In February 2014, when Jonas woke up to find himself lying on the floor outside of his apartment, unable to move, he knew something was wrong. He had just suffered a seizure, and needed help.
Jonas had spent sixteen years of his adult life as a cruise ship photographer, travelling the world and partying with passengers. But as alcohol regulations increased on board his drinking became a problem, and at age 38, was breathalysed and thrown off the ship, losing his lucrative career. “It sunk in: the party’s over now,” he says. “I didn’t have much of an education to rely on. My bubble burst, getting off those ships.”
The years that followed were full of depression, anxiety, and heavy drinking. Ashamed and refusing to recognize his addiction, Jonas’ relationships with his family unravelled. “When I was really deep in my depression and anxiety, I couldn’t see any way out of my situation,” he explains. “I had a lot of fear. I was so embarrassed towards my whole family that I wasn’t as successful as my brothers. It was a very lonely life. I was totally isolated.” Struggling to survive off of his small labouring paycheques, Jonas ended up renting an SRO (Single Room Occupancy) apartment in the Downtown Eastside just a few blocks from Union Gospel Mission.
Spending half of his paycheques on alcohol left him rarely able to afford food, so Jonas began to come for meals at UGM. “I was living nearby and a lot of other workers would be doing the same thing,” he recalls. “We weren’t able to afford a proper meal. I came to rely on UGM for a warm meal in the evening.” Meal after meal, a small seed of trust and familiarity with UGM Outreach Staff was planted.

Jonas continued to drink heavily until he received news from his doctor that alerted him to the harm his addiction was having on his body. “He told me I was getting cirrhosis of the liver,” he says. “That scared the living daylights out of me. I didn’t want to die!” Almost immediately, Jonas decided to stop drinking to save his life, but the withdrawal from a long-term alcohol addiction can be dangerous to undergo unsupervised. Three days later, Jonas collapsed to the floor. Extremely sick and uncertain about what was happening, he returned to UGM to see if someone could help. When he walked through the doors and explained what had happened, two Outreach Workers immediately called the paramedics.
“Basically my brain was used to having alcohol for over 30 years, and all of a sudden there was nothing there,” Jonas explains. “So it short circuited.” After receiving critical care in the hospital, Jonas returned to UGM for a safe, supervised night’s sleep where he learned about UGM’s A&D Recovery Program. “I was a little hesitant at first. I’ve never really touched a bible before, or gone to a church, so I felt a little out of place.”
Initially, Jonas struggled with his attitude, finding it easy to lash out in anger. That changed the more he dove into the gospel, reading the Bible for the first time in his life. “When I started reading the Bible I thought the stories were really relatable,” he reflects. “It talks about how Jesus’ disciples weren’t perfect—just a bunch of down and out guys. And I really felt like I could be one of them.” Eventually his rough demeanour dissolved, as he embraced a new faith and life in recovery. “Now, it’s harder to make me angry or upset. I think my relationship with God has a lot to do with that.”
Now, it’s harder to make me angry or upset. I think my relationship with God has a lot to do with that. Tweet this
Through small steps and life-changing experiences, Jonas’ life and relationships with others were restored. “I think Expeditions was the turning point,” he says, reflecting on his participation in UGM’s hiking and adventure program for men in recovery. “I grew up hiking in the North Shore mountains. I enjoyed getting back to nature again. I thought: this is what I’m missing! The majesty of the mountains and what God has created. You’re out in this huge wilderness and you’re just a small tiny person in the universe but someone out there cares for you. You’re still here. You’re still alive. You’re actually living life now.”
Today, Jonas has been sober for two and a half years, volunteers in the neighbourhood regularly, and is an active member of UGM’s A&D Alumni community. “Plain and simple, UGM saved my life,” he says, acknowledging the transformation that has happened in just a short two years. This fall Jonas returned to school, and picked up his camera again, inspired to live life to the fullest of his abilities once again.
Yet probably the biggest step has been restoring a relationship with his family: “You know what is the coolest thing about me being here in the last two and a half years? When my dad passed away suddenly last April, he saw that I was sober for the final year of his life. That was the greatest gift I could have given him. My family tells me, ‘We’re so proud of you.’ That puts a glow in my heart. “
Hot meals brought Jonas through UGM’s doors while he was struggling with addiction, and built a bridge for him to cross when he realized he needed to stop drinking. Watch our video and hear Jonas’ reflection on his decision to enter recovery, and how your caring support helped to change his whole life.