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Jess Malkin (Clinical Program Director), Lorinda Strang (Executive Director), James Sullivan (RN) and Joanna Journet (General Manager) standing in front of the Orchard Recovery Center’s Administration Building
The father who has his daughter back.
The wife who gets the man she married back.
The parent who comes to treatment, showing their child that reaching out for help is a sign of strength.
These life-changing moments are what drive everything at the Orchard Recovery Center.
“How addiction or alcoholism is portrayed in the media is not helpful,” shares co-founder and executive director Lorinda Strang.
“I don’t know if they ever show anything other than the most dire situations you can see. What that does is give people
this false sense of ‘That’s not me’.'”
“We hear all the time, ‘I realize now, I wasn’t living—I was just hanging on, desperate for something to change.
When I made the decision to come to the Orchard, I found hope,'” Strang says “The depth of what those words
actually mean is so powerful.”
Orchard Recovery is a private inpatient drug and alcohol addiction treatment centre located in the heart of a
West Coast rainforest on Bowen Island. Formerly a four-star resort, the recovery campus and residences feature
customized treatment solutions over the course of 12, 28 or 42 days.
The heart of Orchard’s success lies in its dedicated team, working together to provide compassionate,
personalized care. With only 25 clients at a time, Orchard ensures that each individual receives
focused attention. The medical team includes a psychiatrist, along with doctors who are all addiction
medicine specialists, supported by nursing staff, recovery coaches, clinical counsellors and other support staff.
This multidisciplinary approach allows for a holistic recovery experience, helping clients regain a sense of hope,
purpose and stability as they learn to live in sobriety.
Private and peaceful, Orchard Recovery Centre offers its clients compassionate care and a strong foundation for their journey ahead.
The programs include primary care, family programming and continuing care for post-treatment support.
Delicious and wholesome meals are provided by Orchard’s first-rate chefs, while the numerous onsite
activities include nature walks, mindfulness practices, yoga, art and music therapy, alongside a fully
equipped gym and fitness centre.
“When clients arrive on Bowen, they feel an immediate sense of relief and reassurance,” Strang says.
“Part of that is the short ferry ride from the mainland, because it creates a natural boundary from the
daily distractions and temptations of life. The chaos of life starts to lift.”
Operating since 2002, the centre is internationally accredited by the [Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities CARF and licensed by Vancouver Coastal Health.
These two distinctions ensure that rigorous standards are upheld and improved upon annually.
Strang emphasizes that the clients and alumni come from diverse backgrounds, including professionals from law,
healthcare, business, trades and university students. Orchard serves both local and international clients,
reflecting a wide range of people seeking help.
When clients experience a moment of clarity and realize, ‘I need help,’ Orchard staff are ready to take
the phone call or email to help begin their life-changing journey. An intake specialist then works with
clients and, when helpful, with family members to answer questions and offer guidance, ensuring the client
feels supported and reassured as they take the next steps toward recovery.
“That’s when we do the heavy lifting,” Strang says. “It’s our job to get them to a point where they’ve
got buy-in. And when they want to be here, they get excited to be here.”
The Orchard Recovery Center is committed to eradicating the stigma of addiction and fostering a new,
sustainable culture of recovery by building strong communities that make meaningful contributions to society as a whole.