Pathway of Hope: Transforming Lives in Wiarton

Kate’s unwavering love for her son and her yearning for a brighter future propelled her to Pathway of Hope, a transformative journey that completely changed her life. After dedicating two and a half years to the Pathway of Hope program in Wiarton, Kate is determined to provide a better life for her six-year-old son, Desman, and to unearth her own potential.

With the unwavering support and guidance from her Salvation Army caseworker, Taia Anderson-McLeod, and the objectives set through Pathway of Hope, Kate now lives her life brimming with self-assurance and an optimistic outlook for what lies ahead.

Since starting POH, Kate has gained and maintained sobriety, received her high school diploma, completed job readiness courses, and has earned her parental rights back, securing full custody of her son. She lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Miracle Place, a subsidized housing building adjacent to The Salvation Army Wiarton Community Church.

“At the time I had a lot of hopeless feelings, being a drug addict and losing custody of my son. When I heard about Taia and that POH could help with these goals, what I laid on the table is to get my kid back,” Kate says.

Before POH, Kate was trapped in downward spiral of addiction, regularly using marijuana and misusing alcohol. This led to Desman being placed in the kinship of Kate’s mother. When Kate got pregnant in Grade 10, she ended up dropping out of school. A post-partum depression diagnosis complicated her life further and she started using crystal meth.

From September 2019 to May 2022, as Desman was staying with his grandmother, addiction had control over Kate’s life. Through plenty of hard work, dedication, and willingness to be a good mother to her son, Kate has maintained her sobriety since April 2021.

She credits Taia and their close relationship over the last three years for keeping her on a path to reclaiming her life. With plans to get a real estate broker license online through Humber College, Kate has goals in place to create a stable environment.

“I want to give my son a better life, with a nice house, a nice car and lots of food all the time. Without Taia and POH I would not have the apartment, as the whole reason I got the two bedroom was because I was working toward getting my son back,” Kate says.

“I wouldn’t be here without Taia, and her honesty and her support in being absolutely real with me when I needed it.”

While their two and a half years working together was not always easy, Taia says Kate showed strength and resolve to set, maintain, and succeed in achieving all of her goals. Kate graduated from POH in July, and Taia says theirs is a connection that will remain strong.

“It has been an absolute honour to witness the transformation that Kate has made.  She took every aspect of Pathway of Hope by the horns. She is an incredibly powerful young woman. I do believe that that was God speaking to my spirit because Kate presented so many beautiful dreams,” Taia says.

“I knew it was going to take a lot of soul-searching, self-reflection, and hard determined work on her part to be really invulnerable with yourself and I chose to be brave and ask that of her. Kate’s own strength is the secret to her success.”

Kate’s connection to The Salvation Army continues as part of the Guide by Your Side program, which pairs mentees with mentors to walk with participants, ensuring they maintain their set goals in the areas of work, family and education.

“I am glad I beat my addiction and got to be with my child again. Those are things that not everyone in my position gets to come back from, especially when they are given the ultimatum – either do drugs or get your child back. Not everybody can choose their child and I definitely did. I chose my life,” Kate says.