NANAIMO – This April Edgewood Nanaimo celebrated 25 years of changing lives.
Founded in 1994, the Nanaimo private residential alcohol and drug addiction treatment centre began with a vision to open Western Canada’s first facility of its kind. The vision became a reality thanks to founder Jane Ferguson and her then husband, Neal Berger, who built the centre’s initial 40-bed facility.
“In the early years, requirements of the field weren’t nearly what they are now,” says Executive Director Dr. Christina Basedow. “It was less of an academic focus, as the 12-step program was still the primary treatment model for addiction treatment. Even though our treatments have become more sophisticated, we maintain our heart-based approach to this day.”
In 1998, the facility grew to 54 beds and expanded its extended care program. In 2002, Edgewood completed a major expansion, adding a new lecture hall and a west wing, which included 80 residential beds and 30 extended care beds.
“One of the major turning points in the company occurred when our founder, Jane, died in a tragic plane crash,” says Basedow. “After her passing, the owners sold it to five individuals, all of whom were employees. This created a more collaborative ownership structure and resulted in a change in our direction.”
After several expansions, the facility now covers almost 10 acres and offers residential programming, trauma specific programs, family programs, and outpatient services.
In 2014, the Edgewood Health Network (EHN Canada) was formed in an effort to provide a truly national option to patients, families health care practitioners and employers/organizations. Today EHN Canada consists of the Edgewood Treatment Centre, Bellwood Health Services, Clinque Nouveau Depart and EHN Whiterock Detox & Treatment Centre bringing over 130 years of combined experience.
“In collaboration with EHN Canada, the Edgewood treatment centre in Nanaimo has worked over the last few years to design a nationwide program with excellent treatment,” says Basedow. “We have a variety of price points with different options and differing levels of intensity.
“Over the last five years, we’ve worked to create a lot of diversity in our treatment programming. We can treat every case from the highest level of complexity to the lowest.”
In addition, Edgewood now offers programs rich in: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), one-on-one counselling, behavioural interventions, occupational therapy, trauma specific programming, and medication assisted treatment (MAT).
For those who can’t afford the high cost of treatment plans, Edgewood has a bursary program that provides free treatment for up to 10 patients a year. This results in over a quarter million dollars worth of free treatment given on an annual basis.
Many of the company’s employees have close personal connections to addictions recovery.
“In Nanaimo, about 50 per cent of our staff are in their own form of long-term recovery,” says Basedow. “This is celebrated in our organization and provides a different level of connection to our patients.
“Edgewood is sometimes called ‘the house of miracles.’ It’s such a sweet saying, because what we have in our therapeutic community is a hope-based treatment program. It’s not a sterile setting. It’s very warm, very loving. As staff members, we bring our hearts to work.”
To find out more, visit www.edgewoodhealthnetwork.com