Family Support Line - Call 1.877.991.2737

8 AM - 10 PM, 7 days a week including holidays

Meet the PEP Family

Lerena Greig

Executive Director

Lerena Greig has worked in the non-profit sector since 2007, specifically in the field of addiction and recovery. She has presented all over Alberta with her lived experience and advocates for change in mental health and addiction stigma. In 2019, she joined as a Director of the Board for Our House Addiction Recovery Centre. As Executive Director of Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Society, Lerena oversees and implements the programs for PEP, hiring and training the administrative staff and facilitators while also fulfilling the role of public relations and resource development. She is a trained facilitator for the Family Recovery Group and on the team that manages the family support line. Lerena is passionate about empowering families and individuals to take that step into recovery and break the cycle of addiction.

Debbie Bridge

Facilitator

Debbie began her journey with PEP as a parent participant in the Family Recovery meetings. She joined the PEP team as a facilitator in 2019 and assists family members in their recovery journeys using her group facilitation skills and personal lived experience. Debbie is also the Program Manager for PEP, which includes management and evaluation of current and future programming. Debbie is passionate about learning and aims to expand her knowledge and understanding through her personal experiences, PEP team interactions, and family contributions in the recovery meetings. She says it is an honour to walk alongside families as they learn what wellness means for them and to witness them regain their lives. Debbie loves dabbling in PowerPoint graphic design and spending time with her family in her spare time.

Rachel Carr

Facilitator

Rachel has been a facilitator with PEP since 2015. She has an undergraduate honours degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Community Health Sciences. She spent several years volunteering on a crisis support line in her hometown of Winnipeg. Rachel currently works for Alberta Health Services in mental health and addiction research and evaluation. In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing slo-pitch and hanging out with her cat, Monty.

Vivian Dersch

Facilitator

Vivian is a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor, Certified Recovery Coach, and Certified Professional Coach. She works as an addictions counsellor with Enoch Cree Nations. Vivian is a facilitator of the Family Recovery Group and is a Family Support Line Team Member. She is passionate in her belief that we as a society can make a great impact on change and hopes to be a small part of this process. “Knowing that addiction affects the whole family and community and being passionate to assist families both as a professional and through lived experience, I was humbled when asked to facilitate for Parents Empowering Parents. The greatest gift a family can give itself is the strength and knowledge to enter into their own recovery regaining their health and peace."

Roberto Diaz

Facilitator

Roberto is a peer support with the U-turn program and a virtual Wednesday family recovery support group facilitator. Roberto has been involved with PEP since the summer of 2016. His journey through PEP started while battling various addictions and having matters in criminal court, which landed him a seat as a MEDD-X participant in the family support group. Finding support on his recovery journey has been his life's most meaningful endeavor, and sharing that journey with PEP has been an added bonus. He deeply appreciates finding allies who have supported him on his recovery journey and looks forward to opportunities to repay that gratitude. He loves being a part of PEP and seeing the magic that happens in the room.

Board of Directors

Kirk Harline

Chair

Carol Zukiwski

Past Chair

Jamie McAuley Lain

Treasurer

Pat Kuefler

Secretary

Anne Marie Elzinga

Director

Liam McConnell

Director

Cassandra Gelinas

Director

Jas Virk

Director

Diane Symington

Director

Thyra Marleau

Director

A cartoon monthly calendar image. PEP offers a supportive place to share what’s going on for individuals whose children or loved ones are in addiction.
Upcoming Meetings Join the group in a safe, non-judgmental place. Drop in with no registration required.

"PEP turned out to be everything we were looking for – a balance of support, education, and first-hand experience from the MEDD-X."

gallery

"My experience with PEP was one of the most important building blocks of my own recovery and one for which I will be forever thankful."

Contact Us

Have a question?

Have questions or want more information about PEP or our programs? Contact us and we’d love to help!

Contact

© 2024 PEP Society All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy