Our Wearer of Many Hats
Courtney started working at SCHC as night support staff in January 2015. She took a break to work on a farm for the summer (her passion), but Nurse Tracy urged her to stay on as a casual support staff and she agreed. Later that summer she was offered to provide relief for the admissions department, coordinating admissions, and fielding calls.
So far, Courtney is involved in staff and admin support, coordinating admissions, organizing and leading recreation outings, and, more recently, helping the client services department and me keep in touch with our alumni. Courtney is also the lead facilitator for our SMART Recovery Meetings on-site on Wednesday nights.
Driving for Outings
Courtney loves planning and helping our clients engage in local experiences since many come from outside of BC. She loves sharing the coast and likes to incorporate seaside hikes and walks into the outings she leads. From kayaking, west coast trails, and stand-up paddle boarding to an evening out at the local hockey game or historic movie theatre – Courtney gives our clients a true Powell River and West Coast experience.
Admissions Relief
Courtney coordinates admissions when our main coordinator, Sara, is off. This includes preparing clients for their arrival here and/or making arrangements with their family members. Courtney says she appreciates being the person at the other end of the phone when someone is reaching out for help or support. She enjoys coordinating logistics and loves seeing the team effort that goes into arranging a client’s stay with us. Her empathy, compassion, and soothing tone are always appreciated.
For the Love of it
When I asked Courtney what she loves about her work at SCHC she said:
“The clients! The Staff meetings: When I first started, the staff meetings really struck me. Staff are appreciated, they are heard. It feels progressive and exciting for me. It feels like a place where I can make a difference, we work as part of a team and the work is meaningful to me. We are, I believe, on the cutting edge of addiction treatment and it feels like we are contributing to something super important. I love the meaning and purpose therapy approach and what is most significant for me, is that I am making a difference in people’s lives and expressing my compassion and empathic nature.”
Albertan, Farming, Chickens, and Chores
As a home grown Alberta girl, Courtney flew the coup and to travel and live all over Canada. Now she resides in Powell River. Courtney studied Geography and Anthropology in Montreal at Concordia University where she earned a BA. She also has a certificate in Biodynamic Farming, having completed the North American Biodynamic Farming Apprenticeship.
Courtney is passionate about growing food and she plans to pursue training in therapeutic horticulture. Her wish is to develop a therapeutic garden as a way to marry her passions of growing plants and connecting people to the healing and connective power of nature. This girl has backyard chickens, and probably belongs on a farm! Yet, the field of addictions is an unexpected, yet exciting place for her and we are so lucky to have her!!
