ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ
希望
Foi 尊嚴 Espérer 신앙 Glauben
ਉਮ
존엄 Würde 기대 Esperanza Dignité Espérer 信仰 Hope Foi pag-asa Faith 신앙 Dignidad Würde pananampalataya Hope ਉਮੀਦ Glau 信仰 Esperanza Dignidad pag-asa ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ 希望 ਮਾਣ Dignity 신앙 Espére
ਮਾਣ
IMPACT Your Support in Action
Because of you, we were able to help over 700,000 British Columbians in need last year.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to give my kids what I never got growing up; unconditional love.
Celebrating 15 Years of Sobriety! After a life filled with abuse, addiction and homelessness, 38-yearold Jay Kivell is celebrating his 15th year of sobriety by getting the biggest promotion of his life. Raised by a single, alcoholic mother, Kivell grew up in a home where he was either physically abused or neglected entirely. “When I was growing up she made it very clear that she wished I was never born,” he said. “She had no issue with leaving me at home for a week by myself when I was eight years old.” When he wasn’t being left to fend for himself, he was being babysat by the daughter of a family friend. “This woman would sexually abuse me quite often. She was 18 at the time. I was six and it went on until I was about 12.” Kivell said that he never told anyone what was happening to him. “I didn’t want to get anybody in trouble. I didn’t want to get in trouble
myself. At that age, I figured I would be the one in trouble just for being a part of it.” He started smoking cigarettes by age 12. By 14, he was smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. And by the time he was in his 20s, he was homeless and smoking crack. At the age of 27 while living in Jasper, Alberta, Kivell finally hit rock bottom and tried to commit suicide. “In one 12 hour period, I got into a fight with my boss, thrown into a drunk tank, evicted from my apartment, fired from my job and dumped by my girlfriend. I realized then that my addiction was controlling my entire life.” Jay woke up in a hospital bed and decided that he wanted to change his life. After talking with the hospital counsellor, he was told to go to Vancouver and try The Salvation Army’s Harbour Light Treatment Program.
salvationarmy.ca | Spring 2018