Hold John Volken Academy Accountable: Abuse & Discrimination in Disguise of Treatment
Hold John Volken Academy Accountable: Abuse & Discrimination in Disguise of Treatment
The Issue
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Clelia Jane, and in 2016, I attended the John Volken Academy (JVA) in Surrey, British Columbia. I was seeking support for mental health and recovery from prescription medications like Adderall and Klonopin, as well as cannabis use. Instead of receiving compassionate care, I found myself in what felt like a coercive and psychologically abusive environment disguised as rehabilitation. In the first half of 2024, Paris Hilton spoke out about her experiences at Provo Canyon School (something she's been a strong advocate for over the years since coming forward about the abuse), and Katherine Kubler released The Program, a documentary on Netflix. Their courage sparked something in me. While I’m not comparing my experience to the level of sexual or physical abuse they endured, it still felt important to acknowledge what happened to me and to speak up. Others who remained after I left have also come forward with similar complaints, which further underscores the need to address the issue.
Over the years, I have struggled to process the experience, and I believe it's time to come forward not only for myself, but for others who may have been affected.
I didn’t come forward sooner because I was honestly just too overwhelmed and afraid. For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t allowed to talk about what happened at John Volken Academy. I minimized it and blamed myself—told myself maybe I was just being dramatic or too sensitive. Every time I tried to share parts of it with people, especially family, it felt like no one wanted to hear it. They’d shut it down, or tell me I was exaggerating. It made me feel like I was the problem. I also didn’t stay in touch with anyone from there because, truthfully, they were very mean, and I didn’t want anything to do with them. I buried it. But it never stopped affecting me. What changed things for me was watching a documentary in 2024 about coercive programs. That’s when something clicked, and I thought, “Wait, that’s what I went through.” And then I saw that John Volken Academy had been shut down. That was the green light I needed—the sign that this wasn’t just in my head, and maybe someone would take me seriously now. When I spoke with a lawyer at the BC Human Rights Tribunal clinic, they told me that yes, it had been a long time, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still try. That conversation was the first time I really felt validated. That maybe I wasn’t crazy for still thinking about this years later. That maybe I was treated unfairly. And now, I’m finally ready to speak up.
During my time at the academy, I witnessed and experienced practices that I believe were psychologically harmful, overly punitive, and, in some cases, degrading.
Recently, I had a conversation with a lawyer at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal Short Service Clinic, where I shared my experience and was informed that many of the issues I faced—including possible religious discrimination and disability-based mistreatment—could potentially be grounds for a human rights complaint. They validated that addiction and mental illness are protected under BC’s Human Rights Code and encouraged me to gather witnesses and explore both human rights and possible criminal avenues.
I’m starting this petition not only to share my story but to rally others who were at JVA—whether in Surrey, Langley, or at its U.S. locations—to speak up, share your testimonies, and join a group complaint or public call for accountability.
What I Experienced at JVA Included:
╰┈➤An 18-hour "exit interrogation" when I said I wanted to leave
Locked in a room, fed a plate of burnt tater tots, while being pressured to stay. An 18-hour interrogation simply for trying to leave the program.
╰┈➤Punishments like forced silence for weeks and being forced to wear a shirt listing your "rule violation"
╰┈➤Supervised or blocked communication with family, unless earned. Extremely restricted communication with family, including directly monitored or delayed calls (always required locked room with "guardian" physically present, listening on speaker phone). Severe restrictions on communication, with phone calls to family that were supervised or conditioned on “good behavior”
╰┈➤Extreme labor, such as scrubbing houses in freezing temperatures with toothbrushes or roof-thatching on remote islands. Unnecessary forced labor, a patient there was even gored by a water buffalo in recent years during one of their "farm" labour regimens in Surrey. Labor requirements such as roof-thatching, industrial cleaning with toothbrushes, and other physical tasks that blurred the line between rehabilitation and exploitation.
╰┈➤Religious bias, with favoritism toward Mormon participants and restrictions on practicing my own Catholic faith. Gender separation and religious overtones, which were not clearly disclosed ahead of time and felt coercive.
╰┈➤Minimal media access, only a short pre-approved film each week, forbidden music, no phones. For years, months. Weeks.
╰┈➤Verbal and emotional abuse, including being called a “charlatan” for wanting to be a photographer. Extreme punishments, including weeks of forced silence and being made to wear shirts detailing your "crimes" (Did I already say that? I had to repeat it—because the psychological weight of it is just that disturbing.)
╰┈➤Confiscation of personal items, including family photos and a mouthguard that were never returned.
╰┈➤Hiding in freezers just to escape emotional pressure and control
Years of trauma afterward, including PTSD and panic attacks when traveling. Toxic power dynamics, including being chastised harshly by former addicts in leadership roles who applied inconsistent standards of judgment. A culture of fear and shame, where some residents remained for years, too overwhelmed or isolated to leave.
╰┈➤I ultimately walked five miles to a library with no phone or ID, and begged a stranger to let me call my parents. I had to take a bus from Canada to Seattle, and then fly home to Virginia while breaking down in panic at the airport. Even now, the scars linger.
I’ve since discovered others with similar experiences—many too scared or ashamed to speak out. But now, with JVA reportedly facing government-ordered closure, I believe it's time we raise our voices. This is an opportunity to finally reflect and seek truth and reconciliation.
I am calling for:
╰┈➤Public acknowledgment from JVA leadership about the harm caused
╰┈➤Refunds of mandatory deposits for anyone who left early due to mistreatment
╰┈➤An independent investigation into the Academy's practices
╰┈➤Witnesses and survivors willing to participate in a group human rights complaint in British Columbia
╰┈➤Support for a possible criminal investigation into certain actions, including forced confinement
╰┈➤If you or someone you know was at JVA, even if we weren't there at the same time, please come forward. You can comment, sign anonymously, or message me directly via ultra.elevens0i@icloud.com
┈➤This is not about revenge—it’s about truth, healing, and preventing this from happening to anyone else.
Please sign and share this petition. Reach out to me if you are a survivor of abuse from this "academy".
#RehabAccountability #TraumaRecovery #DisabilityJustice #StopRehabAbuse
r/SurvivingJVA (recently banned for "spam")
Update: 06/23/2025--->new reddit to share stories, independent of author: https://www.reddit.com/r/FakeHelpRealHarm/
Link: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-John-Volken-Academy-E1642849-RVW56017454.htm
Link: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-John-Volken-Academy-E1642849-RVW89141956.htm
Link (can't get link to exact review for some reason am redirected to page about St. Mary's): https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/John-Volken-Academy-Reviews-E1642849.htm
News publication from earlier this year:
John Volken Academy could be forced to close doors in early March
Matthew Claxton
Jan 24, 2025 4:19 PM
"A prominent drug addiction treatment facility based in Surrey and Langley is facing imminent government-ordered closure, after accusations that the residents had their mail opened, were banned from speaking to members of the opposite sex, and that one person was gored by a water buffalo.
The John Volken Academy (JVA), a residential treatment facility based in Surrey, could be shut down as soon as March 7, following a Jan. 2 decision by the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board.
The board refused to grant a stay that would let JVA stay open while it appeals the shutdown order.
A July 11, 2024, decision by Ross Hayward, an assistant deputy minister in the ministry of health, lays out allegations and concerns that led to the government revoking JVA's registration to operate.
Hayward's letter goes through a number of issues that had been raised between provincial authorities and JVA over two years starting in 2022.
He noted the presence of alleged "speaking bans," which included residents being "strongly encouraged" not to talk to anyone of the opposite sex or with anyone not a member of their "family group" in the facilities.
"One resident faced an 'encounter session' for saying 'good morning' to a member of the opposite sex at breakfast," Hayward wrote.
He also objected to the amount of unpaid labour the program allegedly required from its residents. While work experience is a common part of residential drug and alcohol treatment programs, Hayward wrote that all residents, regardless of their health or fitness, were required to do unpaid work for JVA businesses a minimum of six days a week, eight hours a day, with additional hours sometimes bringing their weekly total to 56 hours a week.
"Registry staff were informed that if a resident does not fulfill additional periods of work requirements imposed by JVA, they will not receive a completion certificate from JVA stating that they have completed the required years of work," Hayward wrote. That would leave them with no proof of their work experience after two years.
The work was also strenuous and physical, either for John Volken Academy Moving, a moving company based in Surrey, at the now-closed Volken Market and Furniture Store, or at the Volken Academy Farm, which raises bison and water buffalo in Langley.
"One resident interviewed in October 2023 stated, 'there is no recovery going on here, and all we do is work,'" Hayward wrote.
The letter also listed a string of injuries allegedly suffered by workers at the three JVA-affiliated businesses, including a number of cuts requiring stitches, and a resident who crushed a finger, fracturing one bone, while moving furniture.
The two most serious injuries were linked to the Langley farm, where one resident fell from a ladder and broke their hip, and another was "charged and gored by a water buffalo while working on the farm; the resident required stitches," the letter said.
Hayward also noted that because the work is unpaid volunteer labour, none of the residents are covered by WorkSafe BC if they are injured.
He also alleged that residents work so much that they are too exhausted for other programs or recreation after work.
"During interviews, it was reported that the primary focus of the JVA is about making a profit and increasing sales, described by one interviewee as a 'focus on making the business more profitable. The whole vibe is hurry up. Not about recovery'," Hayward's letter said.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
John Volken Academy's manager Andrea Chambers was asked about several of the allegations, including the speaking bans and long working hours of residents.
"These factual matters are the subject of ongoing litigation, and I cannot comment further on them given our upcoming appeal," the Academy's response said.
Counsel for JVA acknowledged during a recent hearing, asking for a stay of the shutdown order, that the facility had admitted a dozen more residents after regulators had told them to halt all new admissions.
However, it argued that there were no health and safety risks to residents, and that shutting the facility down "would result in greater risk to the health and safety of residents" than keeping the facility open. They also argued that they were otherwise in compliance with provincial regulations.
The charity is appealing the shutdown order.
"JVA has exercised its right to appeal the decision of the Registrar under S. 29 of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act," said a response from the JVA. "That appeal is heard by the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board, not the courts."
A nine-day appeal hearing is scheduled to start on May 5, but that's two months after the facility has been ordered to close.
The most recent ruling puts a hard deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7, to shut down.
After that deadline, residents will have to find somewhere else to live or other programs to take them in.
"The health and safety of John Volken’s residents is our top priority," Chambers said via email. "We have been working diligently with them to identify alternate safe accommodations for each and every resident. JVA keeps the personal information of its residents confidential and cannot comment further on individuals’ plans."
The Ministry of Health, which oversees drug and alcohol recovery facilities, confirmed that current residents have been given notice that they will not be able to remain after March 7.
"Between now and March 7, 2025, the John Volken Academy will take reasonable steps to locate alternate safe accommodations for each resident, pursuant the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board’s order," the ministry statement said.
"We empathize with those who have been residing at the John Volken Academy, especially as they navigate this difficult time on their journeys to recover from substance use and to repair their lives."
The statement also noted that the facility was not publicly funded, and its closure will not impact the availability of publicly funded substance use beds in B.C.
John Volken Academy is one of the charities started by businessman John Volken after he sold his United Furniture Warehouse chain in 2004.
The JVA has three main sites, including the one in Surrey and two in the United States, in Arizona and Washington State.
All three operate on similar principles, with residents here in B.C. paying $5,000 for a two-year residential program, which includes room and board, and work at one of the JVA's businesses.
Those businesses include the John Volken Academy Farm in Langley, which raises water buffalo and bison, producing meat, cheese, yogurt, and buffalo milk.
The farm officially opened in 2022, and by 2023, it had an on-site farm market and was offering paid tours to visitors, and plans were afoot to add a pig barn, hobby barn, and possibly a restaurant.
In Surrey, JVA operates John Volken Academy Movers, which does household and commercial moving.
Until last year, the society also operated Volken's Market and Furniture Store, directly adjacent to the main Surrey residence. That building was sold in 2024.
All three businesses were operated on the "social enterprise" model, with profits going back to JVA, as well as to the John Volken Foundation's other major charity, Lift the Children, which is focused on helping orphans and impoverished children in Africa.
It is unclear what will happen to the moving company and farm when the John Volken Academy shuts down."
Here is a somewhat detailed reflection I shared on my personal Substack:
Hardly surprising: I recently came across an article titled "Surrey Addiction Recovery Facility Shutters After Losing Registration Battle with Province." The Ministry of Health revoked the John Volken Academy’s registration last year for breaching the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
The article was written by Sarah Grochowski, and—no shock here—the comments underneath were openly antagonistic. To the point that the comment section was subsequently shutdown. Gee, I wonder who posted them… The tone and phrasing sounded very familiar—almost identical to some of the faces and names I remember being fully on board with the bizarre, cult-like abuse that went on.
No one’s denying the value of hard work and discipline—but there’s a difference between structure and control. The lines weren’t just blurred; they were crossed from day one.
And of course, the comment section didn’t disappoint—let's just throw every imaginable stereotype about addiction into one big, heaping pile and then act confused about why people don’t get better... or why they become addicts in the first place.
555
The Issue
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Clelia Jane, and in 2016, I attended the John Volken Academy (JVA) in Surrey, British Columbia. I was seeking support for mental health and recovery from prescription medications like Adderall and Klonopin, as well as cannabis use. Instead of receiving compassionate care, I found myself in what felt like a coercive and psychologically abusive environment disguised as rehabilitation. In the first half of 2024, Paris Hilton spoke out about her experiences at Provo Canyon School (something she's been a strong advocate for over the years since coming forward about the abuse), and Katherine Kubler released The Program, a documentary on Netflix. Their courage sparked something in me. While I’m not comparing my experience to the level of sexual or physical abuse they endured, it still felt important to acknowledge what happened to me and to speak up. Others who remained after I left have also come forward with similar complaints, which further underscores the need to address the issue.
Over the years, I have struggled to process the experience, and I believe it's time to come forward not only for myself, but for others who may have been affected.
I didn’t come forward sooner because I was honestly just too overwhelmed and afraid. For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t allowed to talk about what happened at John Volken Academy. I minimized it and blamed myself—told myself maybe I was just being dramatic or too sensitive. Every time I tried to share parts of it with people, especially family, it felt like no one wanted to hear it. They’d shut it down, or tell me I was exaggerating. It made me feel like I was the problem. I also didn’t stay in touch with anyone from there because, truthfully, they were very mean, and I didn’t want anything to do with them. I buried it. But it never stopped affecting me. What changed things for me was watching a documentary in 2024 about coercive programs. That’s when something clicked, and I thought, “Wait, that’s what I went through.” And then I saw that John Volken Academy had been shut down. That was the green light I needed—the sign that this wasn’t just in my head, and maybe someone would take me seriously now. When I spoke with a lawyer at the BC Human Rights Tribunal clinic, they told me that yes, it had been a long time, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still try. That conversation was the first time I really felt validated. That maybe I wasn’t crazy for still thinking about this years later. That maybe I was treated unfairly. And now, I’m finally ready to speak up.
During my time at the academy, I witnessed and experienced practices that I believe were psychologically harmful, overly punitive, and, in some cases, degrading.
Recently, I had a conversation with a lawyer at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal Short Service Clinic, where I shared my experience and was informed that many of the issues I faced—including possible religious discrimination and disability-based mistreatment—could potentially be grounds for a human rights complaint. They validated that addiction and mental illness are protected under BC’s Human Rights Code and encouraged me to gather witnesses and explore both human rights and possible criminal avenues.
I’m starting this petition not only to share my story but to rally others who were at JVA—whether in Surrey, Langley, or at its U.S. locations—to speak up, share your testimonies, and join a group complaint or public call for accountability.
What I Experienced at JVA Included:
╰┈➤An 18-hour "exit interrogation" when I said I wanted to leave
Locked in a room, fed a plate of burnt tater tots, while being pressured to stay. An 18-hour interrogation simply for trying to leave the program.
╰┈➤Punishments like forced silence for weeks and being forced to wear a shirt listing your "rule violation"
╰┈➤Supervised or blocked communication with family, unless earned. Extremely restricted communication with family, including directly monitored or delayed calls (always required locked room with "guardian" physically present, listening on speaker phone). Severe restrictions on communication, with phone calls to family that were supervised or conditioned on “good behavior”
╰┈➤Extreme labor, such as scrubbing houses in freezing temperatures with toothbrushes or roof-thatching on remote islands. Unnecessary forced labor, a patient there was even gored by a water buffalo in recent years during one of their "farm" labour regimens in Surrey. Labor requirements such as roof-thatching, industrial cleaning with toothbrushes, and other physical tasks that blurred the line between rehabilitation and exploitation.
╰┈➤Religious bias, with favoritism toward Mormon participants and restrictions on practicing my own Catholic faith. Gender separation and religious overtones, which were not clearly disclosed ahead of time and felt coercive.
╰┈➤Minimal media access, only a short pre-approved film each week, forbidden music, no phones. For years, months. Weeks.
╰┈➤Verbal and emotional abuse, including being called a “charlatan” for wanting to be a photographer. Extreme punishments, including weeks of forced silence and being made to wear shirts detailing your "crimes" (Did I already say that? I had to repeat it—because the psychological weight of it is just that disturbing.)
╰┈➤Confiscation of personal items, including family photos and a mouthguard that were never returned.
╰┈➤Hiding in freezers just to escape emotional pressure and control
Years of trauma afterward, including PTSD and panic attacks when traveling. Toxic power dynamics, including being chastised harshly by former addicts in leadership roles who applied inconsistent standards of judgment. A culture of fear and shame, where some residents remained for years, too overwhelmed or isolated to leave.
╰┈➤I ultimately walked five miles to a library with no phone or ID, and begged a stranger to let me call my parents. I had to take a bus from Canada to Seattle, and then fly home to Virginia while breaking down in panic at the airport. Even now, the scars linger.
I’ve since discovered others with similar experiences—many too scared or ashamed to speak out. But now, with JVA reportedly facing government-ordered closure, I believe it's time we raise our voices. This is an opportunity to finally reflect and seek truth and reconciliation.
I am calling for:
╰┈➤Public acknowledgment from JVA leadership about the harm caused
╰┈➤Refunds of mandatory deposits for anyone who left early due to mistreatment
╰┈➤An independent investigation into the Academy's practices
╰┈➤Witnesses and survivors willing to participate in a group human rights complaint in British Columbia
╰┈➤Support for a possible criminal investigation into certain actions, including forced confinement
╰┈➤If you or someone you know was at JVA, even if we weren't there at the same time, please come forward. You can comment, sign anonymously, or message me directly via ultra.elevens0i@icloud.com
┈➤This is not about revenge—it’s about truth, healing, and preventing this from happening to anyone else.
Please sign and share this petition. Reach out to me if you are a survivor of abuse from this "academy".
#RehabAccountability #TraumaRecovery #DisabilityJustice #StopRehabAbuse
r/SurvivingJVA (recently banned for "spam")
Update: 06/23/2025--->new reddit to share stories, independent of author: https://www.reddit.com/r/FakeHelpRealHarm/
Link: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-John-Volken-Academy-E1642849-RVW56017454.htm
Link: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-John-Volken-Academy-E1642849-RVW89141956.htm
Link (can't get link to exact review for some reason am redirected to page about St. Mary's): https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/John-Volken-Academy-Reviews-E1642849.htm
News publication from earlier this year:
John Volken Academy could be forced to close doors in early March
Matthew Claxton
Jan 24, 2025 4:19 PM
"A prominent drug addiction treatment facility based in Surrey and Langley is facing imminent government-ordered closure, after accusations that the residents had their mail opened, were banned from speaking to members of the opposite sex, and that one person was gored by a water buffalo.
The John Volken Academy (JVA), a residential treatment facility based in Surrey, could be shut down as soon as March 7, following a Jan. 2 decision by the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board.
The board refused to grant a stay that would let JVA stay open while it appeals the shutdown order.
A July 11, 2024, decision by Ross Hayward, an assistant deputy minister in the ministry of health, lays out allegations and concerns that led to the government revoking JVA's registration to operate.
Hayward's letter goes through a number of issues that had been raised between provincial authorities and JVA over two years starting in 2022.
He noted the presence of alleged "speaking bans," which included residents being "strongly encouraged" not to talk to anyone of the opposite sex or with anyone not a member of their "family group" in the facilities.
"One resident faced an 'encounter session' for saying 'good morning' to a member of the opposite sex at breakfast," Hayward wrote.
He also objected to the amount of unpaid labour the program allegedly required from its residents. While work experience is a common part of residential drug and alcohol treatment programs, Hayward wrote that all residents, regardless of their health or fitness, were required to do unpaid work for JVA businesses a minimum of six days a week, eight hours a day, with additional hours sometimes bringing their weekly total to 56 hours a week.
"Registry staff were informed that if a resident does not fulfill additional periods of work requirements imposed by JVA, they will not receive a completion certificate from JVA stating that they have completed the required years of work," Hayward wrote. That would leave them with no proof of their work experience after two years.
The work was also strenuous and physical, either for John Volken Academy Moving, a moving company based in Surrey, at the now-closed Volken Market and Furniture Store, or at the Volken Academy Farm, which raises bison and water buffalo in Langley.
"One resident interviewed in October 2023 stated, 'there is no recovery going on here, and all we do is work,'" Hayward wrote.
The letter also listed a string of injuries allegedly suffered by workers at the three JVA-affiliated businesses, including a number of cuts requiring stitches, and a resident who crushed a finger, fracturing one bone, while moving furniture.
The two most serious injuries were linked to the Langley farm, where one resident fell from a ladder and broke their hip, and another was "charged and gored by a water buffalo while working on the farm; the resident required stitches," the letter said.
Hayward also noted that because the work is unpaid volunteer labour, none of the residents are covered by WorkSafe BC if they are injured.
He also alleged that residents work so much that they are too exhausted for other programs or recreation after work.
"During interviews, it was reported that the primary focus of the JVA is about making a profit and increasing sales, described by one interviewee as a 'focus on making the business more profitable. The whole vibe is hurry up. Not about recovery'," Hayward's letter said.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
John Volken Academy's manager Andrea Chambers was asked about several of the allegations, including the speaking bans and long working hours of residents.
"These factual matters are the subject of ongoing litigation, and I cannot comment further on them given our upcoming appeal," the Academy's response said.
Counsel for JVA acknowledged during a recent hearing, asking for a stay of the shutdown order, that the facility had admitted a dozen more residents after regulators had told them to halt all new admissions.
However, it argued that there were no health and safety risks to residents, and that shutting the facility down "would result in greater risk to the health and safety of residents" than keeping the facility open. They also argued that they were otherwise in compliance with provincial regulations.
The charity is appealing the shutdown order.
"JVA has exercised its right to appeal the decision of the Registrar under S. 29 of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act," said a response from the JVA. "That appeal is heard by the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board, not the courts."
A nine-day appeal hearing is scheduled to start on May 5, but that's two months after the facility has been ordered to close.
The most recent ruling puts a hard deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7, to shut down.
After that deadline, residents will have to find somewhere else to live or other programs to take them in.
"The health and safety of John Volken’s residents is our top priority," Chambers said via email. "We have been working diligently with them to identify alternate safe accommodations for each and every resident. JVA keeps the personal information of its residents confidential and cannot comment further on individuals’ plans."
The Ministry of Health, which oversees drug and alcohol recovery facilities, confirmed that current residents have been given notice that they will not be able to remain after March 7.
"Between now and March 7, 2025, the John Volken Academy will take reasonable steps to locate alternate safe accommodations for each resident, pursuant the Community Care and Assisted Living appeal board’s order," the ministry statement said.
"We empathize with those who have been residing at the John Volken Academy, especially as they navigate this difficult time on their journeys to recover from substance use and to repair their lives."
The statement also noted that the facility was not publicly funded, and its closure will not impact the availability of publicly funded substance use beds in B.C.
John Volken Academy is one of the charities started by businessman John Volken after he sold his United Furniture Warehouse chain in 2004.
The JVA has three main sites, including the one in Surrey and two in the United States, in Arizona and Washington State.
All three operate on similar principles, with residents here in B.C. paying $5,000 for a two-year residential program, which includes room and board, and work at one of the JVA's businesses.
Those businesses include the John Volken Academy Farm in Langley, which raises water buffalo and bison, producing meat, cheese, yogurt, and buffalo milk.
The farm officially opened in 2022, and by 2023, it had an on-site farm market and was offering paid tours to visitors, and plans were afoot to add a pig barn, hobby barn, and possibly a restaurant.
In Surrey, JVA operates John Volken Academy Movers, which does household and commercial moving.
Until last year, the society also operated Volken's Market and Furniture Store, directly adjacent to the main Surrey residence. That building was sold in 2024.
All three businesses were operated on the "social enterprise" model, with profits going back to JVA, as well as to the John Volken Foundation's other major charity, Lift the Children, which is focused on helping orphans and impoverished children in Africa.
It is unclear what will happen to the moving company and farm when the John Volken Academy shuts down."
Here is a somewhat detailed reflection I shared on my personal Substack:
Hardly surprising: I recently came across an article titled "Surrey Addiction Recovery Facility Shutters After Losing Registration Battle with Province." The Ministry of Health revoked the John Volken Academy’s registration last year for breaching the Community Care and Assisted Living Act.
The article was written by Sarah Grochowski, and—no shock here—the comments underneath were openly antagonistic. To the point that the comment section was subsequently shutdown. Gee, I wonder who posted them… The tone and phrasing sounded very familiar—almost identical to some of the faces and names I remember being fully on board with the bizarre, cult-like abuse that went on.
No one’s denying the value of hard work and discipline—but there’s a difference between structure and control. The lines weren’t just blurred; they were crossed from day one.
And of course, the comment section didn’t disappoint—let's just throw every imaginable stereotype about addiction into one big, heaping pile and then act confused about why people don’t get better... or why they become addicts in the first place.
555
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on February 10, 2024