Hello
Pardons Canada Team
Andrew Tanenbaum, Program Coordinator
Thank you for helping me get my pardon.
I wasn’t sure I would ever get my pardon.
I really appreciate the work that you guys did.
Breaking down the process step by step really helped.
Thank you!!
P L
I just wanted to start off by saying you have made this a very painless process from beginning to end.
It is well worth all of the money to get a record suspension on things that I did not do and went to court for. It all started when I caught my wife cheating on me and I packed up and left.
After a few weeks I had the police coming with a plethora of false charges and allegations. After going through the courts and having all charges proven false I wanted to have them removed from my record. I looked for ways to do this but it was a little complicated so I decided to hire Pardons Canada.
They have helped me step by step and always given me notice before the next step. I was almost denied my records suspension but I was guided in how to send in more information and it paid off.
Thank you all and I again can not thank you for the chance to get back my life, get better jobs again and just live life like before.
Dear Pardons Canada,
Please excuse the lateness of this letter but I have been working extra shifts due to the possibility of another shut down because of covid-19, and I have not had the time or energy to write this letter.
The restaurant where I work laid off all employees during the first shut down, so the moment they re-opened and hired us all back I have been working as many shifts as possible and I have not had any free time to write this letter.
First, I want to say thank you. It is difficult to express in words the feeling of relief and gratitude that I feel to have my pardon and to be able to move forward with my life.
The most important part is that I am sober and that I have changed my behaviour and my life.
This is what I am most grateful for, the fact that I have been able to remove alcohol from my life, and that when my pardon arrived, I was already enjoying a sober and happy life.
I have done everything possible to make amends for my past mistakes. I wish I had time machine and could go back and prevent all of them from happening, but all I can do is accept responsibility for my actions and change my behaviour. I believe that all of the good things in my life are the direct result of my sobriety. It took multiple attempts to get sober, and now I am extremely confident in my continued sobriety because this is the happiest I have ever felt in my entire life. I am free. The most amazing realization is that I have no desire to drink. I am sober
and I am not fighting the temptation to drink. The temptation to drink simply does not exist because I am happy in my sobriety.
I have found balance in my life with work, hobbies, and exercise. I have been working for the same employer for over eight years and I often work over 50 hours per week. I eat healthy and I exercise regularly. I have been taking guitar lessons and it is proving an awesome creative outlet, and something positive to occupy my free time. I have researched spirituality and cognitive behavioural therapy and found a lot of benefits from practicing meditation and mindfulness and learning to live in the present, and let go of past regret and future anxiety. I still attend Alcoholics Anonymous and I read the literature from AA on a regular basis. I have been writing in a journal for a few years now and it is without a doubt the single most important action I have taken during this process; it is how I organize my thoughts and create a plan for what I want to accomplish. My physical, mental, and spiritual health have improved during my sobriety, and they each get stronger every day.
I have set up a support system with my family doctor and a select few friends and family members. When I am struggling with anxiety, depression, or learning how to process childhood trauma and abuse, I know how to reach out for help. I have spoken to my family doctor many times about sober living. One issue that has come up from time to time, especially during the early stages of my sobriety, is the idea that I could benefit from speaking with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
This is one issue that I would like to highlight because I think it is a problem for a lot of people that are trying to get an appointment with a therapist but are unable to find a therapist willing to take them on as a patient (mostly because they do not have insurance or the ability to pay out of pocket.) This is a problem that I was not able to solve for myself, but luckily I have a great support system in place and I have been self motivated to do research on my own.
My doctor recommended psychiatry treatment because it is covered by OHIP. I work in as restaurant and do not have health benefits and I cannot afford the cost of treatment. In the past two years my doctor has written around seven referrals for psychiatrists and every one of them was denied because the doctor was not seeing new patients. Finally I asked for a referral to CAMH. I was giving a single one hour phone interview with a psychiatrist who told me that is all I would receive and that after the phone call she would follow up with my family doctor with her recommendations for medication and/or therapy treatment. This was discouraging because |
was asking for help and I could not get help, even though the help I was seeking is covered by OHIP. It feels like even though psychiatry is covered by OHIP it is just a technicality because in reality it is impossible to get an appointment with a psychiatrist unless I have private insurance or I can pay out of pocket.
Maybe it is just a problem of supply and demand. I think there is so much demand for psychiatry that there simply is not enough psychiatrists to meet all of the demand. Whatever the case may be, I have found that it is impossible to get an appointment with a psychiatrist that is covered by
OHIP.
Luckily I have done a lot of work on my own to learn about cognitive behavioural therapy, and meditation, and mindfulness. I still attend AA meetings. I have been journaling for a few years. I started taking guitar lessons in order to replace the bad habit of drinking with a good habit of
learning music. I have been in regular contact with my family doctor and a select few friends and family members to maintain my commitment to sobriety. What I realize is that staying sober is easy because I am fundamentally happier this way.
I would like to repeat the fact that I have done a lot of research on my own to learn about sober living and processing past traumas and it is all working out very well for me.
I have been working at the same restaurant for over eight years and during that time I have proven myself a valuable employee. I have been given many opportunities to work many different positions, from food runner, bus boy, expeditor, banquet server, restaurant server, and I have even worked with the handyman on various projects. I have always been willing to work any shift available and any job available. At the same time I have often wondered about new career opportunities. I am excited to have the ability to go on a job interview and know that I won’t be disqualified from a new job opportunity because of a criminal record. It is like having a
new world of opportunity available to me, and I am excited and energized about the future.
Having my pardon creates a new world of opportunity for me and I am excited and grateful.
Thank you.
Hi there,
My name is Kevin S. and I am a client of yours.
I just wanted to write you a note expressing my gratitude towards Pardons Canada‘s help recently regarding a record suspension for me.
My application was approved by the Parole Board of Canada!
You have no idea how happy this news has made me and my family. And such a positive feeling to know that, once again, I have freedom which I used to take for granted (such as applying for jobs without feeling anxiety about background checks)!
More importantly, this news makes me realize how much we all take for granted when you stop and realize that certain liberties we have can be taken away in a moment. So for that, I am forever appreciative of those things and especially your help in working with me on my application.
Thank you Pardons Canada. It was such a great experience working with you on this and I will always be grateful for your help.
Best regards,
Kevin
PS: Do I need to follow up with the RCMP to inquire about deleting (destroying) any information related to me? Or has this been done via you guys on my behalf?
Last month, I received confirmation that I have been issued an official Record Suspension/Pardon.
Although, I have been able to seek employment; all most 12 years with the same company, it was very important for me and my family that I go through with the application for a Pardon.
Back in 2007, I did something that I deeply regret and to this day, I can never forget. My kids were little when this happened but as soon as they could understand, my husband and I explained to that what happened and why I was not able to freely travel and apply for certain jobs. Thanks to the support of my amazing husband and my family, I have been able to move forward with my life. They also helped me to make restitution to the person that was affected by my mistake.
When I contacted Pardons Canada, I was skeptical only because of the cost but I realized that I was not able to do this alone. The first time I corresponded with Andrew Tanenbaum, my Program Coordinator, I felt comfortable with what I needed to do to make this happen and spending the money was totally worth it.
I was extremely happy when I got notification that the Pardon/Record Suspension was granted; I cried tears of joy.
Things are currently different right now and travelling to the United States is not an option right now, but having this Pardon is now a relief. I am not looking at changing my job but I have actually sent in my application for a Passport. When the travel restrictions are lifted, I will be ready.
Thank you, Andrew and all the supporting team at Pardons Canada. I would definitely recommend your services. At the same time, I hope I don’t ever know someone that will need it.
Dear Andrew Tanenbaum and anyone else this concerns,
Please accept my sincerest and most humble thank you with the 6 years of assistance in receiving my pardon/record suspension. This is a mistake I made at the age of 22 and it has affected me adversely for the last 21 years.
I am greatly appreciative to finally be able to put this behind me and not have it affect my world. Thank you again for your companies tireless efforts.
With sincere gratitude,
Roxanne H.
Quesnel, BC
