Over the course of my career, I have had the honour and opportunity to work extensively in educational, residential treatment, hospital and correctional facility settings, as well as medical-legal, occupational and administrative roles.

I am a graduate of the University of Alberta's Medical Doctorate program, a certified specialist in family medicine and have completed fellowships in addiction medicine in the United States. However, as a person in recovery myself, my passion in treating people with addictions has always been focused on assisting individuals in finding their own pathways of recovery.

In December 2022, alongside Dr. Carson McPherson, we formed ROSC Solutions Group (RSG) to support recovery-oriented care in Canada. After a competitive bid process, we were awarded several healthcare contracts by the Government of Alberta focused on supporting the province’s efforts to create a provincially based recovery-oriented system of care to address addiction and mental health challenges.

For a year and a half, I have had the opportunity to be part of a team that established and is now operating therapeutic communities and ancillary services in four provincial jails through RSG’s subsidiary Beccarian Correctional Care. I find this work inspirational as I'm able to witness people stepping into a pathway of recovery. 

Recently, I have also stepped into a new position as co-director of the Recovery Training Institute of Alberta. It’s an exciting and transformative time. I see this role as more than just new responsibilities—it's a chance for personal growth, to inspire people, and to make a meaningful impact. I see this role as an opportunity to leverage my unique skills, creativity, and passion to drive real change and bring fresh perspective.

I have over 23 years of clinical experience as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC through BCACC) a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT, Financial Disorders).

My areas of specialty are substance use disorder, compulsive sexual behaviours, trauma and disordered eating. Most of my career has been in inpatient and outpatient treatment, and often in leadership roles. I have served as the Clinical Director at Edgewood West, where I not only supported the inpatient facility but also aided in developing and maintaining six outpatient offices in BC, Alberta and Washington State. I also supported Bellwood in Toronto as their interim Clinical Director as they joined EHN.

Additionally, I was the Clinical Director for Cedars at Cobblehill before and during the pandemic. I also helped design and implement a program in Estevan, Saskatchewan and offered clinical oversight. I have extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient settings and enjoy developing programmes and supporting individuals and families struggling with substance use disorder. I use an integrative approach to treating clients. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), solution-focused, family therapy, trauma-informed care and Accelerated Resolutions therapy. I am especially passionate about programme development that helps clients build recovery capital to support their relationships and lives.

An accomplished professional in addiction recovery and treatment, I am currently serving as the Associate Director of Programs South at Beccarian Correctional Care. With a robust background that includes leadership roles in private recovery houses, private and publicly funded treatment centres, a hospital-based addiction recovery centre, and co-creating training programs for the Alberta Model, I bring a fresh perspective and wealth of experience to the role.

A notable highlight in my career was my time as Executive Director of the Red Deer Recovery Community, the first therapeutic community to open under the Alberta Model for addiction treatment. I also led the team that established the Recovery Coach Academy of Canada. 

A CCAR Recovery Coach Professional (RCP) and Facilitator, I am a passionate advocate for those in recovery. My dedication extends beyond my professional life, as a loving father to twin boys and a lifelong hockey enthusiast.

I retired after a distinguished 35-year career with the BC Corrections Branch, where I most recently held the position of warden at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre (NCC).

Throughout my career, I was a staunch advocate for evidence-based programming and played a pivotal role in fostering a correctional culture centred on meaningful interventions and relational practices. I worked across a broad range of operational areas, including youth custody, investigations, program development, staffing, labor relations and human resources. My passion for correctional reform was particularly ignited during my tenure as deputy warden of programs at a secure adult male facility. In this role, I worked closely with marginalized individuals and developed a deep interest in improving interventions for those with mental health and substance misuse challenges, aiming to enhance their successful reintegration into the community.

My career was marked by my involvement in groundbreaking initiatives, including my role on the steering committee overseeing the implementation of Canada’s first correctional-based therapeutic community (TC), which began operations in September 2006. In 2012, I transferred to NCC, where I became the warden in 2014, taking on direct oversight of the TC program.

I was also integral to the planning and design of the new Nanaimo Correctional Facility, which opened in the spring of 2024. The facility, designed to accommodate all levels of security, places a strong emphasis on normalization and providing residents with as much independence as can be safely managed. Its therapeutic design includes ample natural light, access to outdoor spaces and independent living areas, all contributing to enhanced safety for both staff and residents.

In addition to my leadership roles, I have shared my expertise at international conferences, discussing topics such as the benefits of therapeutic communities within correctional settings, integrated offender management, the impact of architectural design on behaviour and the development of innovative correctional programming. I am also a co-author of the article Turning Correctional, Education Inside-Out: Experiences and Lessons From a University Partnership, published in the Advancing Corrections journal by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) 2018.

I joined the team at Beccarian Correctional Care in October 2024 and am excited to be working with an organization whose comprehensive knowledge of what is lacking in addiction treatment and vision for recovery oriented systems of care is inspiring.