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Media Release – Ottawa’s Walk for Recovery

Ottawa, ON, July 19 2025 — On Saturday, July 19 at 1 pm at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights we will march to demand visibility for women and non-binary folks living with addiction and adequate support and funding for long-term recovery services. We will hear from women with lived experience and community partner organizations.

Recovery is about building autonomy, reconnecting with oneself, and one’s community. Part of the recovery process may include talk therapy, harm reduction, creativity, community care, and other forms of support or therapeutic practices (different people find different things therapeutic!). We must prioritize universal access to long-term therapeutic services that provide care and support unconditionally and free of judgement.

Organizations that work at the intersections of gender-based violence and addictions services are severely underfunded in Ontario. This is not surprising: People who use drugs, gamble problematically, or who struggle with mental health and addiction face high levels of stigma and marginalization. Within this context, the experiences and needs of women and non-binary people who use and/or gamble are dangerously invisible.  

While many other health and social issues specific to women, non-binary folk, or assigned female at birth (AFAB) people have gained a wide level of awareness (such as breast cancer), drug use, gambling, addiction, and recovery remain taboo. We need to raise awareness of addictions stigma because denying the autonomy and wellbeing of women and gender-diverse folks who use drugs or gamble creates more harm than drug use or gambling alone.   

In this Walk for Recovery, we demand:   

• Visibility for women and non-binary folks living with addiction beyond stigmatized, sensationalized, and stereotypical views of people who use drugs, gamble problematically, or struggle with mental health; 
• Appropriate support and funding for feminist and harm reduction organizations, because they save lives. Without provincial support, wait-times for community mental health and addictions will continue to grow, affecting the entirety of health services in Ontario; and 
• Solidarity and coalition-building across social justice issues. The fight for equal rights, feminism, anti-racism, affordability, housing, and employment rights are all ways of tackling the root causes of addiction.   

This walk is all about crushing stigma, challenging our views of people who use drugs or gamble, and advocating for services to be accessible, affordable, and uplifting for those that need them the most. Led by folks with accessibility needs, we will then walk up to Parliament Hill, down Bank Street, and back to Elgin Street via Somerset. 

Where: Canadian Tribute to Human Rights, also known as the Human Rights Monument, 220 Elgin St.

When: Saturday July 19, 1 pm EST

Who: Amethyst Centre Ottawa, women and non-binary folk with lived experience, and community partner organizations

Media contacts:

• Nives Ilic, Co-Chair, Amethyst Centre Ottawa Board of Directors. Email: nivesi@amethyst-ottawa.org
• Marina Gomá, Community Relations Coordinator, Amethyst Centre Ottawa. Email: marinag@amethyst-ottawa.org

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/share/12LxpPMBsbM/

Fundraiser leading up to the walk:  https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/fundraising/ottawas-walk-for-recovery

Amethyst Centre Ottawa is a non-residential, long-term support centre for women and gender-diverse people concerned with their use of substances or gambling. We support individuals and build community via holistic and trauma-specific programming. Situated on unsurrendered and unceded Algonquin territory, we offer a safe space at the heart of Sandy Hill that is intentionally built by and for women and non-binary folks.   

• We have minimal exclusion criteria (clients must be 18+, women, gender-diverse, or non-binary).   
• Our programs and services are free, long-term, offered in both English and French, in person, or online.   
• We do not require abstinence to access our services.   
• We do not tier mental health and addiction, but address both depending on our client’s needs. We also offer integrated support for substance use and gambling.  

Amethyst Centre Ottawa is the only free long-term therapy service available to women and gender-diverse people that does not discriminate according to sobriety or concurrent mental health diagnoses in Ontario. Our client base has approximately 450 people. We need financial support to maintain our quality and continuum of care. With your help, we will be able to provide counseling sessions for those in need, host support groups for connection and healing, and fund community outreach to raise awareness and break the stigma.

Ontario Trillium Foundation: Addressing gaps in our services and strategizing for success   

Ottawa, April 14, 2025 — Thanks to support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund, Amethyst Centre Ottawa has had the opportunity to pause, reflect, and plan for the future. 

This funding allowed us to partner with Seasonova Group to conduct a deep review of our agency’s strategy, service gaps, and sustainability. We were able to:  

• Gather feedback from peer organizations and community partners that affirmed our unique role in delivering accessible and holistic addiction and mental health care for underserved populations.  

• Hold multiple all-staff workshops to co-create goals for a healthier, more sustainable, and safer workplace by prioritizing pay equity, improved communication among staff, and stronger staff–board relationships. 

• Scan funding models across Canada to explore ethical, community-based approaches to fundraising and diversifying income. 

We now better understand how to continue evolving to meet the needs of our communities. We are deeply grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for investing in our capacity to grow with integrity and intention.

Ontario Elections (Feb 27) Statement: Let’s make addiction a feminist issue  

Ottawa, February 20, 2025 —Amethyst Centre Ottawa provides support, resources, individual therapy and treatment options for women and gender-diverse people concerned about their substance use and/or gambling behavior. As an organization operating since 1979, we recognize the links between substance use and gambling, mental health, trauma, and being a woman or trans person in a hetero-sexist, racist, classist and ableist colonial context. 

Amethyst Centre Ottawa is the only free long-term therapy service available to women and gender-diverse people that does not discriminate according to sobriety or concurrent mental health diagnoses. Our client base has approximately 450 people. Treatment typically lasts two years but, given the scarcity of programs like ours, we continue to support clients for as long as needed. These policies, coupled with a harm reduction approach, have undoubtedly contributed to clients reporting a newfound quality of life and safe community at Amethyst (Rocheleau, Kelly and Stringer, 2018). 

 Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a dramatic increase in the economic and social barriers that our clients face. Just in comparison with 2023-2024, new client referrals have risen by 50%. Yet, increased demand has not been matched by funding opportunities. The result is a staggering four-year waitlist for individual therapy. As the Addiction and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) network notes, frontline workers should not have to choose between serving an already stigmatized community—indeed a public health issue that concerns all Ontarians— and fair wages. For Amethyst’s small team of 14 people, taking on more clients in the present moment of precarious funding is not possible without sacrificing a continuum of care. 

As a feminist organization, the pay disparity between publicly funded health sectors and third sector community work is not lost on us. A pay equity system was established in Ontario to address the systemic underpaying of work stereotypically associated with women as far back as 1988. Today, Ontario community health workers (a feminized labor force) currently face a combined wage gap of over $2 billion compared to their peers in hospitals. To receive fair wages for mental health care labor, the salaries of Amethyst Centre Ottawa employees would have to increase by 28%.  

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), mental health care in Ontario is underfunded by about $1.5 billion. For Ontario to close the wage gap and shorten waitlists, AMHO recommends that the upcoming government invests 300$ billion over the next three years. We hope that our neighbors vote for provincial and municipal leaders that care about strengthening Ontario’s mental health system. We ask that you hold local politicians accountable for the mental health and addictions crisis by sending this email template as soon as possible to your MPP. To make addiction a feminist issue, we want our future provincial government to:  

• Stop the privatization of mental health care and publicly fund psychotherapy. 

• Promote healthcare and affordable housing for all and commit to challenge the stigma of addiction.  

• Protect and fund existing feminist and harm reduction organizations, because they save lives. Without provincial support, wait times for community mental health and addictions will continue to grow, forcing Ontarians to rely on more expensive emergency and hospital-based care. 

We situate ourselves in a wider network of organizations ceaselessly working for the wellbeing of our communities, ranging from the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre, Women’s Initiatives For Safer Environments, City for All Women Initiative, Centre Espoir Sophie, Immigrant Women Services Ottawa, Sexual Assault Support Centre Ottawa, Kind Space, AIDS committee Ottawa, and MAX Ottawa, to Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, SHE Recovers, St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, Belong Ottawa, The Mission, the TRY Supportive Housing Program (YMCA), and the John Howard Society. We also frequently partner with local healthcare providers such as the Carlington Community Health Centre, Pinecrest Queensway Community Health Centre, Lowertown Community Centre, among others. Together, we make addiction a feminist issue.  

Media Contact:

Marina Gomá
Community Relations Coordinator
Amethyst Centre Ottawa
marinag@amethyst-ottawa.org
www.amethyst-ottawa.org

Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre Announces Name Change to Amethyst Centre Ottawa

Ottawa, September 24, 2024 — Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre is proud to unveil its new name: Amethyst Centre Ottawa. This rebranding marks a significant step in our commitment to inclusivity, more accurately reflecting the diverse community we serve.

For over 45 years, our organization has been dedicated to providing crucial support to women dealing with substance use, problem gambling, and related challenges. As our understanding of community needs evolves, we want our name to better represent our ongoing commitment to supporting a wider diversity of trans and gender diverse community members, ensuring our services remain welcoming and accessible.

Alexanne Stewart, Co-chair of Amethyst Centre Ottawa, shares the motivation behind this change: “Our new name, Amethyst Centre Ottawa, highlights our dedication to inclusivity and acknowledges the wide range of individuals who benefit from our support. This update is vital for ensuring that our services resonate with and effectively support everyone who seeks help.”

This renaming aligns with our mission to serve a diverse clientele affected by substance use and problem gambling. By adopting a name that reflects our inclusive approach, we reinforce our commitment to a community-centered strategy that honors the unique experiences of each individual.

About Amethyst Centre Ottawa: Formerly known as Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre, Amethyst Centre Ottawa offers free, alternative services to individuals experiencing substance use issues and problem gambling in the Ottawa region. Our inclusive approach provides group and individual counseling in both official languages, addressing substance use and gambling within the broader context of inequality and social justice. We continue to advocate for social change and work towards preventing addiction.

For more information about Amethyst Centre Ottawa and our services, please visit www.amethyst-ottawa.org or contact us at info@amethyst-ottawa.org

Media Contact:

Julie Vautour
Coordinator
Amethyst Centre Ottawa
613-563-0363 ext. 310
juliev@amethyst-ottawa.org
www.amethyst-ottawa.org

Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre Celebrates 45 Years of Service

Ottawa, September 17, 2024 — Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre is celebrating 45 years of serving women and gender-diverse people impacted by addictions in Ottawa this Sunday, September 22nd.

Celebrations will kick off at AllSaints Event Space, a woman-owned venue in Sandy Hill that has donated the space for the event. The afternoon will be filled with speeches by clients, members of Amethyst and local politicians such as City Councillors, Ariel Troster and Stéphanie Plante.

Organizers hope that the event will be an opportunity for reflection and celebration, as well as fundraising for Amethyst’s programs. Local businesses have come together to support the initiative. Respect RX Pharmacy, Desjardins, and Maker House have sponsored the event with CSV Architects, Droit Ouimet-McPherson Law and Mandy’s Maid Services signed up as matching-gift partners.

Nives Ilic, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, will be one of the guests attending the event and shares her thoughts on the milestone: “Happy 45th Birthday to Amethyst and congratulations to the staff and board members who have driven over four decades of life-changing services for women and gender-diverse people in our community! Amethyst is more than a treatment program. It is a challenger of social inequities and injustices, a driver of feminist philosophy and principles and for many, it’s a place of safety and acceptance. I feel extremely grateful to be a member of such a special organization.”

About Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre: Amethyst offers free, alternative addiction services to women and gender-diverse individuals in the Ottawa region. Committed to inclusivity and social justice, we provide group and individual counselling in a bilingual setting. Our feminist approach connects substance use with issues of inequality and violence, and we work toward preventing addiction and advocating for social change.

For more information about Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre and our services, please visit www.amethyst-ottawa.org or contact us at info@amethyst-ottawa.org

Media Contact:
Nives Ilic
Co-Chair, Amethyst Board of Directors
Amethyst Women’s Addiction Centre
613-983-6959
nives.ilic@hotmail.com
www.amethyst-ottawa.org