Brian Hamel serves as the Executive Director, lead facilitator, and curriculum creator at Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC), where he combines lived experience, systems knowledge, and unapologetic passion to shape the future of recovery coaching across Alberta. Known for his loud presence, expressive delivery, and ability to speak truth with care, Brian brings energy and realness into every space he enters, whether it’s a training room, a boardroom, or a recovery community.

With a professional background in hospitality coordination and recovery center programming, Brian understands what it means to create environments that are welcoming, human, and deeply responsive to people’s needs. He has led the development of RCAC’s training curriculum, delivered throughout Alberta through virtual cohorts, in-person sessions, and collaborative partnerships. He works closely with governments, community-based organizations, and recovery communities to integrate recovery coaches into frontline, peer-led, and interdisciplinary roles.

Brian is especially known for his work advancing ethical standards, recovery coach supervision models, and culturally responsive approaches rooted in dignity and autonomy. Under his leadership, RCAC has become a leading force in Alberta’s recovery landscape, focused exclusively on developing recovery coaches within a Recovery Oriented System of Care. His programs are grounded in compassion, clarity, and curiosity, with an unwavering commitment to keeping recovery human, simple, and real.

With lived experience at the center of his leadership, Brian brings a perspective that bridges systems with people. He builds programs that not only inform but transform. Whether he’s supporting the development of a peer workforce, challenging outdated views of sobriety, or redefining what recovery can look like in Alberta, Brian’s work is driven by one core belief: that everyone deserves to heal in community, with kindness, and with hope.

Joel Henley is the Manager of Operations at Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC). He brings a calm, strategic approach to his work, helping guide the systems and processes that keep RCAC running smoothly and aligned with its values.

With a background in organizational leadership and operations, Joel oversees training logistics, internal systems, and day-to-day coordination. He’s known for being fair, thoughtful, and consistent, supporting both people and projects with care and clarity. When things get stressful, Joel brings levity and a sense of calm in the chaos, helping others stay grounded and focused.

Joel’s lived experience in recovery informs how he leads. He is a compassionate straight-shooter who believes that real change happens when people are empowered, not managed. Whether working behind the scenes or supporting a team through complex projects, Joel helps keep things organized, purposeful, and moving forward.

As RCAC continues to grow, Joel plays a key role in making sure the work stays rooted in purpose, driven by values, and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.

Alexandra Talbot is a Facilitator with Recovery Coach Academy Canada and deeply rooted in the mental health, addictions, and recovery space. Grounded in lived experience, holistic wellness, and transformational recovery, she is passionate about helping individuals rebuild their lives through accountability, connection, and sustainable change.

Known for her bold energy, authenticity, and ability to balance deep conversations with humour and heart, Alex creates spaces where recovery includes laughter, connection, and learning how to truly live again.

She is committed to redefining recovery through transformational housing and community wellness initiatives focused on mental, physical, and spiritual health. Her work centres on creating environments where people can build lives that do not only look good, but feel good.

Alexandra is a Certified Recovery Coach Professional, Certified Health and Lifestyle Coach, aspiring Elite Personal Trainer, facilitator, speaker, and retired federal public service employee with more than 25 years of leadership experience. She continues to advocate for recovery and wellness through mentorship, education, and lived experience leadership.

Cody Fisher is a Facilitator and Recovery Coach with Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC), where he combines lived experience, recovery education, and nervous system-informed approaches to support meaningful, person-centered change. Passionate about empowering others through connection, self-awareness, and practical tools for recovery, Cody brings authenticity, curiosity, and compassion into every space he facilitates.

With experience leading breathwork and nervous system regulation classes within recovery communities, Cody has developed a unique approach that bridges science, emotional regulation, peer support, and recovery coaching principles. He is especially interested in helping individuals better understand the relationship between trauma, stress responses, identity, and long-term healing.

Known for his grounded presence and relatable facilitation style, Cody creates environments where people feel safe to engage honestly, challenge limiting beliefs, and reconnect with their own capacity for growth. He believes recovery is not about fixing people, but about helping them rediscover their strengths, agency, and sense of purpose. At the core of his work is a desire for people to leave every interaction feeling a raw hit of personal power; a reminder that individuals are more capable, resilient, and valuable than they may believe in the moment.

Cody approaches his work with the mindset of both a student and a disruptor; someone willing to challenge outdated ideas, ask deeper questions, and remain endlessly curious about human behavior, healing, and growth. He is committed to continuously learning, evolving, and helping create recovery spaces that feel more honest, empowering, and deeply human for the people they serve.

Sara is a facilitator at Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC) who is deeply passionate about helping people reconnect with their strengths, identity, and sense of purpose. As a person in long-term recovery, Sara brings lived experience, honesty, and compassion into her work, creating spaces where people feel genuinely supported, encouraged, and understood.

With more than 15 years of experience in health and wellness as a fitness coach, certified dietitian and nutritionist, and addiction support worker, Sara approaches recovery through a holistic lens. She believes healing involves the whole person and that recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Her work is rooted in curiosity, connection, and the understanding that every individual’s journey is unique. Through her teaching and facilitation style, she encourages people to explore recovery in ways that feel authentic, empowering, and sustainable for them.

Sara has a strong passion for supporting children and families impacted by addiction and is deeply committed to continuously educating herself on how to better serve and support them. Through ongoing professional development and specialized training focused on family recovery, emotional wellness, and child-centered support, she continues to expand her understanding of the lasting impact addiction can have on individuals, families, and communities.

Known for her engaging approach, Sara is someone who values meaningful conversation, genuine human connection, and lifelong learning. Fascinated by human behaviour and deeply committed to being of service, she brings both professional knowledge and personal experience into the work she does. Whether facilitating conversations or supporting individuals on their recovery journey, Sara leads with compassion, curiosity, and the belief that people are capable of incredible growth when they feel seen, valued, and supported.

Christine Fiorini is a Certified Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator (CRCPF) and the Community Engagement Lead at the Recovery Coach Academy of Canada (RCAC). 

With her education in Psychology and professional background in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and crisis intervention, Christine brings a dynamic, people-centered approach to her work. Not one for small talk, she believes meaningful conversations and genuine connection are where true growth happens. 

Christine is passionate about creating compassionate and playful spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered and believes that our well-being sets the foundation for both personal and professional success. A proud member of the recovery community herself, she integrates her lived experience into her position, offering authenticity, empathy, and relatability to every group of which she is a part. 

Known for her bubbly personality and engaging teaching style, Christine is dedicated to making education in the field of Recovery Coaching both meaningful and accessible. 

Laura Mooney is the Training and Certifications Manager and a Certified Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator (CRCPF) at Recovery Coach Academy of Canada (RCAC). With an exceptional eye for detail and a strong commitment to organizational excellence, Laura plays a pivotal role in supporting RCAC’s mission to raise the standard of recovery coach training and certification in Alberta and beyond.

Laura brings a wealth of experience in executive-level support, office administration, training coordination, and event planning. She manages the day-to-day operations of RCAC with efficiency and care, ensuring that both leadership and team members are empowered to focus on delivering high-quality training programs for Recovery Coach Professionals (RCPs).

At RCAC, Laura oversees logistics for training sessions across Alberta, working closely with facilitators and venues to ensure seamless execution. From managing hotel contracts and preparing training materials to handling last-minute requests and troubleshooting logistics, she ensures every detail supports a smooth and professional learning experience. Her responsibilities also include project management, communications, financial coordination, and onboarding support, all of which contribute to the strength and structure of RCAC’s operations. She is a key liaison between internal teams and external stakeholders, upholding clarity, professionalism, and alignment with RCAC’s values at every level.

Laura’s proactive approach, passion for mental health and addiction recovery, and dedication to creating a supportive workplace culture make her an invaluable part of the RCAC team. She is also an active contributor to employee engagement initiatives and culture-building efforts, championing wellness, inclusion, and excellence in everything she does.

Jordan Mattis is the Operations and Systems Coordinator at Recovery Coach Academy of Canada (RCAC), where she works behind the scenes to ensure the systems, platforms, and processes that support Recovery Coach training run smoothly, efficiently, and with purpose.

With a background spanning nine years of operations and office management, a Web and Mobile App Development diploma from Vancouver Island University, and over 15 years of client-facing experience, Jordan brings a rare combination of technical know-how and people-centered thinking to her work. Known for her organization, clear communication, and ability to manage competing priorities without losing the human element, she is the kind of person who finds the gaps, builds the systems, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Jordan is passionate about people, continuous learning, and broadening perspectives on topics that touch more lives than most of us realize. She believes addiction is not something that only affects a select few but something that reaches into every family, every workplace, and every community in ways we do not always recognize or name. That belief is what drew her to RCAC and what drives her commitment to helping the organization deliver training that is accessible, professional, and genuinely impactful.