Laurel Mackie is being applauded for her work in the field of addictions.
Mackie, executive director of Creighton Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), has furthered addictions treatment and awareness in the area over the past three decades.
Her dedication to helping those who suffer from addictions was recognized last month in Saskatoon as part of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan Methadone and Suboxone Substitution Therapy conference.
Mackie was the sole recipient of the Addictions Professional Association’s Angus Campbell Award for excellence in the field of addictions.
“It’s a huge honour,” she said.
The award comes with significant professional recognition and also holds personal meaning for Mackie, who knew Angus Campbell personally.
“He was my first mentor in the field,” she said. “He was the first addictions worker in Saskatchewan and received the Order of Merit and the Order of Canada. At my first conference he came up to me and offered to help me in any way he could.”
Mackie had been working as the manager of the Flin Flon Crisis Centre when her career took a new path and she became the first executive director of CADAC in December 1986.
Over the years she took extensive training to become a certified addictions counsellor, and gained certifications in numerous therapy disciplines.
“Laurel is known throughout the addictions community in the province of Saskatchewan for her innovative work,” said CADAC chairwoman Carol Hydamaka, who put the nomination forward. “She is a certified addictions counsellor and has been on several committees provincially, setting standards for the addictions field.”
Mackie said she enjoys the community education aspect of her job, including making presentations and producing educational documents and health programs.
She is responsible for the redevelopment of the SGI documents relating to alcohol use and has developed numerous games to aid in awareness and healing.
The games, based on game shows and reality shows, include Drug Jeopardy!, The Amazing Rat Race and Who Wants to be a Health Millionaire. They are being used throughout the province, with additional educational materials Mackie has created.
“Who Wants to be a Health Millionaire was originally presented to the community as part of a National Drug Awareness Week kickoff held at the Flin Flon Community Hall with Don Burnstick as the host and celebrities such as [NHL legend] Reggie Leach as contestants,” said Mackie. “It was a community effort to win and bring this national focus to our area with several partners such as the Friendship Centre and Addictions Foundation Manitoba.”
With a focus on entertainment, reaching people and helping them learn and move forward is easier, according to Mackie.
“I am a strong believer that education and learning happens when we are having fun. No lectures from me,” she said.
With Mackie at the helm, CADAC is active in the community, bringing a message of family fun without the need for substances to a number of events.
She worked to develop First Night Out, a chemical-free New Year’s Eve celebration that includes games, entertainment and fun.
“I felt it was important to model a great family event without alcohol,” she said.
Mackie is quick to praise community members who work hard to support such events.
“The community has taken over the idea and now there are lots of events that are family centred without substances,” she said. “We were never about prohibition, but we want to show people that there are lots of things to do without the need for substances.”
The Festival of Trees is another major event hosted by CADAC that brings the community together. Established as a fundraiser for the non-profit organization, the annual event involves other community groups as well.
“We want to be a good corporate citizen and I think we’ve done that over the years,” said Mackie. “We’ve supported other charities and helped people who are struggling. It makes you feel good when you are helping others.”
