Monday, November 9, 2026

Strength, Hope, and Recovery

Local 63 member Zachary Bourque shares his journey to sobriety, the power of community, and how helping others has given him a renewed sense of purpose.

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By Zachary Bourque, Local 63 member

On November 7, 2026, I'll celebrate three years clean. When I was in active addiction, I couldn't imagine going three days without using, let alone three years. Looking back at how far I've come, it's pretty wild.

I grew up in Newfoundland and started experimenting with drugs when I was 13. By 16, I was living on my own. In my 20s, I worked in the offshore oil and gas industry, spending weeks at a time on a vessel hundreds of kilometres from shore. On my days off, drinking and drug use became a regular part of my life.

Over time, things got progressively worse. After my father passed away from addiction, I left the offshore industry. Eventually, I lost my relationship, my home, and my job. For a while, I was homeless. My mental health was suffering, and I couldn't seem to find a way out.

Then someone I was working with told me he'd been clean for 90 days through a 12-step recovery program. At the time, 90 days seemed impossible. It took another six months before I finally found the courage to reach out and ask him to take me to a meeting.

I remember feeling completely out of place. But as people began sharing their experiences, I realized something important: I wasn't alone. These people were describing thoughts and struggles I'd been carrying around for years.

When I asked someone what I should do next, he simply told me to come back tomorrow.

So I did.

Recovery has taught me that drugs and alcohol were symptoms of deeper issues I hadn't wanted to face. Through the program, I've learned to work through those issues rather than trying to escape them.

I've also discovered how important it is to be of service to others. I started by making coffee, setting up meeting rooms, and greeting newcomers for 12-step program meetings. Eventually, I began chairing meetings and visiting rehabilitation centres and correctional facilities to share my story of strength, hope, and recovery.

After moving to Alberta, I continued attending meetings and building a community of support. I also became a CLAC Local 63 member, working for Kiewit Energy Construction.

I have to shout out my CLAC steward, Nicholas McLean, for being a great friend and supporter. After hearing my story, he encouraged me to apply for the Matthew Manuel Branch of Hope Award, which recognizes members who have demonstrated courage and commitment in their recovery from addiction.

After hearing about the award, I did a little digging into Matthew's story and discovered we had a lot in common. We were both tradesworkers who struggled with addiction, and we shared a great sense of humour and a love for the outdoors and music. Learning about Matthew was a very real reminder of how fortunate I am to have survived my own struggles with addiction. It's a great honour and privilege to have the opportunity to share my story while helping to keep Matthew's memory alive.

Today, I'm living in Edmonton, in a beautiful apartment overlooking the riverfront. I have a home, a job, and people who rely on me. More importantly, I have a community I can turn to when things get difficult.

I've also become involved with Breaking the Silence, a local nonprofit dedicated to ending the stigma surrounding mental health. As its sporting coordinator, I've developed Breaking the Courts Junior Camp, an initiative that raises money to provide sports and mental health workshops for underprivileged children in Edmonton.

Being able to give back has become one of the most meaningful parts of my recovery.

For a long time, I kept my recovery private. Now, I'm happy to share my story with anyone willing to listen.

I've even had conversations with people at work who opened up about their own struggles after hearing about mine. Addiction doesn't discriminate. It can affect anyone, from a general labourer to a construction manager or company owner.

I think one of the hardest things about struggling with addiction is feeling like nobody could possibly understand what you're going through. But the reality is that there's a huge community of people who have been exactly where you are, and those people can show you a new way forward.

These days, I try not to focus too much on milestones. Instead, I concentrate on doing my best today, being a good person today, and reaching out when I need support.

If there's one thing I want to do with my life, it's to be helpful.

And if sharing my story helps even one person find the courage to ask for help, that's a success.

Help and hope are available

CLAC's Alcohol and Drug Case Management (ADCM) program provides confidential support and guidance to members dealing with substance use and addiction, helping them navigate treatment and recovery.

Learn more: clac.ca – Alcohol and Drug Case Management

The Matthew Manuel Branch of Hope Award recognizes and supports CLAC members on their journey of recovery from addiction, honouring the memory of Local 63 member Matthew Manuel.

Learn more: clac.ca/hope

Zachary Bourque (centre), with Stephanie Wagner, Alcohol & Drug Case Manager, and Dan Dykstra, CLAC Representative

Zachary Bourque with representatives from sponsor PicklePals Canada and members of the Youngbloods, a group of friends who volunteer their time to support his programs.

Zachary Bourque with his niece and nephew.

Zachary and his uncle golfing in Washington.

Strength, Hope, and Recovery

Help and hope are available

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