New Story Community Recovery Society

What New Story Community Recovery Society does

New Story Community Recovery Society is a Canadian faith-based nonprofit that operates 6-month residential recovery programs for Indigenous women struggling with addiction and trauma. Founded in 2021 by Mark and Cheryl Buchanan, the organization is incorporated as a BC Society and registered as a Canadian charity (BN 741810410RR0001). The program combines spiritual formation, academic study, life-skills development, employment-skills training at partner ministry locations, and personal goal-setting within a biblically-based and culturally sensitive framework. It targets a beneficiary segment facing compounding barriers including addiction, housing instability, food insecurity, employment challenges, and difficulty finding welcoming church communities.

The organization delivers its service through partner-operated sites rather than owned real estate. Its first location operated at Barnabas Landing, a Christian retreat center on Keats Island, BC, where three cohorts ran between September 2021 and approximately 2023. Operations subsequently shifted to Camp Caroline in Alberta, which is licensed through Alberta Mental Health and has hosted the 4th and 5th cohorts in 2024 and October 2025 respectively. The organization holds BC Assisted Living – Supportive Recovery registration and Alberta Mental Health licensing. Distribution to participants occurs through a simple online application on its Wix-hosted website, with intake and cultural relations handled internally.

The revenue model is entirely donation-based. The published per-beneficiary cost is $30,000 for a full 6-month healing journey, plus $1,000 per month for food and household expenses and $500 per month for travel. Donations are accepted via direct deposit, Donor Advised Funds, stock transfers, and online through CanadaHelps and a Keela donation embed. Operations are run by a small core staff of four (Director Cheryl Buchanan, Leader/Instructor Mark Buchanan, Program and Spiritual Care Director Steph Helsel, Intake and Cultural Relations Olivia Wesley) supported by volunteers, with governance provided by an 8-member board that includes Indigenous representation from Severn Cree, Penelakut First Nation, and Blackfoot Siksika Nation. The organization has explicitly stated a long-term goal of multiplying locations across Canada by partnering with existing Christian camps and retreat centers, with a North Okanagan location announced for fall 2026.

Name

New Story Community Recovery Society

Legal name

New Story Community Recovery Society

Website

https://newstorycommunity.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

New Story Community Recovery Society is a Canadian faith-based nonprofit operating 6-month residential recovery programs for Indigenous women facing addiction and trauma. Founded in 2021, the charity partners with Christian camps to deliver holistic healing combining spiritual care, education, and vocational training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Addiction Recovery Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based / Nonprofit Assisted Living Providers (HLADABAH), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Residential recovery programs
• Addiction recovery services
• Indigenous women's services
• Faith-based recovery
• Charitable healing programs

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: New Story Community operates as a Canadian registered charity (741810410RR0001) and generates revenue entirely through donations. Financial support comes from individual donors, Donor Advised Funds, stock donations, and platform-based donations through Canada Helps. Direct deposit and credit card donation options are available on their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Story Community operates a 6-month residential healing program for Indigenous women struggling with addiction and trauma, delivered at partner Christian camp and retreat centre locations in Canada. The program combines biblically-based spiritual formation, academic and life-skills study, employment-skills training through partner ministry work, cultural activities including equine assisted healing, and personal goal setting within a live-in supportive community. Participants must be at least one month sober, physically able to work, and committed to the full 6-month program; the service is provided free of charge to participants and funded entirely through donations.

Product overview

New Story Community Recovery Society operates a single, unified 6-month residential program for Indigenous women facing addiction and trauma. The program offers a Biblically-based and culturally sensitive healing model combining spiritual formation, academic study, life skills development, employment skills training at partner ministry locations, and personal goal setting. The program runs from September to April at partner locations including Camp Caroline in Alberta (currently active) and Barnabas Landing (currently suspended).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Story Community Recovery Program A 6-month residential healing program for Indigenous women struggling with addiction and trauma, providing a safe and nurturing live-in environment at partner Christian camp and retreat centre locations. The program combines spiritual formation, academic and life-skills study, employment-skills training through partner ministry work, cultural activities, and personal goal setting, and is provided free of charge to participants who meet program requirements (minimum one month sober, physically able to work, and able to commit to the full 6-month program).

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian Christian CampsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Future expansion plans to partner with existing Christian camps and retreat centers across Canada, sharing resources and working together to multiply New Story locations.
• Camp CarolinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Alberta's premier year-round Christian camp and retreat center. New Story's current active location hosting 4th and 5th cohorts (2024-2025). Women participate in housekeeping and food services, serve local community at Food Bank, and engage in cultural activities and equine assisted healing.
• Barnabas LandingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Christian retreat center on Keats Island, BC established in 1986. New Story's first location where 3 programs ran. Provides gourmet food services, hospitality, working farm, gardens, and community enfolding. Women work, train, and are mentored in various areas while exploring creative and practical giftings. Currently suspended.
• North American Indigenous MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Partner organization with Regional Director Tal James serving on New Story's Board of Directors. Provides strategic alignment with broader Indigenous ministry efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions: Alberta-based specialized women's addiction treatment program providing residential recovery. Operates in the same Alberta recovery ecosystem as New Story and serves women with substance use disorders, including Indigenous women, making it a directly comparable specialty provider.
• North American Indigenous Ministries (NAIM): Faith-based Indigenous ministry operating across Canada and the U.S. It is already a documented partner of New Story Community (with Regional Director Tal James on New Story's Board), serving Indigenous communities through chaplaincy, outreach, and ministries that overlap culturally and denominationally with New Story's model.

Emerging players

• Sanctum Care Group: Saskatoon-based nonprofit providing specialized residential care for HIV-positive and pregnant women, many of whom are Indigenous and dealing with substance use. Comparable niche of medically vulnerable Indigenous women in a residential Christian-affiliated environment in Western Canada.

Broad incumbents

• Mustard Seed: Faith-rooted nonprofit delivering shelter, meals, and recovery-oriented services across Alberta and Western Canada. Shares New Story's donor base, faith-based operating posture, and Alberta footprint, while operating at much greater scale as a broad social services incumbent.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, headquartered in Toronto. Comparable as a national addiction services provider, but operates as a publicly funded clinical/academic incumbent at massive scale.
• Alpha House Society: Calgary-based nonprofit providing shelter, detox, and recovery housing for people experiencing addiction and homelessness. Comparable on substance-use recovery and Calgary geography, but operates at much larger scale as a secular social services incumbent.
• Homewood Health: Canada's largest private mental health and addiction services provider, with treatment centers in BC and Alberta. Overlaps with New Story on residential addiction recovery and Western Canadian geography but serves a broadly secular, professionally insured population.

Regional players

• Inn from the Cold: Calgary-based family-focused nonprofit addressing poverty, homelessness, and family recovery. Adjacent nonprofit donor and partner ecosystem in the same Alberta geography, but focused on families and housing rather than addiction recovery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/newstorycommunity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Story Community Recovery Society