Mission and History
David
I was born in Montreal, but moved to Boston with my family in 1966. In 1969 my parents separated, and I moved with my dad.
I really grew up around the 'worst of the worst,' lots of drugs, alcohol, prostitutes. When I was about 16 I tried heroin for the first time, and loved it. The second time I bought heroin I got ripped off, and I'm probably lucky for that – I never did it again. I just kept drinking, and by 16 I was probably a full-fledged alcoholic.
I come from an alcoholic family... hardcore Canadian drinkers. When I was 17 I was working at a racetrack in Philly while my father was in New Hampshire. I was alone with no supervision. I was working in the mornings and after school. My father got really sick with a perforated ulcer and ended up in the hospital for a week. I went to pick him up even though I didn't have a license and was terrified driving though downtown. When he got out, first thing he got me to drive him 50 miles to a bar in Salem, New Hampshire. He ordered whiskey and milk, joking that the doctor said he could have whiskey if it was with milk.
At 17 I joined the Marine Corps, and I think I was the worst drunk there. When I left 6 years later it was 1980, the height of disco, and I was in trouble. I moved back to the racetrack, and coke and booze were my norm for the next 10 years. My dad moved to Florida, so I followed him there.
I was making good money as an electrician, and was engaged to the love of my life. We lived in a nice house with nice things and we had it made. But we both were still drinking and doing drugs, and it wasn't a good situation... we were bad drunks and fought a lot. I spent 30 days in jail after one of our arguments, and I realized that even though I still loved her, I had to leave.
In 1999 I moved to Toronto. I actually had a ticket to go back to Montreal, but I got drunk on my layover, and ended up just staying here. I went back to Woodbine race track, where I worked for one family for the next 9 years.
In 2005 I decided I had to get clean. I started with detox at the hospital, then a detox in town and then finally a rehab centre in Owen Sound. It took about 6 months, but now I've been clean and sober for 3 years.
In 2008 I hurt my back, and my doctor said I couldn't work anymore. Now I'm staying at the Salvation Army hostel, renting a room by the month. When I first got there I had no doctor, no contacts, and didn't know where to turn. They helped me out a lot, connecting me with a doctor and a counsellor.
In September 2008 I saw some guys hanging around outside the Good Neighbours' Club, and I just walked in. It's a great place to come and talk to people. I don't have any social life. With my back injury I can't do a lot of things, even ice skating. At the Good Neighbours' Club I've met some nice people, and I like to make myself available to help out, to be useful. I volunteer here, helping out with a little bit of everything. I also volunteer to walk dogs at the Humane Society.
Now I'm putting all my effort into living a good, healthy and happy life. I know there's going to be some hiccups, but that's what I want to do. At my AA meetings now I try to be more helpful than get help. I have a lot of wisdom and heart to be able to help somebody, and helping them helps me. I'm going to try and get into some courses so I can do volunteer counselling. I want to go back to doing electrical work, but my doctor says I shouldn't because of my back.
I really want to move out of this area, there's too many drug users and stuff. I just want to get a one bedroom apartment, have a dog, and maybe a yard where I could have some plants.
David, member and volunteer since 2008
