Carleen is 25 and grew up on OceanMan First Nation (Stoughton) and in Regina. She enjoys being in the city because of the resources and opportunities available here. She enjoys shopping, reading, exercising and learning about natural medicines. She is skilled at beading. Her current challenges are riding in a car for long periods of time and living alone. She hopes to be able to get her license back and work on her driving skills. She also hopes to overcome some fears she feels are holding her back.

Serenity is 2 years old and has grown up in Regina. She likes to read stories, sing songs, and dance. A challenge she faces is to be able to be at home with her mom. She hopes that when her mom is better, they can be together all the time.

Alexander was born in Regina in 2011. He likes to sing and tell stories. His hope for the future is to be home with mommy, upon her completion at Shayil Home.

Heather grew up in Estevan and came to Regina to the Shayil Home in June 2015 for rehabilitation from alcoholism. Heather enjoys knitting and crafts as well as building and rebuilding things, camping, hunting, and fishing. She also enjoys women’s hockey. She is creative and enjoys trying her hand at cooking. Her current challenges include overcoming her addiction to alcohol, learning to build self worth and self esteem. She wants to build a relationship with God and learn how to forgive herself and others. She wants to be able to love herself and set boundaries.Heather’s number one hope for the future is sobriety. She wants to look forward to happiness, strength, church, starting over sober and meeting people, but realizes that she has to look at things one day at a time. She says that she truly needs nothing and her wants are minimal. She appreciates the questionnaire that she filled out for the Wish List, but would rather see gifts go to someone less fortunate - perhaps someone could receive the dream gift they desire.

Maxine is 25 and moved from Meadow Lake to Regina to be part of the 1-year program at Shayil Home. When she was growing up, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She now enjoys music, talking walks and spending time with her children. Her current challenge is to finish her program at Shayil, overcome her addictions, and break free from a past she wishes to move beyond. She confesses to feeling a real struggl in her walk with God right now, but she presses on in trust. Her hopes are to become and stay sober, to build a happy family, and establish a solid career.

Paula is 28 and from Kamsack. She came to Regina in 2001 because her dad passed away. She enjoys reading and spending time with her children. She is talented in powwow dancing. Her current challenge is getting her children back home with her, and she dreams of blazing a new trail forward with them as a family upon the completion of her program at Shayil.

Dyrin is 9 years old and lives in Regina. He likes to play video games. He also has good athletic skills, excelling at cross country running and track and field. He looks forward to his mom completing her program at Shayil, so that they can be home together again. He hopes that the future will not involve any more time apart from each other.

Only 6 months old, Paula was born in Regina just this year. She is busy learning about the big new world around her. To be home with mommy is her hope for the future.

Natalie is 8 years old and from Meadow Lake. She came to Regina October 5, 2015 with her mom. She loves being with her loved ones, reading, writing, fixing her hair,and going to school. Although she enjoys school, it is also her biggest challenge. She struggles with math and spelling. She is a grateful and talented little girl who loves playing with her baby brother.

Roberta is 41 years old and lives in Regina. She enjoys going to church and is good at working with kids. Her current challenge is her addiction. Her hope and plan for the future is to go back to school.

Aleida is 52 years old and from Prince Albert. She moved to Regina in August , 2015, to participate in the program at Shayil Home. She enjoys reading and knitting. Her talents are cooking and writing. She struggles with her addiction and health problems. She hopes in the future to overcome her addiction and that she will have good health.

Deverell is 47 and has lived in many cities and towns in Canada during her life. At the age of 13 she was a runaway living on the streets in Toronto. She was found by Social Services and sent to live at Dale's House. She is a business-orientated woman, who enjoys helping people. She also finds pleasure in cleaning, gardening, reading her Bible, and being with her family. Her hope for the future is to be an Advocate for women who are dealing with Child protection agencies.

Lola is 65 and grew up in the Punnichy area. She came to Regina in 2000 when her father passed away. She enjoys reading, running, swimming, cooking and shoveling snow. She describes herself as skilled at athletics, acrobatics, and acting. She is challenged by the ongoing struggles of old age, and she hopes the future will see her living independently in her own apartment.

Josephine is 45 years old and grew up at Lynn Lake, Manitoba. She came to Regina in 2007, with her mom, so she could attend school at Circle Project. She enjoys listening to music and walking. She is a good cook and enjoys doing crafts. Her greatest challenge right now is living at Shayil Home and staying focused. She hopes in the future to finish her grade 12 and get a place of her own.

Charmagne is 24 years old. She grew up in Regina and enjoys it because her family, friends and church are here. She enjoys reading running, swimming, cooking, winter activities, hot drinks and watching movies. She describes herself as being athletic, a good writer, and a good listener. Her current challenge is that she is an addict and involved in a one-year addiction program. Her hope for the future is to be a teacher.

Jane is 54 years old and grew up in Meadow Lake. She came to Regina to get help with her addiction. She enjoys walking and spending time with animals. She is good at organizing and likes to be helpful. She currently struggles with her addiction and is involved in the one-year addictions program at Shayil Home. She hopes in the future to improve her character and her walk with God.

Susan was born in Regina and has lived here her whole life. She enjoys reading, learning and spending time with her family. She is very quick-witted and compassionate. Challenges she faces each day are her addiction and the relationships. She hopes in the future to beat her addiction, have her own home, and do volunteer work to help others in need.

Sarah grew up in Regina. Her interests include looking after her mom, reading, cooking and baking, writing and music. She is athletic and positive, good with kids and seniors. Sarah is an alcoholic and is currently living in a one-year addiction program, with the goal of sobriety. Her dream for the future is to be a social worker.

Monica grew up in Regina and enjoys spending time with God and working on herself. She does knitting, crafting, decorating her nails, and listening to music. She has a talent for talking with people and getting to know them. Monica is an addict and is currently in a one-year addiction program at Shayil House. Her hope for the future is to be a missionary.

Lucas grew up in Meadow Lake and came to Regina with his mom in October 2015. Lucas enjoys watching kids’ shows videos like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Youtube. He enjoys riding his bicycle in the summer and fall, but he had to leave it behind when they moved. Lucas loves to get lost in educational books with pictures or with cars, and he likes listening to music. Lucas has ADHD and when he has nothing to do he starts to bother everyone. Lucas is a grateful kid and will be happy with whatever he gets.

Born in 2014, Damien came from Meadow Lake to Regina with his mom in October 2015. He enjoys playing with cars and learning new things as he grows. This will be Damien’s first Christmas to receive gifts, so he will be happy with whatever he receives. He likes ride-on types of toys.

Born in 1967, Jennifer grew up in Trail, BC, in the West Kootenays. She came to Regina in February of 2015 for treatment for alcoholism at Shayil Home. Jennifer has a lot of interests and hobbies. She enjoys reading memoirs, doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, singing and listening to gospel music, exercising, and doing hook-latch kits. Jennifer is good at baking and writing. She enjoys spending time with people. Jennifer is challenged by the need to lose weight and her desire to quit smoking. She wants to do better at self-care, both physical and mental. Her hopes for the future include maintaining sobriety, upgrading her office administration skills and helping others maintain their sobriety, perhaps in some form of social work.

Evaline came to Regina in September of 2015 to Shayil House for her addictions. She enjoys reading and walking and has a talent for doing beadwork. Her addictions are her greatest challenges and she desires to complete the program at Shayil House, to achieve sobriety and happiness.

Noah is 8 months old and lived on Piapot First Nation before coming to Shayil Home with his grandma. He is a happy baby who likes to explore -- he is currently learning to crawl. He loves to chat with his grandma and drum on things that make sounds.