The entirety of this review is based on my own personal opinion/experience, and is aided by a document regarding an official investigation by the BC Ministry of Assisted Living. This place is not what it advertises itself as. I went through the Canadian academy location as a client, then eventually stayed on as an employee for about 6 months before I was fired for trying to report the potential abuse of a client by a different staff member. It is of my opinion that the staff, the program, and the organization as a whole is predatory at worst, and grossly inept at best. I do not consider this a place where true healing happens, in fact, I would argue that on average more damage occurs to clients than actual therapy. I would not consider this an addictions recovery center, instead, it is a monument to incompetence and hubris. Sound like I might have a bit of a bone to pick, eh? Well, I do. I am one of the very lucky few who have been blessed with a tremendously loving and supportive family, and had it not been for them, I would have left the program long before I completed it. That's right, I FINISHED the program and still feel this strongly about what a disservice it does to others. I believe this program preys on the lost, vulnerable, and scared. On those suffering from addiction, and their families, to serve non-noble goals. In my experience: they neglect client's wellbeing, illegally underpay staff (if you work/worked for the academy, that contract they made you sign to not have to pay you overtime is invalid, so contact your labor rep), and do their utmost to keep families in the dark to save face for the organization and keep a facade alive. But hey, don't just take my word for it, the BC Ministry of Assisted Living investigated some of my claims late last year and this is what they found: https://connect.health.gov.bc.ca/assisted-living-residence/1277 From my experience as a client: the majority of my time was spent working. From my experience there was zero regard for client safety on worksites (including intensive labor jobs), you work 6 days a week, and the "therapy" is a bi-weekly 1 - 2 hour group session that is unmoderated. Meaning there is no professional in the room with clients during these therapy sessions. There was staff occasionally, but no one with actual formal training. This might have changed since my time, but this was my experience. It was just other clients (or myself) running the therapy sessions. There is so much more I could say about this place, but it would turn this review into a short novel, so hopefully this will summarize my personal sentiment: Addiction recovery is a tremendously difficult process (I know, first hand) and I recognize that if you or someone you love is hurting, all you want is what's best for them, for them to be ok. My family wanted it for me, and at that time, the Volken Academy seemed like a dream come true, but I can tell you as someone who rose through the ranks, from a client to a program director, who saw a lot of the inner workings of this program and organization: I believe this organization is beyond reprehensible. From the way I was treated, the way I have seen others treated, to the way the academy (still to this day) takes no accountability for its actions or negligence, it is my personal opinion that anyone even remotely interested in attending, supporting, or sending someone you care about there to deeply, deeply, reconsider. read more

TL;DR - Traumatic Mormon indoctrination camp with no actual treatment program. Words cannot describe how horrible my short stay was. They took my clothes and gave me clothes from other people. They tried to have me sign over my bank account and possessions. It's all designed to break down your sense of self and any avenues of escape. There is no medical staff, no doctors or nurses. The require immediate cessation of any anti-depressants, even against medical advice, with no follow up. I suspect this is for religious reasons. They don't follow any established or respected methods for treating addiction. It is treated as a moral failing, which has been thoroughly debunked as is actively harmful. My first task was to read a document that likened people suffering addiction to dilapidated houses, they must be torn down because nothing can be salvaged. Upon completion, they kept telling me to re-read it. After a few times, I realized this is some weird indoctrination brainwashing stuff. I was left to read this document for hours and forbidden from doing anything else. The only "therapy" was working 10 hour days in their grocery store for no pay. Draconian rules are to be enforced by your peers, and failure to enforce is equivalent to breaking said rule. Almost all the "patients" were Mormons from Utah. And that is the truth of the matter, their whole program was subversive indoctrination with Mormon values. They go to great lengths to avoid mentioning religion, but it is the source of all their rules and harmful practices. It is structured as a charity, so consumer protection laws do not apply. You don't pay for treatment services, you make a charitable donation. This way, you can't get your money back for deceptive practices. This structure was set up with help from disgraced lawyer Bilhar "Bil" Koonar, shortly after he lost his ability to practice law for "misappropriating" $144,000 from clients in the late 90's. He's still on the board of directors and the "VP of legal and real-estate". Why risk affiliation with a shady ex-lawyer, unless of course you want the kind of services that shady ex-lawyers provide. He's also listed as a board member of various affiliated for-profit corporations in Nevada and Washington. Something smells fishy. The real psychological abuse came when I tried to leave. They wouldn't give me my clothes or passport back, told me I was a liar, I would die, that my family agreed to never talk to me again. In a closed office, the hostility intensified. After many hours, they unlocked the door I left with only the clothes on my back. In 2018 they only received $73,133 in charitable donations according to their filings. At $5000 per person, that works out to less than 15 people that year. And yet they keep expanding. Very fishy. What is really going on here? The whole ordeal was very traumatic and it took me a long time to be able to re-visit it. I wouldn't wish this place on anyone. read more

I just attended a graduation at JVA and was inspired and moved by the speeches given by the 5 graduates that have completed 2 plus years there. From where they were at physically and emotionally prior to entering the program and how eloquently they talked about their journey since - from their counselors, peers and sense of community - was remarkable! Their parents gave remarks afterwards and as a parent of a child in the program and as one who also struggles with addiction it gave me tremendous hope. Having gone through the roller coaster of relapses of short term programs and sober living to the tune of over $100k, to the transformation and maturity and accountability I have seen Hoth my child after being at JVA for 10 months... all I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU and keep up the amazing work!!! read more

We found out about the John Volken Academy in September 2018, and immediately contacted them. Initially we were told there were a few beds available and one would be reserved for us, so we quickly scheduled a tour. Our interaction with the few people we met at the centre was pleasant, and we rushed to submit my brother's application by early-October (this included all doctor and bloodwork reports). Since October, we have had a suitcase packed and have been ready to send him off. My brother suffers from autism, ODD, ADHD, and alcohol/substance abuse. HE HAS BEEN PLEADING FOR HELP, and our family/friends (including my brother's professional healthcare workers) were so hopeful that the JVA would be the solution to our sorrows. After not hearing back from them for over 2 weeks, we made SEVERAL ATTEMPTS to contact the case worker, Darren. Each time, we were BRUSHED OFF. The few times we actually were able to get a hold of him, he would tell us that he still had not heard back from the family doctor - which is a lie, because we followed up with the doctor many times and he too, was very excited for my brother finally receiving the help he required. Finally, someone admitted they misplaced the application, so I IMMEDIATELY scanned and e-mailed another. Again, tried contacting them - and again, no response. I maintained my patience before the holidays, knowing how busy it can get - but grew anxious with each passing day - we too, needed to know whether or not my brother would be enjoying the holidays with us. The last e-mail I sent was on December 5, 2018, AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. My brother remained patient, hopeful, and above all... SOBER for over 3 months while he waited to be admitted at The John Volken Academy. A week after my last e-mail was sent, my brother went missing for several days, leaving our mother sick with worry. We eventually found him at Vancouver General Hospital, where he was admitted for a possible heart attack due to substance abuse. He has given up on all hope and fears no subsequent consequence of his addictions and actions. Our family was at the mercy of JVA, and to say we feel letdown by the academy would be an understatement. read more