Tag: trauma

Changing lives: Dan’s Legacy Empowers Youth to Take Charge of Their Recovery

March 09, 2022   With private and corporate support, including a donation of $58K from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, the B.C.-based non-profit has been able to weather a pandemic-related surge in demand for critical programming and timely treatment for young people in crisis.“Dan’s Legacy helped me get my life back,” says Sierra Van Straaten, pictured […]

True Extent of Damage to Indigenous People in Canada Lies Beyond Unmarked Graves in Kamloops

June 11, 2021 – The tragedy of bodies in unmarked graves found at the Kamloops residential school is only the tip of the iceberg in this ongoing saga of cultural genocide. Soon more will be discovered at other residential schools across Canada. As a therapist with forty-five years’ experience, I have worked with numerous residential […]

Expanding Emergency Counselling Services in Lower Mainland Hospitals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions VANCOUVER – Youth and young adults in the Lower Mainland will benefit now and in the future as Dan’s Legacy Foundation expands its free mental health and substance use outreach at Surrey Memorial, Royal Columbian, Burnaby General and BC Children’s hospitals. The expansion, […]

this thing we do called dan’s legacy

Why do we do this? Because these kids, with leather and tattoos, pink and green hair and black painted nails, who sneer whenever an adult comes around, are just kids. Young people who grew up in stable families are ready to engage in the world when they take their first steps at independence, but youth […]

SurreyCares Community Foundation grants $75,000 to Dan’s Legacy

SurreyCares Community Foundation grants $75,000 to Dan’s Legacy to support COVID-19 Mental Health Counselling for At-risk Youth July 10, 2020 SurreyCares Community Foundation today announced that it will provide $75,000 to Dan’s Legacy to support the addition of a trauma-informed therapist to its team in order to meet the increased demand for mental health support […]

Mental Health Week – The Story of “Denne”

“Denne” (22) has had an eventful few years, some good, but many bad. After years of trauma as a child in foster care, they ended up homeless, couch surfing and into party mode. When “Denne” came out as Queer, they immediately lost whatever family ties and former friends they had had. Dan’s Legacy connected “Denne” […]

Coast Capital Savings Supports Dan’s Legacy’s “East Van Dan’s Program” with a $24,000 Grant

December 11, 2019 – Coast Capital Savings recently provided a grant of $24,000 to the Dan’s Legacy Foundation in support of the charity’s “East Van Dan’s” program. The funds will provide counselling and land-based intervention therapies to at-risk Indigenous youth. Youth such as “Michael”, an 18 year old Indigenous young man who was heavily involved […]

Misunderstanding the Relationship between Opioids, Addiction and Trauma

Re: There are Safer Alternatives to Opioids after Wisdom-Teeth Removal Amy Ma and Dr. Susan Sutherland assert that evidence indicates a short prescription for opioids poses a risk of ongoing opioid use to our teens. In my opinion, based on 40+ years of working with at-risk youth, the real risk is not recognizing trauma as […]

Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation Donates $10,000 to Dan’s Legacy

On Saturday, March 3, Sarah Arsenault from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation dropped by our workshop in Surrey and presented us with a cheque for $10,000. The funds will go towards our Supported Program for Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) pilot program. “We’re thrilled with the help of the Pacific Blue Cross […]