Bold Woman of the Month: Lori Houle

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — April’s Bold Woman is living proof that some of life’s most difficult challenges can be overcome by consistently demonstrating strength, determination, and resilience.

On January 10th, Fort St. John’s Lori Houle celebrated her 14th year of sobriety after suffering from what she calls “heavy” drug addiction for four years.

“One day, I just woke up and said to myself, ‘Look where you’re at in life. What are you doing with your life? You are hurting yourself and others’,” said Houle. 

“My first attempt at sobriety, I was sober for 70 days. Then, I had a slip-up, and ever since that day in 2010, I have been clean and sober for 14 years.”

Houle, a Metis-Cree woman, says the same year she achieved sobriety, she took some trades courses offered by Saulteau First Nations, which led her to the oil and gas industry.

She then promptly worked her way from a labourer to a heavy equipment operator to her current role as a foreman.  

It takes a bold woman to thrive in a male-dominated industry, and Houle attributes her success to being strong and staying true to herself. 

When she first started out in her career, Houle noticed many tradeswomen like herself in the industry.

“There were women [who were] welders, scaffolders, electricians, labourers, and I just thought, ‘wow, this is so cool to be a part of this,’” said Houle. 

Houle also noticed the attitudes of some of her male co-workers. 

“Back then, there were a lot of men that would kind of make snarky and slightly inappropriate comments,” Houle said. 

It was then that Houle decided this kind of behaviour from men in the workplace wouldn’t fly with her.

“Since that time, whenever I go to work on a job site, my demeanour, my traits, the way I carry myself let men know that they’re not going to speak to me like that,” said Houle. 

“Now, people’s personalities, outlooks, and mindsets on life on the job site have come a long way, and it’s really improved.”

Outside the workplace, Houle consistently engages in activities that align with her sobriety.

“I fill my life with following my spiritual laws in my cultural way. I attend sweat lodge, and I smudge every day,” said Houle.

“I work out and try to invite people to join me. I don’t push them, but I really encourage them to come to the gym or go for an evening walk.”

Houle encourages women who may be fighting battles with addiction or any kind of struggle in their lives to seek out the support of other women as mentors and to get in touch with their spirituality. 

“I never went through drug and alcohol treatment, I took my cultural route instead,” said Houle. 

“You have to do the work on yourself every day. I feel like the best way to do that is acts of service for other people.”

Other self-work methods Houle recommends are reading daily reflections first thing in the morning, staying active, having a positive mindset, and trying to maintain an overall “good” lifestyle. 

“What I have learned as a recovering addict is people can beg you, plead with you, cry to you, be angry with you, and nothing is going to make a person take that step to recovery until they are ready,” said Houle.

April’s Bold Woman says she would like to see all women who are struggling and have overcome their battles to come together and share their experiences with each other. 

“Not just Indigenous women, but all women of life,” said Houle. 

“[I encourage them to come together] so they can speak and they can share and maybe find some inspiration from other stories to find recovery.”

Congratulations to April’s Bold Woman of the Month, Lori Houle!

Information on mental health and addiction support offered through Northern Health can be found here.