Just over three years ago, my best friend finally admitted she had the disease of alcoholism. For the next year she tried to overcome it by seeking help through a number of treatment alternatives including detoxification and treatment at recognized hospital programs, Alcoholics Anonymous and tremendous family support, but they were not successful for her. Then she learned about The Jean Tweed Centre.

Jean Tweed was a broadcaster, journalist and book store owner in the early 1980s who found that although there were a number of facilities to which men could turn for assistance, there were none for women. Sadly, she died before the facility that bears her name opened in 1984.

The Jean Tweed Centre, based in Etobicoke, accommodates women from all over Ontario for help in overcoming alcohol and substance abuse. The residential facility houses 18 women for a 21 day program to rehabilitate and physically and mentally regroup to restart their lives and this is followed by an ongoing 2 year program of support as well as a relapse prevention program. Family support programs as well as day care for children help family members cope through this difficult time in all of the family members lives.

The treatment program has an outstanding success rate of 90% - and I am thrilled that my friend has been successful to the extent that she is now an active volunteer with the centre.
— Paul Mann

The Wood Family: Brendan, Stephanie, Patrick, Anne

Vladimir and Ljubica Pjevic (little Tara made her appearance 2 weeks later!)

Vickrum Arora, Michelle Rabba, Jon Ritter and Milan Roy