Johnena (Jo) Kennedy

She comes from Piper’s Glen Inverness Co, Cape Breton . She has a BA in Community Development from Simon Fraser University. Jo spent the most of her career happily working for Addictions Services in Inverness, Ingonish, Cheticamp and much of the time in Glace Bay. Prior to Addictions she spent some time working for Correctional Services in Port Hawkesbury. She worked with Leeside Society and was instrumental in the building of Leeside Transition House in Port Hawkesbury. She comes to us with almost 33 years of Working with Individuals in Addictions which is her passion. She was also a member of the Provincial Woman’s Strategy for Women and Addictions in Nova Scotia. She has also worked as an Addictions Counsellor and an Outreach Worker within the field of addictions. She is a recovering person with 42 years of recovery. She has an endless supply of compassion and understanding of the recovering person on both a professional and personal level. She was the recipient of the Dr. Mian Award in 2016. This is an award given for outstanding effort in helping to improve the lives of folks with Addictions and Mental health. She enjoys working with a team of likeminded professionals. She is studying Energy Work. She is a Reiki Master and an Açu-Detox specialist.  She is a registered Addictions counsellor with the Canadian Federation of Addictions Counsellors. She studies a week each summer for the last 5 years with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes in Colorado and holds certificates for Heart of the Wounded Healer, Singing Over the Bones and Original Voice. She spent 3 years at Oakhill Treatment and Recovery as Addictions Counsellor and 1 year as Residential Treatment Manager.  She is the Mom of four adult children and is Nana to two beautiful grandbabies. She loves music, storytelling and loves to laugh. She also enjoys spending time with her cat Luna Blue.  You will find her happily doing her job as Addictions Counsellor with Crosbie House.