New Quintin Warner House ready to help people with addictions
A tour of the new Quintin Warner House location in London, Ont. illustrated how additional space and services will benefit men recovering from addiction.
Quintin Warner is moving to a section of the Men’s Mission location at 459 York St.
Charlie Dorner helped give insight into just how important the new location is, “It's a beautiful thing, it's overwhelming. It's actually why I'm here today."
Dorner struggled with an eating disorder, alcohol addiction, and opiate addiction. He first turned to Quintin Warner House 20 years ago.
Now a Quintin Warner alumnus, he has just completed the first year of the social service worker program at Fanshawe College.
Still, he remains tied to Quintin Warner, "I've actually been able to come back to the program. As well, I was able to call them and speak to various counsellors I worked with at Mission Services, at Quintin Warner House, over those 20 years. So they've always been there for me, even post treatment.”
Charlie Dorner addressed a group touring the new home of Quintin Warner House and addictions recovery program, run by Mission Services of London, on June 2, 2023. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
Quintin Warner House has been operating as a ten-bed facility in a house at 477 Queens Ave, but last year they received additional funding from the Ministry of Health to expand to a 20-bed facility.
That's what prompted the move.
Lisa Misselbrook is the director of Addiction and Mental Health for Quintin Warner. She said the facility is unique in Ontario, "Because we're a four-month program; that is really rare. Also the ability to have a centre with 20 beds, individual spaces, it's unheard of."
There is a new kitchen, laundry and bath facilities, as well more gathering spaces. It’s all geared to develop coping mechanisms and life skills.
“The underpinning of all of that is the best possible service for men in treatment,” said Mission Services of London Executive Director Ericka Ayala Ronson.
The new Quintin Warner House location will have individual rooms for 20 people. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)
Ronson said it started with the vision of staff and clients. That was followed-up with buy-in from donors, contractors, and engineers who were committed to help make the vision happen.
"They were able to stand in this space and dream and make it happen. Down to the colour schemes that have been used in here. They are meant to portray hope," Ronson said.
Staff at Quintin Warner House will also be working closely with the nearby Carepoint safe consumption site.
They said it’s part of a city-wide effort to provide a continuum of care for those dealing with addictions, mental health issues, and poverty.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.