Our Team

A serious car accident in his twenties became a turning point in Drew’s life and led him to embrace sobriety. Through recovery, he rebuilt both his personal foundation and his career as a powerline technician, grounding his life in spiritual principles and accountability. Years later, a second life-altering accident resulted in significant injuries and brought new challenges. As his health and career were deeply impacted, Drew reached another pivotal moment — one that required him to step away from his profession and re-centre his life around purpose and service. Drew lives by the principle “You can’t keep it unless you give it away,” which continues to guide his commitment to sponsoring others and supporting men through the 12-Step model. In 2018, he envisioned creating a place that could offer meaningful support to those facing addiction. That vision became a calling to transform the former detox centre on Queen Street into a healing environment rooted in dignity, structure, and care. Drew committed fully to bringing this vision to life. Today, his mission is to create a place that offers thoughtful care and education for men in recovery — driven by lived experience, deep compassion, and a belief that London needs this Centre now more than ever.

Alek Kontic’s journey through recovery, spanning 17 years, has not only transformed his personal life but has also led to remarkable entrepreneurial success. After seeking help at various treatment centres across the country, Alek found lasting change through the principles of the 12-Step Fellowship and a renewed sense of purpose. These values became the foundation upon which he rebuilt his life. Since then, Alek has founded and grown several thriving businesses, all of which provide employment opportunities to people in recovery, embodying his commitment to giving back. He also owns multiple properties in the city of London and has created a loving home with his wife and three children, who have shared in his journey of recovery and success. Alek’s approach to business is rooted in the principles of fairness and integrity that he embraced during his recovery — values that now shape all aspects of his life. His entrepreneurial achievements reflect his dedication to doing the next right thing, not only for himself but for those around him, as he continues to make a positive impact on his community.

With over a decade of frontline experience across addiction treatment, withdrawal management, harm reduction, and mental health support, Tom brings a deeply grounded, clinically informed perspective to program development and client care. His work has spanned hospital-based withdrawal management, correctional settings, community mental health, and residential addiction services—providing him with a comprehensive understanding of substance-use patterns, crisis response, trauma-aware support, and continuity-of-care planning. Tom is trained in CPI (Non-Violent Crisis Intervention), ASIST, and trauma-informed methodologies, and holds certification as an ADHD Clinical Services Provider. His background includes delivering intake assessments, motivational interviewing, relapse-prevention work, crisis stabilization, and interdisciplinary case collaboration within organizations such as CMHA, Grand River Hospital, and London Cares. Grounded in ethics, compassion, and professional integrity, Tom’s clinical lens informs every aspect of the Forest City Healing Centre’s programming and operational standards.

Dr. Janel Gracey is a highly credentialed addiction and pain-management physician with over 15 years of diverse clinical experience across addiction medicine, chronic pain, family practice, and hospitalist care. She has built and led successful addiction clinics, served as an interventional pain specialist, and held long-standing roles with CMHA London, the Centre for Pain Management, Thames Valley Addiction Services, and multiple treatment centres. Her advanced certifications include CCFP, Methadone for Pain and Addiction Exemptions, International and Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Certification, and American Academy of Pain Management Certification. With expertise spanning RAAM clinics, interdisciplinary care, program development, and medical education, Dr. Gracey brings deep authority and real-world leadership to addiction treatment and pain-management innovation. Credentials CCFP (2008–Present) Methadone for Pain Exemption (2009–Present) Methadone for Addiction Exemption (2010–Present) International and Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Certification (2013–Present) American Academy of Pain Management Certification (2014–Present) Certificate in International Medicine (2007–Present)

Edvin Jose is an engineer by training, with a master’s degree in Advanced Engineering Management from the United Kingdom. He applies this expertise in his role at Forest City Healing Centre, drawing on his background in planning and systems design to help build safe, stable, and well-organized environments where individuals can focus on their recovery. Edvin is deeply committed to person-centred, dignity-affirming care and works collaboratively with the team to strengthen programs, improve processes, and support sustainable paths to healing. Known for his calm presence, careful listening, and practical problem-solving skills, he often serves as a bridge between vision and day-to-day operations. At the heart of his work is a clear belief that every person deserves compassionate support, a second chance, and the opportunity to rebuild a hopeful future. Education Credentials M.Sc. Advanced Engineering Management – Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom

Nathan has dedicated the past year to serving as lead volunteer, coordinator, and on-site property manager at FCHC, working tirelessly to restore the Centre and prepare it to welcome the community. His faith-driven commitment and steady leadership reflect a deep belief that true purpose is found in serving God and others with humility and care. As FCHC’s spiritual peer support and 12-step liaison, Nathan provides men with a compassionate space to explore spirituality and connect with CA, AA, NA, and the broader recovery community. Drawing on years of sponsorship and one-on-one mentoring, he brings a unique faith-based perspective and a heartfelt conviction that every man who enters the Centre can experience healing and transformation.

Claudia’s career sits at the intersection of care, compliance, and operational excellence. With a thirty-year career guiding healthcare organizations through complex human resources, operations, privacy, and governance requirements—along with serving in COO roles in both healthcare organizations and health-tech companies—she brings a steady, systems-level perspective to board governance. Her strategic work advising innovative startups further strengthens her ability to balance vision with practicality. Claudia is deeply committed to safeguarding client trust, ensuring that care environments operate with integrity, compassion, and strong ethical foundations. She excels at strengthening organizational resilience by optimizing processes, enhancing oversight, and supporting teams in delivering safe, high-quality, person-centred care.

Trevor Hinds is a senior finance and operations executive with extensive experience across the nonprofit, public, and social-impact sectors. He currently serves as Director of Finance at the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, leading national financial strategy, systems modernization, and data governance initiatives. Trevor’s background spans strategic planning, Lean process improvement, and organizational transformation in service of vulnerable and equity-seeking communities. He is committed to supporting FCHC’s vision of accessible, community-driven mental-health support rooted in dignity and evidence-informed practice.

Jeremy Scherle is an insurance professional with more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry. He holds a diploma in Risk Management from Sheridan College and has built his career around helping individuals and organizations navigate complex insurance needs. Drawing on his own lived experience with addiction and long-term recovery, Jeremy is deeply committed to supporting individuals who are still suffering. He brings a compassionate, recovery-informed perspective to his work with Forest City Healing Centre, helping to foster environments rooted in dignity, hope, and practical support.

Ryan Ferrara is a seasoned policy analyst and change management specialist with almost 15 years of experience in strategic communications, organizational transformation, policy and procurement across the Government of Canada. Ryan is passionate about helping leaders navigate complexity and driving meaningful change. Impressed by the facility, the holistic approach to healing, and the drive and intentions of its founders, Ryan has been energized to give back to the community through supporting the Forest City Healing Centre.

Joe Hammill serves as a valued advisory board member for FCHC, bringing extensive executive experience in organizational strategy, business development, and stakeholder engagement. Based in London, Ontario, Joe has led teams across diverse sectors and contributed meaningfully to innovative start-up environments, strengthening FCHC’s capabilities in both governance and long term growth. Outside his professional pursuits, Joe is deeply family-oriented, enjoys exploring the outdoors, and is passionate about home cooking—qualities that complement his commitment to advancing FCHC’s social enterprise mission with authenticity and care.

Retired, Sr. Vice-President, Human Resources, Canada at Canada Life Assurance Company. Through many years as an HR professional, and personally, I’ve seen the impact of addiction on an individual's work, and professional and personal relationships. The opportunity to work with Drew, Alek and their team, as well as the Advisory Board of FCHC, has helped me to better understand the strength, courage and resilience required of those facing addiction and committing to the recovery journey. My admiration and respect for those in this organization were initially sparked by the team’s genuine desire and commitment to helping those struggling with addiction in the London community. My regard has only grown as I observed Drew and Alek’s capacity to learn and tenacity to let nothing stand in the way of achieving their goal.

Justin is a lawyer licensed to practise in Ontario and brings a practical, human-centred approach to his work and community involvement. He is deeply passionate about helping people navigate difficult circumstances and believes in meeting individuals where they are — with empathy, respect, and perspective. A self-described “legal nerd,” Justin approaches challenges with curiosity and a commitment to questioning the status quo. His legal practice focuses on condominium management and land development, where he is known for being a strong listener, a creative problem-solver, and a trusted advisor to his clients and colleagues alike. Justin is particularly drawn to the early stages of development, where he helps clients see the broader potential of their projects and builds solutions grounded in sustainability and long-term impact. Outside the office, Justin is a hands-on craftsman who enjoys mechanics and woodworking, and he recharges in the outdoors through backcountry hiking and canoeing. He is proud to contribute his time and perspective to supporting recovery, resilience, and community wellness.