‘We’re new, the problem isn’t:’ Local woman aims to help locals ‘lost in the crowd’ with new healing society

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local woman in Fort St. John is going above and beyond to assist others lost in the throes of mental health and addiction.

Devynn Lessard-Wiebe is the founder of the Sevynn Spirits Healing Society, which will hold its first community event on Saturday, May 30th, with a community clean-up at Beatton River campgrounds in Baldonnel.

Now on a path to sobriety, Lessard-Wiebe spoke to Energeticcity.ca about her vision for society, which will fundraise for a ‘Workforce and Stability Bridge’ model.

“We are brand new, but the problem that I’m trying to essentially help out with is not,” said Lessard-Wiebe. “There are gaps inside our community which occur in a workforce-related town.”

“People tend to get lost in the grind, and sometimes stay lost.  By the time they realize how burnt out and worn they are and add little things like tragedy to the mix, you have fallen farther than you thought you’d ever really fall.”

Lessard-Wiebe envisions a facility in Fort St. John, one where individuals can access support, healing, and treatment programs grounded in an Indigenous-based model of healing circles, spirituality, and community connection.

“I want to be able to develop programs that have places for people to go to feel some sort of stability,” said Lessard-Wiebe. “So they can start getting back on their feet, so they can start healing.  A place [people can] send their mail to [or] have somebody that will help [write] resumes and have somebody that will hold them accountable.”

The event on May 30th is something Lessard-Wiebe saw as an opportunity to bring members of the community from all walks of life together and will build the momentum for the launch of long-term, self-sustaining local assistance programs through the society.

“I don’t want to build something for the community, I want to build it with the community,” said Lessard-Wiebe. “That’s why I started in the way that I am with the Beaton River cleanups.”

“What my group is about is pulling people together to mitigate a problem, and no matter what that problem is, [such as] healing themselves.  It’s a positive thing that we can do as a community that doesn’t involve drinking and doesn’t involve drugs.”

If you would like to assist in the building of the Lessard-Wiebe’s Sevynn Spirits Healing Society, contact her by phone at 250-306-8442 or by email at SS.HealingSociety@gmail.com.