contentThere is also the impact on others in the house. If a person is detoxing or in active withdrawal, it can be disruptive or triggering for other residents.
‘They’re not bad people’: Carpenter’s Shop offers hope and healing in addiction recovery journeys
