Through housing, care and community, The Salvation Army is helping Garret rebuild his life.

Not long ago, Garret Tremblay couldn’t imagine a future without addiction. Today, he’s building stability and hope at The Salvation Army’s Journey to Life Centre.

“I haven’t had this much clean time since before I started using. For the first time in a long time, I can actually see where I’m going.”

At the Journey to Life Centre, Garret has found more than a place to stay. He’s found consistency, dignity, and care—three meals a day, a warm bed, and staff who take the time to listen.

“It’s not what people imagine. The staff really care. They greet you by name. They help you through things. That makes all the difference.”

This sense of safety and belonging marks a powerful turning point in a life shaped early by trauma and pain.

When Garret was just six years old, he underwent a complex surgery to correct a difference in his leg length. Doctors installed an Ilizarov apparatus, a demanding and painful medical device for anyone, let alone a child. Complications followed, and when the device was removed, his leg fractured.

Instead of playgrounds and scraped knees, his childhood became hospital rooms and recovery. While the physical pain eventually healed, the emotional imprint and the relief the medication provided stayed with him. As he grew older, opioids became a way to escape pain, both physical and emotional. Over time, what began as medical treatment turned into dependence.

What he needed most was a fresh start, and people willing to walk alongside him as he rebuilt. He found that support at The Salvation Army’s Journey to Life Centre.

“All kinds of kindnesses happen here. You’re not just surviving, you’re supported.”

Today, Garret is learning how to live without numbing pain, choosing instead to face it and heal. After a childhood marked by painful steps he never asked for, he’s gaining strength, confidence, and a sense of safety. There is now a light at the end of his tunnel and a future he can finally see clearly.

To watch more of his inspiration story The Salvation Army JTL Centre – Client Testimonials 2025 – YouTube.

By Claudia Nosseir