Avalon Recovery Society Fashion Show and Tea

Avalon Recovery Society is the very best place for a women to begin the journey of rebirth.  I have had the honor and joy to refer many women over the years to Avalon and all that have followed through have found safety and hope.  “Ladies helping ladies” is what it really is about.  Drop in houses with AA meetings, Day care, yoga and meditation and love.

 Helen Burnham, the elegant and wise  cofounder epitomizes the organization.  Realizing there was no place where women could learn from each other how to get away from the death and destruction of addiction.  They researched the problem, developed a model,  gathered a volunteer board and  started the first one in West Vancouver, followed by Kerrisdale, then White Rock and now more and even more across Canada. A winning formula with amazing success.

This fashion show and tea fund raiser has been going for 6 years. The Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club is a perfect venue. Dr. Ray Baker, the world famous Addictionologist,  has spoken here.  He’s a cornerstone in the Recovery Capital movement.  I was privileged to be asked to speak when I was studying the tragic medical effects  of alcoholism on women.  This year Dr. Jennifer Hammersmark with 25 years therapy experience  (www.counsellinggroup.co 604-538-2323 ) presented an audience participation session asking those to speak of the emotions of addiction and the emotions people associated with recovery.  Members of the audience talked briefly of the anger, chaos, shame, despair and loneliness they’d experienced in addiction whereas in recovery they experienced joy, connectedness, and peace.  It was a moving poignant  presentation.

I loved the fashion show component. Lovely young ladies served tea to us in china cups with dainties while  beautiful women strutted the latest fashion on the improved boardwalk.   Rhonda McJannet was the coordinator and did a great job of introducing the fashions.  She had all the fashion lingo down while I only figured out why one number was called the ‘boyfriend shirt”.  The designers and stores who volunteered their amazing creations were Fashion on the Edge , Anna Kristina Boutique, Art to Wear Marianne Greavers, and Malary’s Fashion Network. 

Vocalist Angela Mafflin sang two songs in the loveliest of voices, one choice fittingly “I can see clearly now.” 

Leanne Utendale opened with the welcome and Maria Star Reed gave the blessing.  Avalon Board President , Eileen Kenkel spoke briefly and movingly. I’ve known those of the Avalon Board over the years. They are truly caring, thoughtful and considerate.  

When I consider the Fentanyl Crisis and everyone is scratching their heads,  I wonder why they don’t just ask Helen Burnham and Eileen Kenkel. 

I remember of a young women who died last year, her boyfriend and her taking a year off university, and they overdosed. I’d seen them once to begin treatment. I  recommended she go to Avalon and told them both about Alamo and the  Recovery Clubs.  They were all too far from where they lived.   

He woke up, she didn’t.  Beautiful bright young college student.  I know if only there was an Avalon in every district close to a bus line, there would be so many more deaths avoided and so many more lives saved.

Ladies helping ladies. .  That’s what’s needed. 

The 50/50 draw raised $1100 dollars.  Some lousy competitor beat my bid for Gilbert’s new dog dish. But Laura got the pink goop I thought she’d like .  I got a basket of chocolate ensuring I would be hated by all on the list before me.

Avalon Recovery Society Tea and Fashion Show

The Avalon Recovery Society Tea and Fashion show took place again this year at the lovely Semiahmoo Fish and Game Club Hall. It was sold out.

Avalon Recovery Society started with 2 women in recovery deciding that what women in recovery needed was a safe place to go where they could feel good about themselves. It was a place where they would not have to worry about men but could focus on their own self image. They would be being with women who might be a few steps ahead of them on the road to health. Women in recovery helping women in recovery.
It would exist without government assistance so as to be free from politics and fads. It would be independent. The first Avalon drop in centre in West Vancouver. The atmosphere was of home away from home. Avalon Recovery Society became a huge success. That first centre in West Vancouver gave rise to another in Kerrisdale. White Rock has one and there’s another out east and more in development.
As an addiction psychiatrist I’ve been referring women with problems of alcoholism and addiction to Avalon Recovery Center for over a decade. There are AA meetings and other health oriented groups, such as yoga and meditation going on each day as well. There’s a hired staff person on site. It costs $400 a day to maintain one Avalon Centre. For so little money so many lives are saved.
My female patients have described the most positive experiences at Avalon. They have begun their road of recovery there. Often they are experiencing severe isolation in their homes and apartments, sometimes even homelessness before they begin the journey back to being contributing members of community. They especially speak of the safety they experience and the sisterhood of caring.
Cindy Faulkner Morrison welcomed everyone before Monica Marten gave the ‘word from the president’. Rhonda McJannet, after advanced training "herding cats for catwalks", continued to do her superb job as ‘fashion show coordinator’ with the beautiful and delightful models.
Today Dr. Ray Baker, one of Canada’s leading addiction medicine specialists, himself a long time supporter of Avalon, spoke of the oft times ‘hidden disease’ of addiction which women have. Commonly denying their history of abuse to caregivers and families they get misdiagnosed and take longer to get to the place where they can get the help they need.
Praveen P. told ‘my story’ an amazing tale of a phoenix rising from ashes of disease.

Constance Barnes, a leading political figure, and latest board member spoke of the importance of Avalon’s work with women.
The fashion show was splendid thanks to the Anna Kristina Boutique and Fashion on the Edge. My friend Laura loved so many of the outfits and lucked out winning a door prize gift certificate for a dress from one of the boutiques. . At the silent auction I got the tool set feeling very badly for outbidding some poor woman who will be cursing me when her car breaks down. Laura got more lotions. She waxed poetic about how  much she loves the Avalon Gala. “I always feel like a lady when I’m here." She loved the little tea finger sandwiches best.
It was a wonderful afternoon for such a worthy occasion. Envelopes were set out for donations. It felt good to support such a wonderful program. Avalon Recovery Society, what every neighbourhood needs.