VIDEO: Kelowna addiction centre will put clients to work on their path to sobriety

It's hoped that people emerging from addiction treatment will thrive better with a bit of 'employment therapy'.

After watching clients falter as they try to re-enter the workforce, the operator of a Kelowna rehabilitation facility is creating his own company and hiring them himself.

"I'm excited about this," said Doug Mackenzie at 'Options Family Wellness Addiction Centre'.

Instead of just helping clients find employment, he will have a job waiting for them.

"We will have our own companies," said Mackenzie.

"One of the companies will be a window washing, power washing and gutter cleaning company."

The plan will be duplicated at the Options centres in Victoria and the Cowichan Valley as well.

He said re-entering the workforce is a huge part of the recovery process that continues after a client completes their 90 days of treatment.

"Because now they have accountability, structure, pay their own way, the self-esteem and all that stuff that came from it."

Mackenzie plans to offer a new employment program to support clients as they find their own employment.

And even more notably, he plans to establish window cleaning and power washing companies in the three BC communities to provide employment directly.

"For people to come and work in completely recovered environments," he explained. "We're just going to wrap all the services around it."

While there is a push to create more treatment spaces for people struggling with addiction, Mackenzie said helping people after they leave these facilities is every bit as important.

"When the person's 90 days are out and they leave treatment, all of a sudden there is very little support," he said.

He said his plans are getting great support from the business sector and the community at large.

"Their appetitive is they want to see these people working."

The plan is to launch the companies in March with the name: Options Exteriors.