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About Us - Pacifica Treatment Centre

Canadian Substance Use Treatment Centre

A place to heal.

A place to build community.

A place to own your path.

 

Co-creating a community of safety and self-empowerment.

Since 1977, Pacifica has been committed to providing a safe substance use treatment centre for individuals to find themselves, find community, and enhance their quality of life and well-being. We provide individualized care through community-driven participation, and developing norms supported by our staff. Pacifica plays a supportive and encouraging role in treatment, fostering a collaborative environment where both community members and our interdisciplinary team are active participants in the Pacifica ecosystem.

We pride ourselves on our full-service restorative experience from pre-engagement through in-residence primary treatment, integrative wellness, resiliency, and continuing care programming, as well as alumni services. We understand that recovery doesn’t begin or end with treatment alone — we build the support systems required for community members to thrive, before and after their time at Pacifica.

 

Overview

Pacifica Treatment Centre is a Canadian substance use treatment centre respectfully we provide services in the unceded traditional and overlapping territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and strive to do so with a collaborative spirit of reconciliation, respect and honour for the land, its peoples and their ancestors. Our values support gender equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and anti-sexism. In eliminating stigmas, we are sex-positive, accessible to people with disabilities, speak out against harassment and workplace violence, and do not tolerate homophobia or transphobia. We are committed to removing systemic barriers, which individuals from marginalized and racialized communities often experience — it is our role to break down these barriers.

Mission

Pacifica Treatment Centre promotes health & recovery from substance use through treatment, education and support that strengthens individuals, families and communities.

Vision

To be a recognized leader in the provision of high-quality, innovative substance use treatment, education and support services.

Values

Integrity

We take personal responsibility for ensuring the highest standards of professional conduct with each other and with clients.

Diversity

We celebrate the unique differences of all individuals and recognize their unwavering right to respect, dignity, fairness and equality.

Innovation & Excellence

We commit to continuous improvement by seizing opportunities to exceed expectations and achieve innovative outcomes.

Life-long Learning

We embrace change as an exciting opportunity to acquire new knowledge and develop new competencies and skills.

Client-Centered

We are committed to providing accessible and relevant service, guided by a client's expressed needs.

Partnership and Teamwork

We commit to building and sustaining effective and harmonious relationships and connections with others in order to achieve mutually beneficial objectives.

Team

Management

Ron Lirette

Chief Executive Officer

Nabila Hussein

Director of Development and Communications

Maran Rajadurai

Director of Finance

Deana Kanagasingam

Director of Operations and Services

Administration

Linda Debons

Intake Coordinator

Deepa Batra

Finance and Administration Coordinator

Programs & Services

Pre-Engagement Program

Kathryn Pratt

Pre-Engagement Coordinator

Rishen Mohansingh

Stabilization Coordinator

Matthew Rosteski

Peer Outreach Worker

Zoe Gill

Peer Outreach Worker / Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Primary Treatment Program

Ryan Grossi

Counsellor

Jim Thompson

Counsellor

Olivia Tan

Counsellor

Micheal Peterson

Counsellor

Kaliopi Polychronakos

Counsellor (Casual)

Robert Glenimius

Counsellor (Casual)

Emily Fiddy

Counsellor (Casual)

Mariah McKnight

Systems Navigator

Charmaine Fernandez

Team Lead, Clinical Support Workers

Ian Manny

Clinical Support Worker

Doug Simcox

Clinical Support Worker

Dylan Arumputri

Clinical Support Worker

Norman Fox

Clinical Support Worker

Ross Gledsdale

Clinical Support Worker

Teala Penner

Clinical Support Worker

Andrew Corcoran

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Stephen Hamm

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Jovan Nagra

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Jeand Raisi

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Nicole Swanson

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Charlotte Vis

Clinical Support Worker (Casual)

Integrative Wellness Program

Lindsey Lukiw

Integrative Wellness Coordinator

Resiliency & Trauma Program

Angeline Vaughan

Interdisciplinary Clinical Practice Supervisor

Food Services

Ianna Yelchinko

Food Services Coordinator

Mik Atkey

Chef

Melvin Karunungan

Chef

Ciara Stick

Chef (Casual)

Evangeline Debrera

Chef (Casual)

Housekeeping/Maintenance

Jay Ford

Maintenance Coordinator

Kristine Ribarits

Housekeeping

Jenette Nassachuk

Housekeeping

Annmarie OBrien

Housekeeping

Medical and Pharmaceutical Professionals

Alex Liang

Pharmacist

Tara Andrusiak

Substance Use Disorder Medicine Physician

Board

Board of Directors

Peter Brasso

Board Chair

Paul Healey

Vice Chair

Sean Cote

Treasurer

Andrea Pham

Secretary

Roop Johal

Director

Ian Yang

Director

Patty Nayel

Director

Our Commitment

“Pacifica Treatment Centre:

  • Commits to the greater involvement and meaningful engagement of people with lived experience, and family members affected by challenges associated with problematic substance use/dependence, and concurrently, mental health and/or trauma.
  • Our commitment places the individuals we serve in the centre and is grounded in human rights and the dignity of the full human being;
  • Aims to support and be empathetic towards all who live with, work in, and are affected by, problematic substance use/dependence, and concurrently, mental health and/or trauma;
  • Commits to personal and social transformation;
  • Values community expertise in embracing the challenge for the betterment of society;
  • Values inclusion over exclusion, a quest for integrity at all times and the embodiment of self-determination; and,
  • Promotes the evolution of thought, action and collaboration among us and with our allies.

 

Because greater involvement and meaningful engagement is about human struggles and aspirations, ethics, self-empowerment, self-determination and accountability are its foundation.”

Alumni

Community grows through collaboration
Treatment is just the first step to owning your path

Our services and supports don’t stop after graduation from the in-residence treatment program, when a community member leaves the facility. The community we build together at Pacifica fortifies our continuing care programming, from virtual group and one-to-one education and counselling to our alumni services.

We connect new graduates with established alumni, as well as in-residence community members. From recognizing and changing the behaviors that may lead to unhealthy choices, to learning how to stop carrying shame and start owning your path — everything is easier together.

“I think resilience group is a great way to bridge the gap between treatment and the outside world.”

Alumni

“ I learned to value myself and understand the choices necessary to having the incredibly fulfilling life I have today. ”

Alumni

“ I’ve learned so much about myself, and have gained so much confidence in myself, where I can now love me. ”

Alumni

Supporting Pacifica

There are many ways to get involved and support Pacifica Treatment Centre — whether you’re an individual or business looking to make a social investment through a financial contribution or an alumni returning to help others, we’d love to have you join our community.

Volunteer at Pacifica

A terrific way to support the work we do at Pacifica is to get involved. We have many ways that people can volunteer — either for specific events, or in an ongoing way — working behind the scenes or directly with our clients.

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Support Pacifica

Donor Programs

Pacifica Treatment Centre prioritizes the implementation of innovative, evidence-informed programming to ensure the best possible care. To do this, we rely on the generous support for the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority as a major contributor. We also depend on the generosity of the community. With your help, we can continue to support individuals on their journey to “owning their path”.

Consider making a social investment through a financial contribution to Pacifica.

Registered Charity number: 10808 2496 RR0001

Volunteer

We have many ways that people can volunteer — either for specific events, or ongoing — working behind the scenes or directly with our community members. If you’d like to get involved, reach out!

Partnerships

The work we do at Pacifica Treatment Centre is stronger when we do it together. We work with a number of partners to provide the best possible access to care and ongoing support. Interested in becoming a partner? Let us know.

Health Care Providers

At Pacifica, we serve individuals experiencing challenges associated with problematic substance use, or concurrently, mental health and/or trauma. As a provincially recognized in-residence treatment centre, our primary goal is to meet each individual with compassion, helping them to find their own path to enhanced quality of life and well-being. Through collaboration and partnership in this journey, we both form a circle of care to rehabilitate and lay the foundation for sustainable long-term recovery.

Careers

Board Member

Mar 2023

Clinical Support Worker (CSW)

Mar 2023

Casual Cook

Mar 2023

Casual Counsellor

Mar 2023