The History Of Recovery Day BC

Where it all started at the Art Gallery in Vancouver in 2012.

The History of Recovery Day BC

From 500 to 50,000 attendees in one day

Recovery Day BC began in 2012 as a one-day gathering of approximately 500 people on the lawns of the Vancouver Art Gallery. What started as a small but powerful public recognition of recovery has grown into a large-scale, family-friendly festival welcoming more than 50,000 attendees in a single day.

Recovery Day BC exists to make recovery visible. Recovery is real, available, attainable, and sustainable—and deserves to be recognized openly, without stigma.

Recovery Month and the New Recovery Advocacy Movement

Recovery Day BC is rooted in the New Recovery Advocacy Movement (NRAM), which emerged in response to stigma, criminalization, and pessimism about long-term recovery outcomes.

In 1989, the United States established National Addiction Recovery Awareness Month, recognizing September as Recovery Month. This recognition helped shift the conversation from addiction as the problem to recovery as the solution, and created space to celebrate evidence-based treatment and the millions of people living healthy lives in recovery.

For many years, Canada did not formally recognize Recovery Month—despite the millions of Canadians in recovery or seeking it.

Recovery Advocacy Emerges in Canada

Canada’s recovery advocacy movement began in 2006, when Jeff Wilbee of Addiction and Mental Health Ontario hosted the first Recovery Breakfast during U.S. Recovery Month. Momentum continued through grassroots leadership and growing collaboration across recovery communities.

In 2012, filmmaker and person in long-term recovery Greg Williams launched The Anonymous People, a documentary that helped advance the New Recovery Advocacy Movement and challenge stigma. The film inspired recovery advocates across North America, including organizers in British Columbia.

The Birth of Recovery Day BC

Inspired by U.S. Recovery Month and the work of Faces and Voices of Recovery, organizers Lorinda Strang and Anne Marie McCullough recognized the need for a visible recovery celebration in Canada. They chose September to align with Recovery Month and create a public space for recovery in Vancouver.

With the support of community partners—including Giuseppe Ganci and David Berner of the Last Door Recovery Society—the first Recovery Day Vancouver was held on September 30, 2012. Mayor Gregor Robertson issued Vancouver’s first Recovery Day proclamation, and more than 1,500 people participated in a rally and march at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Victoria, BC held a Recovery Day event the same day.

Ottawa, National Advocacy, and Recovery Month Canada

In 2013, Faces and Voices of Recovery Canada was co-founded to organize and mobilize Canadians in recovery, reduce stigma, and advocate for recovery-oriented systems of care. Advocacy efforts soon moved to Ottawa, where recovery leaders engaged Members of Parliament and federal decision-makers.

This work included parliamentary motions calling for formal recognition of Recovery Month in Canada and continued national advocacy through summits, research, and public engagement.

As a result of these sustained efforts, September is now officially recognized as Recovery Month in Canada—a major milestone for the recovery movement and for millions of Canadians living in recovery.

Recovery Month Canada: A Call to Action

Recovery Month Canada is a time to recognize, celebrate, and support recovery in every community across the country. During the month of September, organizations, communities, and individuals are encouraged to organize a recovery-focused event—whether large or small—and help make recovery visible.

All Recovery Month events can be submitted and shared at
www.RecoveryMonthCanada.ca

Together, these events amplify a simple and powerful message: recovery is possible, attainable, and sustainable.

Why Recovery Day BC Matters

Recovery Day BC provides a visible, welcoming space where recovery is celebrated without shame. It helps communities understand addiction as a health issue—and recovery as a real and achievable outcome.

From 500 people to 50,000 in a single day, Recovery Day BC stands as living proof that when recovery is recognized—through Recovery Day and Recovery Month—stigma loses its power and hope grows.

Here is a history of our posters

November 9, 2019November 12, 2019

I am Evidence, recovery works survey

On September 7th 2019, record crowds attended the Recovery Day BC event that was held in New Westminster BC.

With research being vital to overcome Canada’s addiction crisis, the Recovery Day Planning Committee saw the voices of people in recovery not reflected in many of the evidence based research that is currently used to create drug policy in Canada.

Our goal over the years is to improve our “I am Evidence” survey and to have Health Canada participate in future data collection.

The days of experts saying abstinence based recovery is not evidence based, will soon come to an end.

Volunteers with ipads asked individuals to complete a quick survey to gather information about their lived experience .

The overwhelming crowd helped us gather close to 1,500 responses. Special thanks to our volunteers. Next year the I am Evidence booth will be double in size in order to be better able to accommodate more people and move through the line up quicker.

Close to 30,000 people attended the one day free street festival according to New Westminster Police.

Activities included 4 stages with live music and speakers, health and wellness booths, vendors, food trucks, a kidszone, memorial tree, and several Metro Vancouver Area addiction recovery services and harm reduction providers, in UNITY a total of 150 booths were set up covering six city blocks in Uptown New West.

Below are the results of the surveys from Recovery Day BC. We’re proud of our people with lived recovery experience, their voices matter too.

April 14, 2019November 9, 2019

Recovery Day BC 2019 Vendor Application

2019 VENDOR INFORMATION

NEW EVENT TIME 1 pm to 6 pm

LAST TWO YEARS VENDOR BOOTHS SOLD OUT EARLY, BOOK NOW!
Canada’s largest Mental Health and Addiction Information Fair
20,000 PLUS ATTENDEES
Services, Retails Vendors, Health and Wellness are all welcome.

Vendor Space

Vendors will be assigned a 10 x 10 space, two folding chairs are provided with a Tent. All booths are assigned based on the application receipt date.

Vendor Set Up

Set up September 7, 2019 at 10 am. Set-up completion, including removal of all non-essential vehicles, must be completed by 12:30 pm.

Tear Down

Vendors are required to remain until festival ending, NO EXCEPTIONS Festival site tear down cannot commence sooner than 6 pm on September 7^th, 2019. Vendor spaces must be returned to their original condition.
This includes the removal of any and all garbage and recycling used in your displays. No vehicles are permitted on-site for tear down until 7 pm.
Each Vendor must check out with on site event staff located at the Recovery Day Info booth to ensure the safe return of all equipment & cleanliness of the site itself.
No electricity is provided for festival vendor sites. No gas powered generators allowed
No broadcasting will be allowed on any booth site

Payment Options

Accepted method of payment is via cheque. Receipts are available upon request. Cheques are to be made payable to Recovery Day Vancouver Society. Payments MUST be received with your application paperwork.

Refund Policy

Your payment is NON-REFUNDABLE, regardless of your reasons for canceling.
Neither illness nor weather conditions constitute acceptable reasons for cancellation.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

$3,000 Level A
$500 Level B
$300 Level C
$100 Level D

Level A, STAGE SPONSOR

Logo on three stages, poster, and social media
One 6 Foot table, two folding chairs, one 10 x 10 tent

Level B & C, Vendors and Information Booths

One 6 Foot table, two folding chairs, one 10 x 10 tent
Level B is 6^th Street, Level C is Belmont Street

Level D, Authors, Artisans

Includes one 8’ table in a shared tent for artisans and book authors only, no services

*Extra table – $10.00 each, extra chairs – $5.00 each *Set up 10 am to 12:30 am

DOWNLOAD VENDOR AND SPONSOR APPLICATION

Click here >>>> 2019 Vendor and Sponsor Package Recovery Day

This is last year’s floor plan

Subject to change this year and may increase in size.

Click here >>>> 2019 Vendor and Sponsor Package Recovery Day

2018 Stage Sponsors

May 31, 2018November 9, 2019

Be a speaker at Recovery Day BC

WELLNESS STAGE SPEAKER STAGE APPLICATION

Are you interested in creating a 15min TEDx style speaker presentation at Recovery Day BC on September 8^th, 2017 in New Westminster BC from 1pm-5pm, outdoors on 6^th Street?

Presentation Layout:

All presentations are 15min with a 5min Q&A at the end
Topics of interest from past festivals have included:
- Dealing with Grief and Loss in Recovery
- Love, Sex and Relationships in Recovery
- Acupuncture for Recovery
- Women in Recovery
For further examples feel free to view our Facebook Live videos here

Impact:

Support festival goers to gain awareness of types of Recovery Capital available in our communities.
Share evidence of successful, sustained Recovery.
Create open dialogue among festival goers to share and support one another while lessening feelings of isolation, stigma and shame.

Criteria:

Personal and/or professional experience with overcoming addiction and mental illness.
A unique perspective or story that can inspire individuals in recovery, their families or individuals still suffering.
Willingness to speak in front of and audience of 200 people.

*Note the Wellness Stage is a secondary tent away from the live music stage with a smaller, highly engaged audience. We encourage everyone with an interest to apply.

Ability to provide a visual presentation to display on the wellness stage.

Restrictions:

Presentation ARE NOT to be promotional in nature. Organizations are welcome to display their logo however discussions and stories must speak to a pathway to recovery or overcoming stigma, not endorsing or selling any product or service.
Speakers are chosen based on merit and diversity in order to create the richest festival experience as possible.

There are no honorariums for speaking, we appreciate your support.

Apply Today and Speak on September 8th between Noon and 4 pm, Uptown New Westminster. 6th and 6th Street

December 2, 2017November 9, 2019