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Live your life.

Build your recovery.

You don’t need to disappear from work, family, or responsibility to learn the skills that make a substance-free life sustainable.

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What is it?

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EPIC Recovery Weekend Program

Most people don’t relapse because they

“don’t want it badly enough.”

They relapse because life gets loud and their coping gets thin. Stress stacks up, sleep falls apart, emotions get messy, and suddenly the mind starts negotiating again. If you’re functioning day-to-day but keep getting pulled back into the same pattern, this program was built for you. Weekend structure, real skills, and support that respects your privacy, your responsibilities, and your future.

ADDICTION RECOVERY ON YOUR TERMS...

The EPIC Weekend Program

It is a structured, non-residential recovery program designed for people in early recovery and chronic relapse who want to build a stable, substance-free lifestyle without stepping away from work, family, pets, or daily responsibilities. This is recovery maintenance and relapse prevention, delivered with the kind of structure and accountability people usually associate with residential care, while you still sleep in your own bed.

This program is not a withdrawal management (detox) program, and it is not crisis care. It’s for people who are medically stable, able to participate in a learning-based group environment, and ready to remain substance-free while attending EPIC programming and while on the premises.

Built for real life

One of the biggest advantages of a weekend program is that you don’t learn recovery inside a bubble. You practice the skills in real time, at home, at work, and in your actual routine. Then, when you come back the following weekend, you troubleshoot what worked, tighten what didn’t, and keep building momentum over the duration of the program.

If you attend, you’ll spend your weekends learning practical coping skills, strengthening your routine, and creating a recovery plan that holds up in the real world. The goal isn’t just “don’t use.” The goal is to build a life where you don’t need to.

And it doesn’t end after the core eight weeks. Your enrollment includes lifetime access to EPIC’s online recovery programming and ongoing access to free community recovery groups, so you can stay connected to support whenever you need it. It’s a recovery apprenticeship, not a one-and-done program.

Who this program is for

This program is a strong fit for people who can stop for periods of time but struggle to stay consistent, people who feel stuck in repeated relapse, and people who are still functioning day-to-day but know their substance use is quietly costing them and the people they love. It’s also an ideal fit for professionals and working adults who want privacy, structure, and real support without leaving their jobs or home lives.

It is equally well suited for individuals who are already maintaining abstinence, but want a structured refresher, added accountability, or relapse prevention support to protect the progress they have worked hard to build.

Who this program is not for

If you’re currently in acute withdrawal, require detox, are in an active crisis, or need 24-hour monitoring and stabilization, this program is not the right first step. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988. For non-urgent navigation of addiction services in Ontario, contact Connex Ontario.

How the Weekend Program Works

Step 1: Apply and get approved

Start with a short application so we can confirm the program is the right fit for your needs, safety, and readiness. If you qualify, you’ll be approved to begin immediately.

Step 2: Start the hybrid program right away

Upon approval, you get access to the hybrid experience, including online recovery programming and tools you can begin using right away, even before the next in-person start date.

Step 3: Build a plan with an Addiction Counsellor

You’ll meet with an Addiction Counsellor to clarify your recovery goals, identify your relapse patterns, and create a personalized plan that fits your life, not a generic template.

Step 4: Attend the next available start date

The core program runs for eight consecutive weeks, with structured weekend programming designed to build coping, stability, and recovery maintenance. A waitlist may apply depending on start dates.

Step 5: Use EPIC supports during the week

While enrolled, you’re encouraged to attend as many weekday wellness and skill-building activities as possible. This is where weekend learning becomes real-life change.

Step 6: Graduate the core program, then start your apprenticeship

After the core eight weeks, your recovery doesn’t end. You keep lifetime access to EPIC’s online recovery programming and ongoing access to free community recovery groups, so you can stay connected and keep your recovery maintenance strong.

Real change doesn’t come from one good weekend. It comes from taking what you learn, practicing it in real life, and coming back to refine it until it sticks. That’s why this program isn’t built on motivation or willpower. It’s built on repetition, structure, and support, so you’re not doing recovery alone between sessions.

What’s Included in the EPIC Weekend Program

Core Weekend Program

Eight Saturdays of structured education and guided recovery skill building (9 AM to 3 PM)
Intro to Recovery in-person info session
Certificate of completion
Letter of attendance available upon request

Clinical Support and Personalized Planning

Intake and screening session
Personalized recovery planning with an Addiction Counsellor
One-on-one addiction support sessions
Discharge and long-term recovery support plan

Coaching, Accountability, and FOLLOW-UP

Recovery coach access
Daily digital accountability check-ins
Three, six, and twelve-month quality of life check-ins

Community Recovery Support

Weekly in-person recovery groups
Weekly online virtual recovery groups*
Invite only, community support group
Access to additional in-person recovery activities and events

Wraparound Wellness Supports

Acupuncture, yoga, and meditation groups included
Encouraged weekday wellness and skill-building activities during enrolment
One-year gym membership

Recovery Tools and Take-Home Resources

Printable worksheets and practical PDF resources
Recovery education workbook
90-day self-awareness journal
Weekly recovery emails, blogs, and skill prompts
Additional trusted YouTube and online resources

Lifetime Online Programming Access

Lifetime access to EPIC’s online recovery programming content*
Ongoing recovery support groups through EPIC’s virtual platform

Family Support and Education

Free family support groups
50% off Recovery Allies Online (valued at $495)
Access to family and couples workshops and education seminars**

*Virtual groups and online programming are delivered through EPIC’s online platform.
**Workshops and seminars are offered on a rotating schedule and may require registration.

Self-Screening

A quick fit check for the EPIC Weekend Program

This program is designed for people who are medically stable, able to participate in a learning-based group environment, and ready to remain substance-free while attending EPIC programming and while on the premises.

Your honesty is important because this is about safety, program integrity, and making sure you get the right level of support.

I can commit to attending eight consecutive Saturdays (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM).

Yes / No

Living psychoactive substance-free is my goal, and I am willing to remain substance-free while participating in all EPIC programming and while on EPIC premises.

Yes / No

I have a stable living situation and a safe enough home environment to practice recovery skills during the week.

Yes / No

My physical health is stable enough to participate safely in a group-based learning environment.

Yes / No

My mental health is stable enough to participate safely in a group environment without creating risk to myself or others.

Yes / No

I understand this is not a detox or crisis program, and I am not currently in acute withdrawal or in need of 24-hour monitoring.

Yes / No

If you answered “Yes” to most of the questions above, you’re likely a fit to apply. If you’re unsure, you can still reach out. We’ll help you determine the right next step.