Tamarack opens its doors at 64 Balmoral under the name Kia Zan and is officially incorporated on 29th April 1975.

Seeking to build connections right from the start, participants are asked to visit Kia Zan for one week prior to being accepted into the house as residential participants. All genders are welcomed.

Kia Zan moves next door to 60 Balmoral, a rental property it would later purchase to provide a permanent home for its program. Room and board costs clients $226 per month – equivalent to $746 today*.

*according to inflationtool.com 

An updated 60-day residential treatment program is launched. Participants in the program are not allowed to have outside commitments such as work. Clients who complete the program can stay in the house until they get a job and their first pay check.

An updated 60-day residential treatment program is launched. Participants in the program are not allowed to have outside commitments such as work. Clients who complete the program can stay in the house until they get a job and their first pay check.

Kia Zan Inc. changes its name to Tamarack Rehab. The new name is inspired by the tamarack tree (one of the few conifer trees that yearly sheds its needles to allow for new growth) and reflects the organisation’s commitment to growth, change and renewal for both the agency and the clients its serves.

A new logo is approved to mark this change.

Tamarack faces tough financial times and the future of the agency looks uncertain.

However, the support of funders and the generosity of local donors helps Tamarack stay afloat, secure a permanent home at 60 Balmoral, and start planning to develop its program to further meet the needs of participants.

Trauma informed workshops and counselling are offered at Tamarack, encouraging participants to make the connection between past experiences and present-day coping.

Tamarack Rehab gets a new name – Tamarack Recovery Centre – to better convey the agency’s commitment to providing longer term, recovery support that goes beyond standard rehab services.

Wanting to break down the barriers to accessing treatment, Tamarack hosts its first fundraising dinner. Proceeds support the cost of treatment for those who aren’t able to self-fund.

This event, together with those held in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, raises a total of $47,000 to support those who would otherwise not have been able to afford life-changing treatment.

Tamarack achieves Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada – a validation of its commitment to providing high quality services to meet participant needs.

This year also sees the start of a Tamarack tradition. As part of the special program graduation ceremony, each graduate paints and leaves a rock at Tamarack to honour their recovery and to represent always having a part of themselves here.

Tamarack’s existing Aftercare Program is developed into “Forward In Recovery” – a graduate focused program providing true wrap around supports including groups, counselling, drop in and warm line, free of charge to all graduates for as long as they want it.

Since running FIR, Tamarack has provided nearly 15,000 hours of aftercare supports to program alumni!

Tamarack builds connections online as it makes its first Facebook post in June of this year. Tamarack now connects with nearly 1k followers on Facebook and Instagram.

Tamarack retains Exemplary Standing after Accreditation Canada’s 4-yearly review – confirming Tamarack’s commitment to continuous quality improvement.

Transformational funding from the Moffat Family Fund at The Winnipeg Foundation enables Tamarack to purchase 54 Balmoral Street, future location of a supportive recovery home, The Branch.

The Moffat Family Fund also helps Tamarack to create the Participant Subsidy Fund offering individuals financial support to meet the costs of their treatment.

Ongoing donations from this fund as well as annual donations from The Bruce Oake Foundation and the generosity of private donors ensures Tamarack can support individuals accessing life changing treatment.

Treatment services are paused as COVID-19 impacts Canada. Tamarack develops online counselling services for program participants and recovery and support groups for all graduates.

A broader, community-oriented phone counselling and support service is also launched offering no cost recovery support services to the Manitoba community.

Participants are welcomed back to Tamarack.

 The phone counselling and support service launched in Spring is so successful that funding is sought to develop it into what is now Tamarack’s Pre-Treatment program – a free service for anyone seeking treatment and ancillary services.

Tamarack’s supportive recovery housing opens at 54 Balmoral Street. Program participants, graduates, board members and stakeholders are asked to help choose the name for this new facility. They decide on ‘The Branch’.

Tamarack achieves accreditation with Imagine Canada giving supporters confidence in the agency’s operating and governance practices.

Accreditation Canada confirms that Tamarack has once again retained Exemplary Standing in its quality assurance program.

A new Tamarack website is launched simplifying access to information about the organisation and its programs and streamlining the process for making contact with intake supports.