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About Pine River Institute

Pine River Institute is a residential treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth 13 to 19 struggling with mental health issues, and specifically substance abuse. Their family lives are in uproar. Their personal and academic lives are in jeopardy. These are kids who have exhausted other interventions, and need a new, creative approach.

That new approach is available in a peaceful area outside of Toronto, where family-centered wilderness, therapeutic, and academic programs come together in a unique, holistic treatment and educational model. At Pine River, we address the self-destructive behaviour. We teach math skills and life skills side-by-side. We take all the time it takes to rebuild a life. And we remain supportive of our families long after the program ends.

A place where kids and families can start to feel whole again.

24 January 12

SAVE THE DATE – TREAD 6-HOUR TRAIL RUN RELAY FOR PINE RIVER, MAY 27th, 2012


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Pine River is really excited to be teaming up with Chico Racing for the Tread 6-Hour Trail Run Relay to raise funds for our Help Make A Home Campaign! 

The challenge, camaraderie, and beautiful outdoor setting is an ode to the incredible journey of our students, their families, and the dedicated staff who work with them.

Combining the thrill of off-road running or hiking with the camaraderie of a team event, the TREAD 6-Hour Trail Run Relay is the perfect team event to enjoy the outdoors!  Race solo, or on a team of 2, 3 or 4, and send 1 person at a time on an Epic 4 km trail with twisty ascents and harrowing descents. After completing your lap you’ll tag off to your teammate and enjoy the festivities as you cheer on your friends - all while raising funds to bring hope to youth and families fighting substance abuse and mental health problems in Ontario.  The most memorable 6 hours you’ll spend all year!

Date: Sunday, May 27th, 2012

Place: Mansfield Outdoor Centre, Mansfield, Ontario

Info and registration (starting in February):

http://chicoracing.com/2012-trail-running-schedule/epic-6-hour-trail-run-relay/overview-and-schedule.html

When you register for the event, you’ll get your own fundraising webpage to help gather support for your participation.  Every donation will go towards Pine River’s Help Make A Home Campaign to secure our home and expand our capacity to help more students and families.

Get your team together!  Start stretching! 

We’ll let you know when registration opens in February, and keep you posted on PRIZES, ENTERTAINMENT, and other incentives to get your team out there for this sure-to-be-epic event!

We look forward to seeing you May 27th!

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23 January 12
We're Hiring! Wilderness Field Instructors. Click here for details!
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12 December 11

The Family Navigation Project

“Navigating the patchwork of available mental health resources is not only a confusing and stressful experience, but also a barrier to getting the help and support needed for recovery.”  We’ve heard this from so many families that come to Pine River for help.  Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre’s Psychiatrist-in-chief Dr. Anthony Levitt was inspired to address this issue and initiated The Family Navigation Project, a new resource to “help guide and support youth and families with mental health needs in finding the right care and resources for them when they need it most.”  This is such an important service - kudos to the Sunnybrook team for taking this on!  Project Manager Nadine Zahlan recently visited Pine River for the project.  

Read her visit report and find out more about the project here: 

http://familynavigationproject.sunnybrook.ca/2011/12/pine-river-institute-and-private-pay.html 

 

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1 December 11

Fearless Tiger Girl Conference

On November 30th the female students from Pine River Institute attended the Fearless Tiger Girl’s
Conference in Toronto.  This is the second year that our students have attended this conference that focuses on girls’ empowerment and the prevention of violence against women. The students and staff that attended enjoyed the event and plan to share their learning with the rest of the school community by organizing a awareness day focused on Healthy Relationships.

Follow this link to learn more about Fearless Tiger Girl Conference


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14 November 11

Lest We Forget

On November 11th the students at Pine River Institute organized a touching ceremony for Remembrance Day.   Students shared stories, read poems and sang songs that reflected the themes of Remembrance, Sacrifice, Gratitude and Freedom.   One student presented an original poem that he wrote in honour of our fallen heroes.  Also, a group of three students wrote and performed a rap song to commemorate the day.  The highlights of this moving and inspirational ceremony were the creativity and confidence of the students involved.  Lest we forget.

Remember          

By Ben S.

Remember the Fallen Heroes, Lives severed, Their Souls tethered,

Fallen Heroes, Remember, Fallen like the Snowflakes of December.

Remember The Fathers, The Sons, The Brothers,

Remember the Heroes Forever,

Remember the Sacrifice They Made on That Endeavor,

They Had no Choice, but to Use Weapons and Force, With no Course, Reason or Voice,

They Fought for You, They Fought for Me,

They Fought for a Gift, That We Could Live Free,

To Some, Having Freedom is Worth Crying for,

To Them, Giving Freedom Was Worth Dying for.

They Fought for Freedom, That was Their Mission,

They Didn’t Fight for My Freedom, so I Could End up in Prison,

They Didn’t Fight for Freedom, so They Could be Missed,

They Fought for Freedom, Families, and Loved Ones, Risked,

Freedom, With a Verdict, We Couldn’t Predict,

Freedom, so That I can Fight My Demons, and be More Than “Just An Addict”.

They Fought Through Struggle and Strife,

So That You and I Could Live a Righteous Life.

And so I am Thankful for Their Sacrifice,

So Thankful, That a Moment of Silence, Just Won’t Suffice.

And I Won’t Let the Memory be Temporary,

The Memory will Last for Eternity,

I Will Remember Every Day, for Every Year,

On the Second, on The Tenth, and Even on The Seventh, I Will Remember,

And on November Eleventh, I will Show My Gratitude,

Like I am the Hunger, and Remembrance is My Food,

Such Courage is Seen, so Very Seldom,

For Every Poppy Planted, is a “Thank - You” I can Never Tell Them.

Remember

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28 October 11

Thought of the Day

Every week the staff and students get together for ‘Big Group’, and one student offers a thought of the day. This week’s was a quote from Lily Tomlin: “I always wanted to be somebody but now I realize I should’ve been more specific.”

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18 October 11
Now hiring: Aftercare Co-ordinator

Click on the link above for details on this exciting opportunity!

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6 October 11

Watch CEO & Founder Dr. Karen Minden’s interview at Bellwood’s 3rd Annual Many Faces of Addiction Symposium

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4 October 11
Now Hiring: Music Therapist (part-time)

Click on the above link for full job description on our website

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Posted: 1:56 PM
Now Hiring: Manager, Human Resources (part-time)

Click on the above link for full job description on our website

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26 August 11

Meet our pet piggies!  Walked on-leash daily by students and staff.

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24 August 11

Meet Gracie, well-loved member of the therapeutic team.

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22 August 11

“Anything is possible, one stroke at a time.”

Students recently participated in a Zentangle workshop at the school.  From Zentangle’s website, “Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest.

We believe that life is an art form and that Zentangle is an elegant metaphor for deliberate artistry in life. “

Check out the amazing art the students created!

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Posted: 2:01 PM

Annual Alumni Reunion and 1st Aftercare Graduation

On September 25th we will be hosting Life After Pine River: The Alumni Perspective, our annual alumni reunion and first aftercare graduation ceremony.   This event is open to all current and alumni Pine River families - we would love to see you there!          

The day will include a number of dynamic elements for both Current and Past Students and Parents including:

  • Speakers
  • Parent and Alumni Student group check-in and discussion
  • A big BBQ care of the stellar kitchen team led by Teri, Pete and Janet
  • Activities
  • Graduation Ceremony

Please click on the link below to register online, or contact Robin at the school at 519.925.9225 x 101 ASAP, or by August 25 at the latest.  

Click Here for Event details and Registration

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22 July 11

Anyone who has visited the school recently will no doubt have noticed the transformation of the front entrance way.  Several new garden beds have been dug and filled with a rainbow of perennial and annual flowers and shrubs. This is all part of the horticultural therapy programming here at Pine River Institute.  Each team of students has adopted a garden plot to plan, plant and tend.  In addition to being an exercise in teamwork, this enables students to draw on their sense of responsibility and their inner nurturing skills.

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