Chelsie Graham

“Hi, my name is Chelsie, and I am a recent graduate of U of C’s Bachelor of Social Work, a registered social worker, and, like ROC Team Member, Noor, a dog mom!

I am the child of parents who experience problematic relationships with alcohol and have since I was very young. Because of this, my thoughts and feelings towards substance use and addiction were coloured darkly by experience and misconceptions about addiction.

I began my social work journey in 2018 and during that time grew to face those misconceptions, though I was still certain I could never fairly work in the field of harm reduction or addiction without my own values and bias getting in the way.

By the end of my Diploma program at Bow Valley College in 2020, my values were already shifting, and I was facing my bias, and, with curiosity, I was unpacking them.

By the time I met Dr. Victoria Burns, there was already a massive movement in my own attitude. Victoria shared her journey with us as an Academic in recovery and through her admission, I learned the value of understanding the recovery journey and celebrating it.

I began volunteering with the University of Calgary Recovery Community and took in as much training as time allowed around substance use, harm reduction, and, most importantly, recovery allyship.

Today, my views centre around connection and togetherness.

Understanding that community is key to breaking down barriers to healthy living when experiencing problematic relationships with behaviours and substances.

Reducing and even eliminating the stigma around substance use is key.

I never thought I would be working in this field, and now, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else…

Bringing a strong community to those who are in, seeking, or curious about recovery.

Making campuses in Alberta less recovery-threatening, and more secure for those who want to learn and grow in healthy ways in whichever way that is best for the individual.”