It was only five years ago that the future seemed pretty bleak for Daniel Crépault. He was on the police radar and his family had given up on him. By 2004, he dropped out of high school to enter Harvest House, a residential treatment program for substance abusers.
Crépault is now an award-winning, third-year criminology student. He credits both Harvest House and CIE’s Enriched Support Program (ESP) with the transformation in his life.
“It’s very unlikely that I would have been admitted to Carleton University considering I only earned four credits in my entire high school,” explains Crépault. “ESP provided me with structure and support, and eased my transition into Carleton and full-time studies.”
As a peer mentor in ESP, Crépault was able to continue the volunteer outreach he had begun while in Harvest House.
This year, Crépault received a Millennium In-Course Award from the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. “It was a huge relief to know that I wouldn’t have to worry about how my tuition was going to be paid.” In addition to the financial benefit, the award also recognizes leadership and volunteer experience as well as high academic grades.
“My goal after graduation is to continue to work in the field of addiction recovery, specifically with individuals whose addiction to drugs or alcohol has led them into an inescapable cycle of criminal recidivism.”