Our Team
Lynda Lougheed
BSW, MSW, RSW
Using her professional and personal experiences, Lynda brings a wealth of knowledge related to addiction. Lynda has worked as the Clinical Practice Lead for Social Work at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Center for over 18 years, and as a frontline social worker. Lynda has provided instrumental support to patients and families struggling to cope with addiction and the loss of a loved one. She was also the Executive Director for a youth-at risk program, as well as the Program Coordinator for a parenting resource agency. Lynda has practiced as a family mediator, parent educator, and Sessional Instructor at Simon Fraser University. She has served as a member of the Critical Care Ethics Committee at VGH, is currently the Vice Chair for the Canadian Society for Information Children. She obtained a BSW and MSW from the University of BC and is a Registered Social Worker in BC.
Aside from professional experience with addiction, Lynda understands the chaos, fear and many overwhelming emotions family members experience when their loved one is addicted. Lynda has navigated her way through her own family addiction issues. Lynda is steadfast in her compassion, hope for the future, and commitment to walking along side those navigating this most difficult time.
Lynda enjoys spending time with her family, her cats and dog, and is a painter, lover of nature, a bad golfer, but loves it and can often be found at the gym.
Peter Chalick
Operations Manager
Peter has been working in the addictions field for 3 years. He began at another treatment center in the Okanagan, as a XXX (support worker) and then at the Oaks Wellness Center since XXX. Peter, is an outstanding multi tasker and was recently promoted to General Manager. Peter, not only manages the operations, assists clients with appointments, but also participates as a facilitator in the Oak’s programming. BEEF UP TRAINING/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Peter understands addiction and what individuals go through. He spent many years as a teen and young adult in active addiction. Peter always felt like he never fit in, and had no sense of self, always wanting to be what he perceived others wanted him to be. He witnessed the harm, he not only did to himself, but to his loved ones. He made the decision at 34 to get help and went to a treatment center. Peter began a road to self-discovery; he became spiritually connected and began the journey into recovery. Peter is actively involved with the 12-step community and continues to do service within the fellowship.
Peter is passionate about sharing his experience, strength and hope with others still suffering from the harms of addiction. Peter understands the struggle and is strong in his belief there is hope and recovery is possible for those struggling with addiction.
Since recovery Peter met his beautiful wife Kate and is the father to 3 wonderful children. He enjoys watching his children grow, family time and relaxing at many of the Shuswap beaches, boating, fishing, hiking and snowboarding.
Pat Mandryk
CACII, OFS
Pat has been working in the addictions field for 28 years, at several prominent treatment centers, as a XX -role- (addictions counsellor, XXX). He is a certified addictions counsellor (CAC II), licensed in Trauma Incident Reduction (TIR) from the Applied Metapsychology International Institute (AMI). Pat received an Addictions Studies Diploma from Mount Royal University, and is also a Secular Franciscan (OFS), which allows Pat to offer Pastoral Counselling. Pat runs a Men’s group in the Salmon Arm community focussing on anger, violence, relationships, and sex addiction, to name a few.
Pat considers himself “one of the lucky ones.” He was in active addiction for 20 years and feels fortunate that right from the start he was enthralled with the concept of recovery. Pat has been in recovery for 20 years. He feels that he has a new loving family in his 12-step community. Pat has travelled the world and met tens of thousands in recovery and has explored many facets of this. He is not only familiar with 12-step, but also S.M.A.R.T and, Dharma Recovery and has further explored his grandfather’s Blackfoot teachings and ceremonies, and other teachings from Buddhism and Islam. Pat is active in learning about new therapies, religions, and philosophies.
Pat says there is nothing more satisfying to him than watching individuals come back from the deep despair of the life ending path they were on when addicted. ANYTHING MORE HERE ABOUT PASSION TO SEE OTHERS EMBRACE RECOVERY….
Pat enjoys spending time with his two rescue dogs, long rides on his motorcycle and gardening.
Michelle Whalley, RTC, CCAC (Cand)
Addictions Counsellor
Michelle began her formal education in 1996 obtaining her Special Needs Worker certificate (or diploma??) from the Okanagan University. Michelle began a career assisting those with developmental and physical challenges in the health care field. Michelle then went on to obtain her Diploma in Counselling from Vancouver College of Counsellor Training (VCCT) in 2006. Michelle is currently registered as a Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC), and is a candidate to obtain her Canadian Certified Addictions Counsellor (CCAC). (Did you get this)?
Michelle began working in the addictions field in 2019, at the same time, she made her own personal commitment to recovery. Although, Michelle had been free from drug and alcohol use since 2009, she felt she fell into an emotional and spiritual relapse. Today Michelle is reconnecting with people in recovery and is able to share her experience of hope. Her approach to recovery is humanistic, focussing on the mind, body and soul and how this is interconnected to the larger ecosystem of community, society and family. Michelle sees the importance of a spiritual connection, that helps those to heal and grow in their recovery.
Joey Bartek
Aftercare Support Worker
Joey has worked in the addictions field for over 4 years. He has worked in 2 recovery centers, as a XXXX. Joey is a committed learner to all things related to health and wellbeing, from a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual viewpoints. He is a wealth of knowledge in alternative therapies that assist in the recovery process. Joey has a particular interest in supporting residents with a robust after care plan, and works with them to explore and work on their aftercare plan. Joey also leads the Alumni group (can you say more about this, what do you do, how often and how do you meet). Joey runs XXXX (aftercare pysch eds, yoga….)
Joey has personal experience with addiction. He recalls that his view of life was severally restricted and his sole focus became obtaining and using drugs for many years. As he says “addiction was the employer and I was the employee who worked endless overtime to feed the addiction.” Joey is an active member of the 12-step community and took his 5 year chip in August 2023. Joey believes recovery is a process of discovering wholeness of the heart and spirit and he is passionate about sharing that with others. Joey is active in helping others in the throes of addiction, he regularly makes up survivor bags and distributes them to the homeless. He believes in paying it forward, and has had many opportunities to help those struggling. Joey is passionate about witnessing the “light bulb moments” with people who have struggled, as he did.
Joey enjoys summers on the beach, feet in the sand, hikes, Frisby, softball, meditation, Tia Chi, the gym, snowboarding, hot/cold therapy and many more healthy activities to support his wellbeing. Joey is grateful for the life he lives today, rather than merely surviving as he used to when in active addiction.
Personal Aftercare
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Physical Healing
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Emotional Healing
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Drug and Alcohol Rehab
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