Dear Canadian SMART Recovery Facilitator.

As you know, SMART Recovery activities in Canada have historically been administered and supported by SMART Recovery USA (SRUSA). Thanks to the dedication of volunteers like you, the number of SMART meetings in Canada has grown significantly over the last several years.

To better serve the Canadian community, the SMART Recovery Association (SRA), a registered non-profit based in Alberta, has signed an interim affiliate agreement with SMART Recovery International to operate SMART Recovery Canada (SRCA). SRUSA has begun forwarding the proceeds from Canadian donations and the Canadian bookshop to SRA to assist with its organizing activities. SRA/SRCA will assume responsibility for all SMART Recovery activities in Canada by the end of this year. This transition aligns with the long-standing goal of having a SMART Recovery affiliate based in Canada.

What This Means for You

To support this transition, SRUSA will transfer the contact information of Canadian SMART Recovery volunteers to SRA beginning later this month. This will allow SRA to begin assuming responsibility for managing the meetings and volunteers in Canada. The information shared may include:

              •            Name

              •            Email address

              •            Phone number

              •            Mailing address

              •            Birthdate

              •            SRUSA training certificates and completion dates

Your Choice to Opt Out

If you do not wish for your contact information to be shared with SMART Recovery Association, you may opt out by notifying us by email within the next 15 days. Please email VolunteerHQ@smartrecovery.org by April 26, 2025 if you prefer not to have your information transferred. Please note that if you opt out, you will no longer be able to facilitate SMART Recovery meetings after the transition is complete. Also note that Volunteer Support Coordinators (VSC) in Canada will continue to have access to information about the facilitators in their provinces until the transition process is complete, as the VSC is an SRUSA volunteer leadership role.

Next Steps

SMART Recovery Canada’s Board will be hosting a webinar soon to introduce the organization, share their vision, and answer any questions you may have. Invitations to that webinar will be sent out once contact information has been shared with SRA.

If you have any immediate questions, feel free to contact us at VolunteerHQ@smartrecovery.org. We deeply appreciate your contributions to the SMART Recovery community and look forward to a smooth transition that will continue to serve those engaged in a recovery journey in Canada.

Sincerely,

Pete Rubinas                                                                      Bob Fisher

Executive Director                                                               President

SMART Recovery USA                                                       SMART Recovery Association