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.

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"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.