About Us
Introduction
SMART Recovery Association is a Charitable organization dedicated to empowering individuals on their journey to overcoming addiction. Using a science-based, self-empowering approach, SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) Recovery provides tools and support for people struggling with substance use and behavioral addictions. The SMART Friends and Family program supports those coping with a Loved One (LO) having issues with addiction.
Operating across Canada, the organization offers peer-supported meetings both in-person and online, helping participants develop self-reliance and practical coping skills. Through structured programs based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing, and CRAFT (Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training), SMART Recovery Association focuses on:
Building Motivation for change
Coping with Urges and cravings
Managing Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors effectively
Living a Balanced Life beyond addiction
In addition to direct support, SMART Recovery Association works with communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers to expand addiction recovery resources and awareness. The organization also trains volunteer facilitators, ensuring that SMART Recovery meetings remain accessible and impactful for those in need.
Purpose
To help individuals gain independence from addictive behavior and lead meaningful and satisfying lives. To support the availability of choices in recovery.
Mission
To offer no-fee, self-empowering, science-based, face-to-face support groups for abstaining from any substance or activity addiction.
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
SMART’s Organizational Values are the foundation of all our principles and positions.
Empowerment:
We are committed to the power of choice, offering stigma-free tools and communities for individuals to use as they make progress on their own goals to build a life beyond addiction
Equity:
We see the value in every human being and are dedicated to identifying and transcending barriers to participation in SMART Recovery.
Inclusion:
We accept and appreciate our different ways of being and support one another with respect, encouragement, and compassion.
Integrity:
We are committed to being transparent and honest in our decision-making, aligning our actions with our words.
Accountability:
We strive to have a meaningful positive impact in the world. We set goals, encourage innovation, measure progress, and follow through on our commitments
About SMART Recovery Canada
Our Mission
Our Programs
Our Programs
At SMART Recovery Canada, our mission is to offer no-fee, self-empowering, science-based support groups and help individuals lead meaningful, satisfying lives.
Our Programs
Our Programs
Our Programs
We offer programs and services to support mental health, including support groups and training.
Our Impact
Our Programs
Get Involved
Over the past year, we have helped over 1,000 individuals in our community improve their mental health and well-being.
Get Involved
Our Programs
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved with SMART Recovery Canada, including volunteering, making a donation, or attending one of our events.
SMART Recovery Board of Directors
Board Chair
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Bob Fisher, C.Mgr.
Bob is a dedicated leader and experienced management professional, currently serving as the Past President of CIM | Chartered Managers Canada. With a strong foundation in leadership, ethics, and continuous learning, he has held multiple key roles within CIM, including President, Executive Board Chair, and Secretary.
Known for his dependability, adaptability, and strong communication skills, Bob is passionate about strengthening his professional network and staying at the forefront of modern management practices.
In addition to his work with CIM, Bob is the President and Board Chair of SMART Recovery Association. As a committed facilitator, he leads a Sunday morning 4-Point meeting and a Thursday night Family & Friends meeting. He is excited to guide the organization in its evolution into SMART Canada.
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Janet Folk
Janet is a successful entrepreneur and founder of J. Folk & Associates Agencies Ltd. and the National Home Warranty Program. After selling her businesses to AVIVA Canada in 2008, she turned to philanthropy, founding the Orange Dog Foundation to rescue abandoned puppies and launching charitable ventures like Orange Dog/A Restaurant with a Cause. She has also served on the boards of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, The Zebra Child Protection Centre, and the Edmonton Humane Society.
Deeply committed to recovery support, Janet participated in weekly SMART Recovery meetings from 2021 to 2023 before becoming a certified facilitator in December 2023. She now leads a weekly Women’s Only SMART meeting and serves as a Director on the SMART Recovery Association's Board and Treasurer of the new SMART Recovery Association Board. She also shares her journey through addiction and resilience in her memoir, Hell In High Heels: How I Conquered My Demons.
Secretary
Vice-Chair & Treasurer
Director at Large
Antoinette Gravel-Ouellette
Antoinette is an Ontario Métis woman from the Algonquin Nation with over 20 years of experience in substance use harm reduction and support for individuals and families. She is deeply involved in several initiatives, including as the Canada Program Coordinator for Moms Stop the Harm, a trainer for Stronger Together Canada, and Regional Coordinator for SMART Recovery Manitoba.
Antoinette is passionate about decolonizing approaches and anti-stigmatizing practices in her work. She has played a key role in developing substance withdrawal services in Brandon, MB, and is helping to lay the groundwork for a new sobering center that will open in the future. A recognized community leader, Antoinette has received the 2021 Woman of Distinction Award for Community Leadership and Social Action. Her advocacy and support extend to grieving families impacted by substance use and overdose deaths, and she actively contributes to various collaborative efforts to raise awareness and improve community wellness.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
John Weekes, Ph.D.
John is an Adjunct Research Professor of forensic psychology and substance use health at Carleton University, where he has taught and conducted research for over 30 years. With a career spanning federal government, hospitals, research institutes, and NGOs, John is recognized internationally as an expert in substance use health, implementation science, and evidence-based practice. He has advised organizations such as the UK Ministry of Justice, Irish Prison Service, and The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice, and in 2018 received the Maud Booth Correctional Services Award from Volunteers of America.
John is an affiliate of Carleton’s Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Training Hub and serves on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Over four decades, he has contributed extensively to the field through publications, book chapters, editorial boards, and international presentations.
Guided by the voices of people with lived experience of substance use, John continues to advance science and policy. He joined the Board of Directors of SMART Recovery Canada in May 2025.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
Britni Brady
Britni is an experienced fundraising and communications professional with a strong background in nonprofit leadership across Alberta and Canada. She has led a wide range of initiatives focused on mental health, trauma recovery, and community impact, and brings a deep passion for supporting individuals and families affected by addiction.
Driven by compassion, collaboration, and a strong belief in the power of community, Britni is committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and increasing access to meaningful, person-centered supports.
Britni is honoured to serve on the SMART Recovery Canada Board and contribute to advancing hope, healing, and empowerment for people across the country.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
Dillon James Shaver
Dillon is a communications professional, business owner, and mental health advocate based in Toronto. As the founder of his own public relations practice, he brings over a decade of experience in strategic storytelling, partnerships, and community engagement. A graduate of Humber’s Addictions and Mental Health program, Dillon combines professional expertise with personal lived experience to advance recovery and mental health supports.
He first came to SMART seeking a non-judgmental, evidence-based environment where 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and recovery could coexist without stigma. Today, he facilitates SMART Recovery meetings for 2SLGBTQIA+ peers and is dedicated to building affirming, identity-inclusive communities rooted in self-determination, connection, and empowerment. Through this work, Dillon is committed to advancing SMART Recovery’s mission of providing accessible, science-based, peer-led support across Canada.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
Karlee (Kar) Mock
Kar is a certified SMART Recovery Facilitator who has championed the program across Saskatchewan since 2019. After surviving a catastrophic burn injury in 2017 and facing her own challenges with substance use, she discovered SMART Recovery during treatment and immediately connected with the tools. Since then, she has dedicated herself to growing SMART’s presence in her province.
Kar runs weekly introductory sessions, supports new facilitators, manages the SMART Recovery Saskatchewan Facebook page, and distributes handbooks to participants and professionals. She has worked closely with the Ministries of Health, Justice, and Social Services to integrate SMART Recovery into community services.
Inspired by the legacy of her late father, who devoted his life to helping disadvantaged groups, Kar continues to expand opportunities for recovery, including leading efforts to bring SMART’s Teen & Youth program to northern Saskatchewan.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
Kraig Docherty
Kraig is a certified SMART Recovery Facilitator who co-facilitates a weekly in-person meeting in White Rock, BC. With over 20 years of experience as a Chief People Officer and consultant, he specializes in guiding organizations through complexity, aligning teams during high-stakes transitions, and bringing clear, human-centred communication to his work. Kraig has supported organizations across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, from early-stage startups to large enterprises, helping leaders build the structures and cultures that enable people to thrive.
Passionate about accessible, evidence-based recovery supports, Kraig joined the SMART Recovery Canada Board to help strengthen national infrastructure, expand programming, and amplify SMART’s impact across all provinces and territories. He is committed to supporting facilitators, volunteers, and communities as SMART continues to grow across Canada.
Director at Large
Director at Large
Director at Large
Jessica Hutton
Jessica is a seasoned leader with over 15 years in senior management experience in the social services ecosystems. Specializing in systems change and service integration, she has dedicated her career to enhancing mental health and wellness services, primarily within rural and remote communities across Canada, including in Alberta, Nunavut and British Columbia.
Her work spans the social services, housing, criminal justice, and health and mental health sectors where she has focused on increasing service accessibility, improving coordination, and creating efficiencies.
Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology Jessica is also a certified Human Rights Consultant. She is based in Alberta where she lives with her son.