AA members in northern Ont. come together for annual convention Thanksgiving weekend
The Northeastern Ontario chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous -- known as Area 84 -- is hosting its first convention in several years.
Next weekend's event will feature speakers, a dinner and dance and even a talent show.
"You’ve never seen people dance until you've seen sober alcoholics dance. We're no longer making spectacles of ourselves. We're celebrating life," says Sarah.
Ron, who has been sober for more than 50 years, said he still remembers the first day he walked into an AA meeting.
"I got sober 1972 -- it was Valentine's Day," he said.
"Of course I didn't know it was Valentine's Day. I didn't even know it was February. I came in under duress, like most people do. I don't think there's a lot of alcoholics that wake up in the morning and say, 'You know what? I would like to get sober today.'"
Sarah said it took about a year for her to feel like the meeting would help her.
"I wasn't really even sober when I went to my first meeting," she said.
"But people were very kind and they had no expectations. And they kept saying, keep coming back."
Ron said members rely on one another for support and while AA is there to help anyone and everyone, they aren’t out looking for people.
"We're not crusaders, after all," he said.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
"If somebody wants help, we'll be happy to help them. We have an office here in Sudbury, up on Barry Downe Road where people can drop in and chat."
Area 84 extends from the southern shores of Hudson Bay to the northern shores of Lake Huron. Next weekend, members will come together for the convention, titled 'Celebrating Good Times.'
Organizers said they are expecting a couple hundred people.
The 57th annual Area 84 Convention is Oct. 11-13 at the Radison Hotel in downtown Sudbury.
To register, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
NDP house leader laments 'agents of chaos' in precarious Parliament
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.