At the Recovery Training Institute (RTI), we believe that recovery is a community effort, made stronger through collaboration, compassion, and shared best practices. As a public resource, RTI works to strengthen recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) by equipping individuals and organizations with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to effectively support recovery.
Our mission is to build a strong, compassionate, and recovery- oriented workforce. Through expert-led training, knowledge sharing, and flexible learning opportunities, we work to establish a shared vision, common language, and best practices across recovery-oriented systems of care.
Together, we are advancing recovery-oriented care—helping to create stronger, healthier communities.
Executive Director
Brian Hamel serves as the Executive Director at RTI. 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.
Brian is especially known for his work advancing ethical standards, recovery coach supervision models, and culturally responsive approaches rooted in dignity and autonomy. 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 Whether he’s supporting the development of a peer workforce, challenging outdated views of sobriety, or redefining what recovery can look like in Alberta, Brian’s work is driven by one core belief: that everyone deserves to heal in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.
Co-Director
Lyndsey Hague co-directs the Recovery Training Institute (RTI) with a deep commitment to training and education. She has extensive experience across the UK and Canada in developing and delivering a wide range of addiction treatment and recovery services, with a focus on program implementation, workforce development, and service quality.
Lyndsey is a Therapeutic Community Specialist and has contributed to international knowledge exchange through her involvement with the World Federation of Therapeutic Communities. Her work in Alberta has centered on supporting the growth and adaptation of Therapeutic Communities within a Canadian context, including collaboration with government, service providers, and community partners. She is the founder of the Alberta Network of Recovery Communities, which brings together organizations to strengthen shared learning and practice. Lyndsey has worked alongside Indigenous communities to support the development of recovery communities that reflect local needs.
Operations Manager
Joel Henley is the Manager of Operations at the Recovery Training Institute (RTI). He brings a calm, strategic approach to his work, helping guide the systems and processes that keep RTI 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 RTI 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.
Operations & Systems Coordinator
Jordan Mattis is the Operations and Systems Coordinator at the Recovery Training Institute (RTI), where she works behind the scenes to ensure the systems, platforms, and processes that support recovery 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 RTI and what drives her commitment to helping the organization deliver training that is accessible, professional, and genuinely impactful.
Digital Production Developer
Anthony Fiorini is the Digital Production Developer for the Recovery Training Institute (RTI).
After completing the Broadcasting program at Mount Royal University and spending 15 years working in live television, Anthony developed a passion for creating meaningful stories that educate, inform, and support those participating in RTI's training programs.
He believes storytelling is a powerful way to share lived experiences, foster understanding, and offer encouragement to those who need it. With a keen eye for detail and a creative approach, Anthony ensures each message is thoughtfully crafted to have the greatest impact.
Anthony's friendly personality and sense of humour help create a welcoming environment where people feel comfortable sharing their stories. While every person's journey is unique, he believes each one is meaningful and is dedicated to ensuring every voice is heard with authenticity and respect.