What to do after residential drug addiction therapy? Portage opens residents’ eyes to the possibilit

12-mai-2010Preparing for reintegration back into society is an important component of Portage’s drug addiction rehabilitation treatment. The socio-cultural recreational programming available at each Portage centre provides residents with opportunities to see and try new things, giving them hope for the future as well as ideas of how they can contribute to the community.

Portage’s newest centre in Keremeos, British Columbia, has just recently created a Socio-Cultural Recreational Coordinator position. Steve Cleminson, who fills this role, has not wasted any time over the past few months.

In March and April, Portage Keremeos residents welcomed visitors and went on field trips which gave them some ideas about what type of work they might like to do once they finish the residential phase of their therapy.

A representative from the Apprenticeship Board spoke to residents about the need for skilled tradespeople, going through a list of about 140 different trades, from construction to cooking. The representative explained how the apprenticeship program works, outlined the registration process, and provided insights into which trades are more highly in demand. The residents responded very well to the presentation, many of them expressing their intention to follow up with the representative once they leave Portage. They also received a visit from a staff member from the local repair shop, who led a small engine clinic. Using his all-terrain vehicle (ATV), he explained how engines work and gave participants an idea of what his typical work day is like. He finished off the clinic by taking each participant on an ATV ride around the Portage Keremeos fields.

A local retirement home visit for the Phase 4 and 5 girls, which had not been highly anticipated by some, turned out to be a great success. They spent the afternoon interacting with the seniors at the home, played shuffle board, and felt fulfilled by the gratitude they received. After the visit, two Portage residents said that they would like to work in a retirement home after graduation. The boys got a tour of Keremeos’ water and waste water treatment plant, which is quite elaborate given the remoteness of the town. The residents were fascinated by the mechanics of the system and some of them asked for information about how to make a career out of it.