“For most of my life, I was walking around with a hole in my heart and a sense of emptiness. I’ve changed, and I have faith now.”

That’s how Glenn describes the transformation of his life after experiencing trauma at a young age, and turning to alcohol and drugs to help him deal with the pain.

“I was abused quite a bit because I was getting myself in trouble at school. I grew up feeling pretty bad about myself,” he says. “When I was about 11, my parents broke up, and I ended up in reform school shortly after that.”

Glenn’s early years were marked by running away from home and stealing to survive, which landed him in prison. After his release, he briefly managed to hold down a job, but addiction prevented him from making lasting changes, leading him down a path of crime, homelessness and addiction.

But as an adult, Glenn found hope and support through The Salvation Army.

Desire for Change

Glenn’s life improved when he became a father.

“I tried to quit drinking seriously for the first time in my life because my daughter was born,” he says. “I was using almost daily, right up until I was 38, and having my daughter really got me serious about trying to get myself clean.”

In October 2023, Glenn joined The Salvation Army Ottawa Booth Centre’s Anchorage program, a residential treatment program designed to help men recover from addiction through daily group therapy, grief counselling, anger management and individual goal setting.

During the six months he lived at the Ottawa Booth Centre, the supportive staff provided him with the safe space he needed to confront his trauma and begin the healing process.

“I learned quite a bit about myself in terms of why I was doing the things I did and why I could not stop using drugs and alcohol,” says Glenn, who has now been addiction-free for more than a year. “I finally had the chance to talk about what happened to me, the struggles I carried my whole life, and face the things that were still holding me back.”

"Seeing Glenn embrace sobriety with such determination has inspired us all.” MAJOR JAMES MERCER

Building a Better Future

With the support of The Salvation Army, Glenn found stability and is now rebuilding his life.

“I’m going to try and stay healthy, continue with my meetings, and I want to work to see if I can get my truck driving licence back,” he says. “I’m just taking each day as it comes, and I might take some college courses to upgrade my skills.”

Glenn remains connected to The Salvation Army’s Anchorage program through Ottawa Booth Centre chaplain Major James Mercer, who witnessed the transformation.

“When he first came to Anchorage, he seemed lost, but as he progressed through the program, he was fully committed to turning his life around,” Major James says. “He was tired of the cycle of addiction and ready for a lasting change, and seeing him embrace sobriety with such determination has inspired us all.”