Feature image provided by Tamarack Recovery Centre.
Imagine it’s summer in Winnipeg. Everything is green, and you are walking southward on Balmoral Street. Halfway down the street from Broadway, you spot a bench in a flower garden tucked in the corner of one of the house’s front yards.
You look up and see a house with a porch and then spy the small sign by the front door that reads, “Tamarack Recovery Centre.” You look back down at the pleasant yellow flowers fluttering in the wind.
These are not just any flowers—they grew from daffodil bulbs that symbolize hope and renewal for those in recovery from addiction.
Since 1975, Tamarack Recovery Centre has been operating out of their quaint facility on Balmoral Street in West Broadway. Celebrating 50 years in 2025, Tamarack is an all-gender, 12-bed centre offering a 60- to 78-day program for those recovering from addictions.
Tamarack does everything they can to offer their participants the support and tools they need to overcome addiction. Addictions treated include those from drugs, alcohol, gambling, and more.
The care doesn’t stop at their two-month-plus program—they also offer unlimited, no-cost aftercare, which sets them apart from many other recovery programs.
Lisa Cowan, executive director of Tamarack, says identity is key.
“Many have long-held identities as ‘the addict’ or ‘the troublemaker,’” Lisa says. “We help them build a new identity, discover values and interests, and take that into recovery.”
Lisa started working at Tamarack Recovery Centre over 15 years ago, and she became executive director not long after that. She says they keep numbers small at Tamarack for a reason.
“We’re person-centred—everyone’s needs are different,” she says. “We keep numbers to 10 to 12 participants so we can connect meaningfully.”
This fall, Cambrian Credit Union was pleased to announce that Tamarack received the $10,000 Empowering Your Community Grant from EQ Bank and Concentra, which Cambrian applied for on Tamarack’s behalf.
Through the Empowering Your Community program, credit unions can apply for grants on behalf of their community partners. When grant applications opened, Tamarack was the first organization that came to mind for Cambrian!
Tamarack used the funds to cover costs for their yoga and fitness centre, which is already being used to support participants’ physical and mental wellbeing. They will also be using some of the funds to build an outdoor shed for participants’ bikes, as well as an outdoor garden of daffodil bulbs to symbolize hope and renewal for those recovering from addiction.
“This money came at the perfect time,” says Lisa. “It will give people a chance to enjoy indoor and outdoor recreation. We’re so grateful because it’s about relationship building—people see the work we do and want to help.”
Sherry Gable, Tamarack’s operations manager, has also been with the organization for over 15 years, and she has been in recovery (sober) herself for 18 years. Overall, Sherry says they don’t feel limited in what they can do by lack of funds.
“If we have an idea that benefits participants or the agency, there aren’t many roadblocks,” she says. “It’s about, how do we make this happen? Where do we get the money? What grant can we apply for?”
At Tamarack, no one is denied treatment because of lack of money. The Centre is grateful to have a robust subsidy fund, thanks to generous donations from other organizations. Participants pay what they can.
“If someone can only pay $200 a month, that’s fine,” says Lisa. “We don’t want debt to be a reason to relapse.”
Wherever possible, Tamarack works with graduates to prevent relapses.
“We hope graduates reach out before relapse, but if it happens, we help them reestablish,” says Lisa.
When participants finish the program, there is an in-house private ceremony, and each graduate receives a certificate. Fellow residents and staff write personal messages for the graduates, which are collected in a folder and given to them on the day of the ceremony. Ceremonies are ALWAYS rounded off with celebratory cake and ice cream!
Another long-standing tradition is for graduates to paint a rock and place it outside. Many rocks are now out front, but also throughout the house and even on framed pictures on the walls.
In 2024, 100 per cent of participants said they’d return to Tamarack if they needed help.
Many of the staff at Tamarack have been working there for over 10 years. Those in the “Tam Fam” can always come back and visit that house on Balmoral and be welcomed with friendly faces and open arms.
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