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Dawn Nickel

Founder

Dawn Nickel, founder of SHE RECOVERS Foundation, is a thought leader in the women’s recovery sphere as well as an accomplished leader, dedicated researcher, and visionary in the recovery moment. She holds a PhD in health care policy with extensive experience in researching and writing about women experiencing substance use disorders, mental health challenges, and intimate partner violence. Dawn started her own journey of recovery from a substance use disorder and domestic violence in 1987. She is also in recovery from anxiety, grief, trauma, overworking and cancer. Dawn’s tell-it-like-it-is wisdom has created a ripple effect where you will often hear her quotes “the shit you did is just the shit you did – it’s not who you are” and “recovering from all the things” resonating throughout many recovery realms.

Currently working on her first book, Dawn is living proof that in a world where all women in or seeking recovery are celebrated, supported, and deemed essential to healthy communities – anything is possible. She is fondly referred to as Mama Dawn in the SHE RECOVERS Community and to her daughters Taryn and Ashley. Dawn lives, works, and plays with her beloved grandchildren on the traditional territories of the Lkwungen speaking peoples on Vancouver Island.