Our Story
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is dedicated to the memory of Bruce Oake, who passed away from an accidental drug overdose in 2011 at the age of 25. Scott and Anne Oake, Bruce’s parents, along with brother Darcy, are determined to have his life and death return something positive to this world. In 2013 the Oakes founded the Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation and set forth on the path of building a long-term residential treatment facility - to be called the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre will provide unique and proven addiction treatment that will empower individuals with the resources and skills necessary to successfully re-enter society and thrive.
Sadly, on September 6th, 2021 the Founder, Matriarch, and Mom to all, Anne Oake passed away peacefully with her family by her side. Anne’s laugh, kindness and love will be remembered and cherished always by those who knew her. Scott, Darcy, and Leslie take solace that her vision for the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre became a reality and her passion for saving others was realized. The planning has commenced on the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre. More details to come.
Bruce's Story
Bruce was the first born son of Anne and Scott Oake. Scott, a Gemini award winning sportscaster, and Anne, a registered nurse, had two sons Bruce and Darcy. Bruce was a precocious and engaging child with a big, booming voice. A diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) made elementary school difficult but by high school Bruce had learned to adapt. He was popular amongst his peers and worked hard to make his high school basketball team. Bruce was talented, a Canada Games boxer, and he had a gift for contemporary music and won "rap battles".
One of the symptoms of ADHD is impulsiveness, creating a willingness to try almost anything and no amount of guidance could keep him away from drugs. The drug use started in high school with weed, moving on to ecstasy and crystal meth and from there it was not much of a leap to opiates and heroin.
In Bruce's early 20s, Scott and Anne sent him to a long-term treatment program where Bruce found success. The program is in three stages, addicts can stay up to three years and are provided tools necessary to live with their addiction and re-integrate back into society. Bruce stayed at Simon House for a year, and at the end of the year was clear-headed and facing up to what he was: an addict. Sadly the cycle had not been broken and Bruce relapsed, re-entering Simon House the following year. The second stay at Simon House was only for a few months before he failed a drug test and was asked to leave. A week later Bruce died of a heroin overdose at the age of 25.
Bruce's family, his mother Anne and father Scott as well as his younger brother Darcy, are left with a hole in their hearts that will never heal. Nonetheless, they are committed to making Bruce's life mean something and ensuring some good comes from this tragic death.