Board of Directors

Tammy is a retired Canadian Armed Forces Officer who spent several years working with injured and ill soldiers transitioning into civilian life. After retiring, Tammy dedicated her focus to working with the vulnerable sector and is currently a Provisional Recovery Coach in a Recovery House for men in Alberta. Her experience growing up around addiction/alcoholism within her family and early relationships, coupled with her advanced education in psychology, provides her with the ability to connect and relate to those seeking recovery. Tammy joined the RCC Board in 2023, actively partakes in working groups/committees with RCC, as well as actively participates in her community Chamber of Commerce keeping her connected locally and nationwide.

Tammy Dettrich

Kevin Diakiw, CCRC, RCP-F

Kevin was 27 years into his own recovery from addiction before he’d even heard of a recovery coach.
His exposure to the approach was profound. In 2018, he became a certified trainer of recovery coaches and has trained more than 300 coaches so far.
If good coaches had been around 30 years ago, his dad and brother might still be alive today.
Creating the best recovery coaches in Canada is his sole aim. Everything he does is in service of that.
As a founding member of Recovery Coaches Canada he lives to defend the role of recovery coaches.

Bob is a professional Recovery Coach with over 3 years of experience.
With long-term recovery from substance use disorder, he brings invaluable experience to his role.
His passion lies in the Recovery Coach Competency (RCC) model and is deeply committed by sitting on its Board of Directors, and he sits on its Credentialing Committee.
Bob's mission is to help develop and place skilled recovery coaches in areas where they are most needed and to support individuals on their journeys to long-term recovery.

Shelley Shadow, CCRC, RCP-F

As a recovery coach and trainer with Still Here since 2020, Shelley Shadow believes that the field of recovery coaching is of great benefit to people who are looking at making changes to their use of substances. As a founding member of RCC, she is determined and purposed in two critical ways: to create opportunities for trained recovery coaches in Canada to gain experience, and secondly, ensuring that those accessing services have qualified coaches. In addition, she would like to maintain the fidelity of the profession of recovery coaching. 

Iris Rich, CCRC

Iris has led a lifelong career in developing, presenting and facilitating recovery responsive programs at Thompson Rivers University and decades of volunteer Board service in numerous community agencies.  In retirement, motivated to give back, Iris completed Recovery Coaching and Mentorship Programs, becoming an accredited Professional Recovery Coach with a private practice.  As a person in long term recovery, Iris is inspired by the resilience of people and is passionate about assisting others to reach their higher purpose through mindfulness practice, conscious listening, empathy and compassion. She works in Victoria BC.

As a Recovery Coach, Thomas connects with clients through the practice of deep listening, kindness, and collaboration. Building trust is fundamental so that together we can successfully shine a light on a pathway towards a healthy, balanced life in recovery. I coach people to build their own four pillars of recovery. These pillars are commitment, consistency, connection, and creativity. He collaborates with clients to define their own recovery goals. I strive to bring non-judgmental acceptance, compassion, and empathy to each therapeutic relationship while also ensuring that recovery is fun. 

Michael Walsh

Michael is one of Canada's leading substance use and addiction experts.

With 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use services across non-profit, public health, and private sectors, he helped pioneer Recovery Coaching in Canada. Starting his practice in 2014, Michael was ahead of the curve in an area of the field few understood. 

Having personally triumphed over drug and alcohol addiction he is deeply committed to shaping the future of Recovery Coaches Canada. He is based in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island