Our story

Forest City Healing Centre was not created through committees or large institutional planning. It began with two men from London, Ontario, who had lived experience, recognized a gap in their own community, and chose not to wait for someone else to solve it.

What started as a simple idea to provide men with a safe, respectful, and supportive place to begin recovery grew into a clear commitment to act and build something meaningful — and genuinely needed — in London.-

Board Member

Forest City Healing Centre was founded in response to a growing need for safe, structured, and trauma-informed recovery support for men in London, Ontario, and the surrounding region. Many men in early recovery face unique challenges, including pressure to appear strong, difficulty expressing emotions, and real barriers to asking for help. These realities call for care that is respectful, grounded, and rooted in lived experience.

The Centre began with a simple belief: men in our community deserve a dignified, emotionally safe place to begin recovery. In early 2024, it became clear that this type of residential support did not exist close to home — and we chose to respond. What started as a conversation became a commitment to build something steady, structured, and compassionate for men seeking stability and clarity in early recovery.

Turning that idea into reality required time, persistence, and deliberate care. Renovations, planning, and program development demanded steady hands and a clear sense of purpose. This work was shaped not by institutions or committees, but by action, community support, and a deep responsibility to the people we serve.

London is our home. It’s where we’ve built our lives, and where we believe meaningful work should give back. Contributing something of value to the community that shaped us felt both necessary and personal.

Our story is rooted in service. Shaped by lived experience, we set out to create something that did not previously exist here: a non-medical residential recovery environment for men that emphasizes emotional safety, routine, accountability, and connection — a place designed for neighbours, families, and men seeking a fair and steady start in recovery.

This work has not been easy. If it had been approached purely as a business venture, it may have been easier to walk away. But we leaned in because we care deeply about this community, the people in it, and the men who deserve access to thoughtful, respectful, and dignified recovery support.

Everything at Forest City Healing Centre — from our 20-bed home-like setting, to our structured daily rhythm, to our long-term vision for continued support — reflects this intention. The Centre exists to offer men clarity, stability, and steady footing as they take their first steps toward healthier patterns and lasting recovery in London and Southwestern Ontario.

— Drew & Alek