co-creating recovery-friendly environments
Both as a university student in active addiction and faculty member in recovery, Dr. Burns experienced the paralyzing weight of stigma firsthand. Her own experiences disclosing her recovery identity catalyzed a community-based action research project – which led to the creation of the
UCalgary Recovery Community and
Recovery on Campus Alberta initiatives.
building community on campus
ucalgary recovery community
The UCRC is an inclusive, peer-driven space supporting all pathways to recovery, building community, and reducing addiction stigma on campus.
BUILDING COMMUNITY province-wide
recovery on campus alberta
ROC is on a mission to co-create, champion, and sustain recovery programs that support and celebrate multiple recovery pathways for all campus members in Alberta and beyond.
building community on campus
alcohol use in residence
Chen, S. (Principal Investigator), Burns, V. F. (co-Investigator), Stuart, H., Kiepek, N., & Perlman, C. (2022-2024). Alcohol use in post-secondary campus residences: Role of environmental and social factor. Catalyst Grant: Alcohol Research to Inform Health Policies and Interventions.
From Research to Action…Highlights and Impact
UCRC physical
space
In October 2023, the UCalgary Recovery Community dedicated space was opened on-campus.
The space is open to anyone with direct lived or living experience of addiction, or curious to explore their relationship with substances or other behaviours.
Substance-free housing
In 2023, the first substance-free housing for students was launched on the UCalgary campus.
Four students currently live on their own in the campus' Cascade Hall, where they can develop a supportive community, free from the triggers and temptation of substance use.
recovery champion gala
In June 2023, Recovery on Campus Alberta hosted the inaugural Recovery Champion Gala, celebrating and honouring people with Lived Experience. The gala was held as part of the Alberta Health Summit, held at Red Deer Polytechnic.
The evening was a celebration of lived experience and recovery.
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal
Dr. Burns was honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal recognizing innovation in the area of addiction and mental health.
Expert advisor to the Ministry of Addiction and Mental Health
Dr. Burns was chosen as an expert advisor to the Ministry of Addiction and Mental Health, as part of their international Recovery Expert Advisory panel, tasked to shape Alberta’s evidence-based approach to addiction and mental health.
CIHR Catalyst Grant Lead
Dr. Burns is leading the UCalgary site for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant focusing on alcohol use amongst first year residence students across five Canadian universities (Chen et al. 2022-2024).
Select publications
- De Vynck, E., Boynton, H. M., & Burns, V. F. (2023). Pulled from the Shoreline in Search of Spacious Spirituality: Journeys of Spiritual Distress, Resilience, and Posttraumatic Growth for Women of Evangelical Christian Backgrounds in a Canadian Context. Religions, 14(9), 1193.
- Burns, V. F. (2021). The sober professor: Disclosing an alcohol addiction–recovery identity in academia. Contemporary Drug Problems, 48(3), 223-240.
- Burns, V. F., Walsh, C. A., & Smith, J., (2021). A qualitative exploration of addiction disclosure and stigma among faculty members in a Canadian university context. International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health, 18(14), 1-16.
- Burns, V. F. (2021). The sober professor: recovering from chronic illness, addiction, and trauma. In P. Bickford (Ed.), Chronically Empowered Edited Collection (p. 258-263). ImagineWe Publishers.
- Burns, V. F. (2020). I live with “the world’s most dangerous" eating disorder. BMJ. Edition 8252, p. 370.
- Burns, V. F. (2017). Imperfectly moving towards acceptance. Persons living with and inspired by diabetes (PLAID), 2(2), 1-17.