Voices of Northstar - Aly's Story
Aly's Story: Finding Hope Through Connection
Recovery didn't begin with one defining moment—it began with the willingness to believe life could be different.
A Life Shaped by Family and Faith
Aly was born in Sept-Îles, Quebec, and spent much of her childhood on her grandparents' farm in rural Saskatchewan. Raised in a close-knit religious community, family, faith, and service were central to her upbringing. Her father served as a missionary, and life revolved around church and community.
Although her family was loving and close, they also experienced challenges, including her grandfather's struggle with alcoholism and the loss of several loved ones. Those experiences shaped how Aly understood resilience, responsibility, and caring for others.
In her early twenties, everything changed when she left the church. Losing her faith community also meant losing contact with much of her family, leaving her isolated and searching for a sense of belonging.
Searching for Connection
Alcohol became one way Aly coped with that loss, eventually becoming part of a larger struggle with alcohol and other substances.
She later completed her education, moved to British Columbia, and became a mother. From the outside, life appeared successful. She raised two daughters, owned businesses, travelled, and built a comfortable life.
But addiction doesn't always look the way people expect it.
As life became more difficult and traumatic experiences accumulated, alcohol and other substances became her way of coping. Although she maintained appearances for many years, addiction gradually took away the life she had worked so hard to build.
Choosing Recovery
In 2025, Aly made the decision to ask for help.
After receiving support through St. Paul's RACC Clinic, detox, and Road to Recovery, she entered Together We Can'S Northstar Women's Program. At first, she wasn't sure she belonged, but that quickly changed.
The safety, encouragement, and trauma-informed care she received allowed her to begin healing in ways she never had before. Being surrounded by women who understood her experiences helped her rebuild confidence, trust, and hope.
One unexpected part of recovery was learning to embrace the 12 Steps. After years in a strict religious environment, Aly was initially hesitant about the spiritual aspect of the program, particularly the use of the word "God." Over time, she discovered that recovery encouraged a personal understanding of spirituality rather than a return to the religion she had left behind. That shift became an important part of her healing.
Building a New Life
Recovery became much more than sobriety.
Through second-stage housing and the continued support of Northstar, Aly rebuilt her confidence, learned to trust herself again, and discovered a renewed sense of purpose by supporting other women on their recovery journeys.
She played a pivotal role in the beginning stages of Thelma's Place, helping create a safe, welcoming home for women in recovery. Later, Aly moved into her own home, where she can now safely welcome her daughters for visits—something she once believed might never be possible. Today, Aly's story is a testament to the transformative power of stable housing, compassionate support, and the opportunity to begin again.
She has also reconnected with members of her family after many years apart and continues to stay active in the recovery community through meetings, sponsorship, counselling, and service.
Today, Aly works as a Peer Navigator at Northstar, supporting women as they begin their own recovery journeys. Helping others has become one of the most rewarding parts of her own healing.
Aly's Clean Date: September 25, 2025
Aly's Message
"Give yourself the chance to heal. Your family will benefit from it in the long run, but first you have to focus on yourself.
Stay connected, ask for help, and do the work. Recovery doesn't end when treatment does—it grows through community, accountability, and helping others.”
