Poundmaker’s Lodge opens outpatient office in downtown Edmonton

Recognizing that there was a need in the Aboriginal urban community for an outpatient program, two well-respected Aboriginal organizations have come together to help those struggling with addictions.

Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre has opened an outpatient office at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in downtown Edmonton.

The idea to offer outpatient services came last year when Merle White, executive director for the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, noticed that there was a demand in aftercare assistance for people trying to maintain their sobriety. 

“There’s a problem here in the community and I have a lot of people asking for help,” he said.

White discussed his concerns with Brad Cardinal, executive director of Poundmaker’s Lodge, and found that Poundmaker’s no longer had an outpatient program due to budget cuts. Soon after, a partnership was formed and after many months of hard work, a new outpatient office was opened.

The office will offer drop-in counselling on Tuesdays and an ongoing recovery support group on Thursday evenings. There will be counsellors on site to provide ongoing support as well as referrals to Poundmaker’s 42-day adult or 90-day young adult residential treatment programs, if necessary.

“This is something that we really need in our community, and this is something that we have been looking at for quite some time,” said Cardinal. “We know that it’s going to save lives. We know that it’s going to create health and wellness for our Aboriginal people. We know that many of our people are out there suffering with addiction and we need to be able to reach out our hands to them. We need to be able to create an open door for our Aboriginal people, and that is what we are doing by creating this partnership. It is endorsed by the Elders of our community, we know that we are heading in the right direction.”

Elaine Taylor, senior counsellor at Poundmaker’s Lodge, is especially grateful of the joint venture. In the past, clients would tell her that there weren’t many places to go for support after they left treatment and that they wished Poundmaker’s was downtown where it would be more accessible. 

“Thank goodness that we are able to open this office at the Native Friendship Centre,” said Taylor. “This is going to be awesome!”

The outpatient office is located in an upstairs office at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre in Edmonton.

Photo caption: Merle White, executive director of Canadian Native Friendship Centre (third from left) is joined by Poundmaker’s Lodge representatives (from left) counsellor Robert Johnson, board member Jim Brule, Executive Director Brad Cardinal, counselor Greg Bubel and Elder Ann Magnusson.