Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the House a wonderful institution in my riding of Calgary West.
Simon House is an addiction treatment centre with one of the best recovery rates in North America. It was founded in 1983 by Brother Bernard Barry.
The Catholic diocese provided two houses to develop safe housing for indigent men. It has helped over 2,400 men with alcoholism, drug addiction and physical and mental disabilities.
In 2007 Simon House was the recipient of the William H. Donner Award for Excellence in Delivery of Social Services, the Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse, and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management. The Donner Award is the highest award achievable in Canada for addiction treatment.
Simon House is a privately funded institution that does not receive any government moneys. It relies on donations from corporations and the public.
I express congratulations to Simon House on its 25th anniversary.