For the second year in a row, a one day conference about addictions, mental health and recovering from addiction is being held in Kenora.

Empower 2 Recover is being held in September.

Jay Barnard is behind the conference and says they would like to do this every year in the city.

“We had a great turn out and a great bunch of speakers (last year) and I thought the Empower2Recover Foundation is going to commit to bring in a Recovery Day single September because it’s Recovery Month,” explains Barnard.

“We’re going to roll in the second Recovery Day, which is exciting.”

Barnard says they are just finalizing the list of speakers.

“I do have 5 or 6 different locals that are going to tell their stories, which I think is massively inspiring and exciting.  There are  couple of people from Indigenous communities that are going to come and share their stories.  I’m also working on an NHL legend and a hip-hop artist.”

Barnard adds they have expanded it to other communities and cities across the country.

“50 different people have stepped forward in all five of those cities to share their stories, which is phenomenal.”

This year there will also be events in Saskatoon and Thunder Bay.