Brentwood helping people get lives back Re: ‘Get your life back’; Launch Pad Recovery Centre tackles addiction and homelessness, by Brian Cross, Feb. 29

The efforts being made by John Button through the Launch

Pad Recovery Centre are to be strongly commended. Mr. Button, through his own lived experience, knows the importance of offering a program founded on the three core principles that have proven successful recovery since A.A. began in 1935: the need for total abstinence, the need to recognize a power greater than oneself, and the deeply human need to connect with others.

It was upon these principles that Fr. Paul Charbonneau built the Brentwood Recovery program over 55 years ago. The Launch Pad Recovery Centre and Brentwood are both run by those who have “walked the walk” and know what it takes to build a successful recovery and “get your life back.” As the former director of Brentwood for six years until my retirement in 2017, and as an alumnus who just celebrated 40 years of sobriety, I can only respect the work, dedication, compassion and commitment it takes to build a recovery centre like this from the ground up. We watched Fr. Paul build Brentwood from a few men on Chilver Road to today, where it continues to help thousands change their lives physically and spiritually.

Thank you John Button for offering another viable alternative for recovery to those suffering in the Windsor/essex County area and to Brian Cross and the Windsor Star for continuing to feature important efforts in the community to serve those most in need, as we’re all called to do.

It’s worth mentioning that in my experience it typically takes a person seeking treatment no more than a few days to get a spot in the program at Brentwood.

Dan Soulliere, Windsor