Brandi’s road to addiction recovery has been long and at times challenging.

“I’ve been in and out of recovery for quite a few decades. On Valentine’s Day in 2023, I got clean from fentanyl,” Brandi shares.

A Long Journey

After detoxing, Brandi began treatment to maintain sobriety. However, this time, she wanted to find a place that could help her avoid relapsing. This decision led her to move from her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to The Salvation Army’s Recovery Community Centre (RCC) in London, Ont., where she has been since September 2025.

“Based on how many times I’ve done treatment, I know sobriety doesn’t always last,” Brandi says. “The Salvation Army had helped me back in 2023, so I knew about RCC. I reached out and got accepted.”

Once Brandi arrived at The Salvation Army, her nerves began to ease quickly.

“I felt instantly accepted, and it made me feel positive and relieved.”

Building Helpful Habits

One of the main reasons Brandi chose The Salvation Army was due to its continuous care beyond detox.

“I had never seen something like this, all in one building,” she says. “You get through detox, then you move over to treatment and then they follow through with you.”

At RCC, Brandi found structure and consistency, which have played a key role in her journey. Along with other residents, she participates in daily check-ins, recovery tasks and group programming, including journaling, therapeutic recreation and peer support.

“My sponsor is everything,” she says. “I didn’t have a sponsor until I came here.”

“I felt instantly accepted, and it made me feel positive and relieved.” BRANDI

A New Addition

During her time at RCC, recovery has not been the only major change in Brandi’s life. She is currently expecting her third child.

“It was a shock at first, but it’s just another gift that I’ve been given.”

As an expectant mother, the staff at The Salvation Army have supported her by connecting her with programs that can assist with housing and other needs as she prepares for the baby’s arrival.

Seeing Results

Looking back at the last few months, Brandi sees a positive difference. The support from the staff and the relationships she has built at RCC have been meaningful.

“I’ve got absolute confidence in my recovery now,” she explains. “I’ve made friends who are like family. I’ve gained more knowledge about everyday life, and I’ve developed a good rapport with a lot of the workers here, so I know I’ll have constant support, even when I leave.”

She also says she is grateful for the opportunity to access The Salvation Army.

In the coming days, Brandi’s focus will be on welcoming her baby, an experience she is eagerly anticipating.

Further ahead, she hopes to support others in recovery, either as a sponsor or through counselling.