Roots Up Recovery

A peer-led addictions recovery group in Regina. Nine Wednesdays, starting October 14.

Roots Up is a small, closed support group for people struggling with addiction who want support without judgment or a single prescribed path. It runs at Hope Heals and is led by Mal, a peer facilitator.

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There's no one route to recovery. It's shaped by your needs and your history, and you're the one who decides what it looks like for you.

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From Mal

Hi, I'm Mal.

I've struggled with addiction for the past decade, and support is what got me through. For years my best friend and I have talked about building a room like that here, and when Cindy asked if I'd run a group at Hope Heals, I already knew what it would look like.

Peer-led means I'm not there as your counsellor and this isn't treatment. My job is to hold the room, and to point you toward the right help when a room isn't enough.

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What this is — and what it isn't

It isn't a 12-step group. That path has carried a lot of people and we have no quarrel with it — this one just runs differently. No steps to work through, no one deciding what your recovery is supposed to look like. It doesn't ask you to frame yourself a particular way before you're allowed in.

You can always pass. Speaking is invited, never required. You can sit and listen for nine weeks and that counts.

Roots Up is peer support — not clinical treatment, and not a crisis service.

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What a night looks like

Doors open at 6:15. There's tea, and nobody has to talk yet.

We start at 6:30 with a welcome, the short version of our agreements, and one grounding practice. Then a check-in round — where you're at, and one thing that didn't suck this week. You can pass on either part.

The middle stretch is a gentle prompt and a conversation about it. Not a lecture, and not a hot seat.

We close by coming back down together and naming one thing for the week ahead. Nobody ever asks how last week's went. "Get through the week" is a complete answer.

We finish at 8:00, and the room stays open until 8:30 if you want to hang back.

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How we keep the room safe

We build our agreements together on the first night. These are where we start:

• What's said here stays here.

• No judgment — on substances, relapse, setbacks, or each other.

• You can always pass.

• One voice at a time. We witness each other; we don't cross-talk or fix.

• Your recovery is yours. No one prescribes anyone else's path.

• Come as you are.

• Take care of yourself — step out, breathe, come back, leave any time.

• We keep each other safe. No violence, threats, or endangering the room.

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The details

• When: Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00pm. October 14 to December 16, 2026. No session November 11.

• Where: In person at Hope Heals, Regina SK.

• Size: Eight people. Closed group — the same faces every week.

• Cost: $80 for all nine weeks.

• Facilitator: Mal, peer facilitator. Supervised by Cindy Werner, MC.

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How to join

Email Mal at mal@hopeheals.ca.

Joining starts with a 15-minute phone call — a conversation, not an assessment. It's to make sure this is the right room for you this fall, and to answer anything you want to ask before committing to nine weeks.

Registration closes Friday, October 10, or when the eight seats fill.

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If you need help right now

Roots Up isn't a crisis service. If you're in crisis:

• Mobile Crisis Services (Regina): 1-306-757-0127

• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline — call or text 988

• If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

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Roots Up Recovery is led by Mal and hosted at Hope Heals Counselling.