Recovering from an affliction such as drug addiction and returning to a constructive, positive path forward is an uphill struggle Sundre resident Brent Walisser can relate to.
"I had a hard time finding help," he recently told the Round Up, recounting his experience that about 15 years ago almost irreversibly led him astray.
At the time living in Kelowna, B.C., Walisser said a friendship and outreach centre called the Wolf's Den helped him to find confidence as well as stability and encouraged him to foster his dreams and to push himself towards a path of self-improvement.
"That's the only reason I'm here today," he said, convinced he otherwise would have succumbed and perished as a result of drug abuse.
Inspired by the unconditional support and mentorship that was made available to him, Walisser has ever since wanted to find a way to pay it forward by establishing his own legacy through the foundation of a rescue ranch to help others who are in need of a sympathetic shoulder to lean on and an understanding ear to listen.
Of course such an endeavour cannot get off the ground without funding, so to begin building momentum he has established a business venture called Rise Projects, named partly keeping in mind the initiative's eventual goal to help lift up anyone struggling to get out of a rut, he said.
"Rise above what you think you are and be somebody better if that's who you want to be."
The idea is to create a revenue generator that will help to establish a funding reserve to make the Rise Projects Ranch a reality, he said. Once the venture becomes profitable, at least 40 per cent of its revenue will be funnelled into an account managed by a board of directors made up of community members and himself that will be set up to build and maintain the facility that will also provide a safe haven for animals in need of rescue, he added.
Drawing from his previous experience in Kelowna, Walisser said he was motivated to mirror a successful recycling service that handled just about everything from electronics and broken household equipment to metals and batteries.
"I've started implementing that," he said, adding farm cleanup and vehicle removal services are also available through a site he obtained on the west side of 10th Street SW across the road from the Co-op Cardlock.
"I've always been into recycling," he said.
"I've always collected things and salvaged metal to make an extra dollar here and there."
Additionally, lightly used items that can be reused or repurposed are made available through auction on a social media page called Rise Projects Online Auctions.
Although still a work in progress, the website www.riseprojectsalta.ca provides information on the services available so far. Anyone who wants to get involved to help make Walisser's vision a reality is welcome to contact him by phone at 403-426-0102 or through the Rise Projects website.
The journey has not been an easy one, but Walisser said he remains committed to creating for others the same opportunities that were made available to him. In the long term, he hopes Rise Projects will become successful enough to franchise and branch out from Sundre.
"I want to do something bigger than myself," he said.
