Bruce Oake was the first-born son of Anne and Scott Oake, a Gemini award-winning sportscaster, and Anne, a compassionate and dedicated registered nurse. Together, they had two sons, Bruce and Darcy. From an early age, Bruce was a vibrant and engaging child, known for his booming voice and lively personality. Despite his boundless energy, a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) made school challenging for him. However, Bruce’s resilience shone through as he adapted, becoming popular among his peers and working tirelessly to earn a spot on his high school basketball team.
Bruce was multi-talented—a Canada Games boxer and a gifted musician with a flair for winning rap battles. Yet, ADHD’s impulsive tendencies made him susceptible to risk-taking behaviors. No amount of guidance could shield him from the lure of drugs. What began as experimentation with marijuana in high school quickly escalated to ecstasy, crystal meth, and eventually heroin.
In his early twenties, Bruce entered a long-term treatment program with the full support of his parents. He initially found success at Simon House, a three-stage recovery center that provides tools to help individuals live with addiction and reintegrate into society. Bruce completed his first year, emerging clear-headed and fully accepting his identity as an addict. But the path of recovery is rarely linear. After a relapse, he returned to Simon House for a second attempt. Tragically, after leaving the program prematurely, Bruce succumbed to a heroin overdose at the age of 25.
Bruce’s passing left an immeasurable void in the lives of his family—his parents, Anne and Scott, and his younger brother Darcy. Anne, a nurturing and determined matriarch, channeled her grief into action, vowing to prevent other families from enduring similar heartache. With Scott by her side, she became the driving force behind the creation of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a facility modeled after Calgary’s Fresh Start Recovery Centre.
Anne’s passion and commitment to the addiction recovery community were extraordinary. Her unwavering dedication to the vision of the Recovery Centre made it a reality, offering thousands of men the tools and support needed to rebuild their lives and re-enter society. Anne was more than a mother grieving the loss of her son—she was a beacon of hope for countless families battling addiction. Her efforts created ripples of change across the community, reminding everyone that recovery is possible and that every life has value.
Heartbreakingly, Anne passed away suddenly, just months after the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre opened its doors. Her loss was deeply felt, but her legacy lives on. To honor both Bruce and Anne’s profound impact, the Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation has been renamed the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation. This name change reflects not only the tragedy and hope inspired by Bruce’s story but also Anne’s visionary leadership and tireless advocacy for families affected by addiction.
Through the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation, their family continues to carry forward their mission: ensuring that no family faces the devastating loss of a loved one to addiction without the hope and support they need to heal. The foundation remains a tribute to
The Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation was established to honor the legacies of Bruce Oake and Anne Oake, whose lives and dedication have inspired a mission to bring hope and healing to families affected by addiction.
The Foundation is committed to transforming lives through the creation and operation of long-term treatment facilities in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, dedicated to the memory of Bruce Oake, provides residential addiction treatment and equips individuals with the tools needed to rebuild their lives and re-integrate into society.
With the addition of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, the Foundation expands its impact by offering recovery programs designed for women and their children, removing barriers to treatment and ensuring families can heal together.
Anne Oake, a visionary leader and the matriarch of the Oake family, was a tireless advocate for addiction recovery. Her passion and determination drove the creation of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, and her legacy continues to guide our work as we strive to prevent other families from experiencing similar loss.
Through compassion, innovation, and unwavering commitment, the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation is changing lives and creating a future where recovery is possible for all.
The Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation is dedicated to addressing the urgent need for addiction treatment and recovery support in our communities. As a registered nonprofit organization, the Foundation champions the construction and ongoing operation of transformative facilities like the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, a long-term residential treatment centre for individuals battling substance use and addiction, and the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, which will provide essential recovery services for women and their children.
Through these centers, the Foundation delivers comprehensive addiction treatment programs, equips individuals and families with the tools and resources needed for lasting recovery, and fosters reintegration into society. By expanding access to treatment and reducing long wait times in Winnipeg and Manitoba, the Bruce and Anne Oake Memorial Foundation is breaking down barriers to recovery and creating hope for a healthier, more compassionate future.
Long-term treatment is at the heart of the mission of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. Our goal is to be recognized for exceptional client success rates, service effectiveness, and organizational efficiency. Achieving this requires establishing deep roots in the community and building vibrant, extensive partnerships that support sustainable recovery.
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is a long-term, residential treatment facility offering a comprehensive program tailored to the needs of individuals with substance use and addiction issues. The Centre provides a wide range of complementary services and resources essential for recovery, all rooted in the Twelve Step Model, which recognizes addiction as a chronic disease. Our approach is guided by core values:
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre’s proven model of long-term recovery has received accreditation from Accreditation Canada and is supported by a growing track record of success, with over 100 men achieving and maintaining sobriety for more than one year after completing the program. This success is attributed to our focus on long-term treatment and ongoing involvement in the lives of our residents.
Our program integrates the Twelve Step Recovery framework with individual and group counseling, behavioral therapy, and a structured environment that promotes personal responsibility. Residents are encouraged to take ownership of their recovery journey by participating in household chores, securing employment for their future, and engaging in daily therapeutic and recreational activities designed to foster physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual growth.
A critical component of our model is the continuity of care provided through alumni engagement. After completing the program, many alumni return to support current residents, offering peer mentorship and guidance during earlier phases of treatment. This creates a strong sense of community and accountability, reinforcing the recovery process for everyone involved
Our Board of Diectors includes Scott Oake, Darcy Oake, Brett Franklin, Todd Lovallo, Ross Rutherford, Susan Millican, Bob Kozminski, Ken Keats, Leney Richardson, Blake Fitzpatrick, Lisa Heimbecker, Paul Moist, Kerri Ivrin-Ross, Christina Legris.
Community and Security
What security will the facility have in place?
Staff will be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There will be curfews, random and mandatory drug testing and security cameras. Clients will adhere to a rigorous daily schedule that is monitored by staff.
Who will be able to access the program?
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is open to adult males suffering from drug and alcohol addiction who meet stringent intake criteria and are fully committed to living a sober life.
Can someone, including high risk offenders, be court-ordered to attend this facility?
Although courts can order people to attend a treatment facility, the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre has the right to refuse anyone. Clients must be at least 18 years of age and clean upon entry. The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre will only accept clients who CHOOSE treatment of their own volition. Anyone seeking admittance from any justice system must provide a detailed criminal record for review and will not be accepted if they are deemed a threat to the safety of the neighbourhood.
Who owns the curling club and are there plans to turn the curling club into a similar women-only recovery centre?
The curling club is owned privately and therefore cannot be deemed surplus by the City of Winnipeg. The Bruce Oake has no interest in the facility for an expansion.
What are the security policies?
Virtually every hour of a client's day is accounted for at the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. On average for the first 12 to17 weeks of treatment clients spend most of their time in the facility with limited provisions to leave. Once they enter the next phase of the program, clients are required to pursue employment while maintaining their sobriety and assigned schedule. Clients are required to sign in and out to ensure staff can account for all clients.
Who will pay for path/park changes required because of this development?
Recreation Facilities and Greenspace
What will happen to the current greenspace?
The facility and parking lot has been built on a reduced size footprint of the former Vimy Arena. Therefore, additional greenspace has been added as the current plans call for the facility to use 18% less greenspace than is currently taken up by the Vimy Arena.
Is there a potential of shared use of a gym/recreation space?
Community use of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is a priority. There is a separate entrance to the gymnasium, public change rooms and washrooms along with a curtain wall to protect clients' anonymity. The Centre seek a community use agreement, but it has been built with community access in mind.
How can we be assured that the greenspace will remain, and further construction will not occur?
We are specifically requesting to both the Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg that provisions clearly ensure that the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre never exceed a maximum of 50 beds at this location and never expand past the originally approved footprint. The Bruce Oake Foundation has made this request as it recognizes the value residents place on their greenspace.
Were other sites considered in the city?
Yes, we have reviewed all surplus properties available on the City of Winnipeg Surplus list. Based on accessibility to public transit, the seclusion of the location to protect client anonymity and the serenity of the property the Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation and team felt this location was very fitting and as such pursued it.
Centre Operations
Is this a for-profit centre?
What does typical day look like for clients?
The day of each client is governed by a full schedule as structure and accountability are critical elements of recovery. The purpose of the curfews and drug testing mentioned above is to ensure only clients committed to and actively working on their sobriety remain in the facility.
What is the methodology for treatment?
The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre offers a range of complimentary services and resources essential for recovery. At the core of the program is the Twelve Step Model with behavioural therapy that recognizes addiction as a chronic disease. The program ideology is based on following key values such as accessibility, flexibility, inclusivity, customization and accountability.
