He still remembers the loud, frightening fights between his mom and dad.  When his dad left for good, his mom tried to raise Craig on her own, but her alcohol dependency worsened and she couldn’t manage. Over the next six years, Craig was shuffled between twelve different foster homes.

During those difficult years one thing helped Craig cope with the stress and uncertainty of his young life: every summer he spent several carefree weeks at the Camp Chapleau in Montreal. The Camp is run by the Old Brewery Mission, a Raising the Roof partner agency. The camp focuses on mentoring at-risk kids like Craig, who lack a stable family and home environment. “My camp counsellor became both the big brother I never had and the dad I always wanted,” recalls Craig.

Today Craig helps to run a group home for children and is studying Early Childhood Education. Without the supports he received, he believes that he would have been lost on the streets. 

*not his real name