By Elizabeth Barhydt
On Wednesday, August 27, the center of New Canaan will transform into a space for remembrance and hope as the 9th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil gathers hundreds on South Avenue. Hosted by the New Canaan Parent Support Group (NCPSG), the vigil begins with live music at 6:15 p.m., followed by a formal program at 7:00 p.m. at the corner of Elm Street and South Avenue. The event’s theme — “Sharing Stories Saves Lives” — reflects the core belief that personal testimonies can break stigma and encourage recovery.
“This year’s theme, ‘Sharing Stories Saves Lives,’ underscores the power of lived experience to inspire action and save lives,” said Paul Reinhardt, founder of the New Canaan Parent Support Group. “Addiction thrives in silence and shame. When we speak out, we break that cycle — and we build a community where recovery is possible”.
The vigil’s program blends elements that have become hallmarks over its nine years: deeply personal recovery stories, live music, and a candlelight ceremony. Attendees are invited to visit two visual anchors of the evening — the Resource Wall, which highlights behavioral health and recovery services, and the Hope & Remembrance Wall, where loved ones lost to addiction are honored with photos and handwritten tributes. These displays provide both practical guidance and quiet spaces for reflection.
Leading the evening is emcee John Hamilton, CEO of Liberation Programs, whose career has focused on providing treatment and support for individuals navigating addiction and mental health challenges. Three speakers — Alex, Gina, and Pete — will share personal narratives of long-term recovery, offering intimate perspectives on resilience, setbacks, and the often nonlinear path toward healing.
Clergy members Pastor Gilbert Burgess and Rev. Scott Herr will co-lead the candlelight segment. For many attendees, this moment — when the community raises candles in unison against the twilight sky — is the vigil’s emotional core, symbolizing solidarity for those still struggling and remembrance for those lost.
Music will be provided by Adam Christoferson of Musical Intervention, a program that encourages people to create original songs that “inspire and heal.” Christoferson’s performances have become a signature feature of the vigil, weaving an uplifting tone throughout the evening.
Lauren Patterson, president and CEO of the New Canaan Community Foundation, which co-hosts the event, emphasized the community impact of gathering publicly to talk about addiction and recovery. “This event reminds us that change starts with connection,” Patterson said. “As a community, we can challenge stigma and increase access to care — story by story, family by family”.
The vigil has grown steadily since its inception in 2017. Last year’s event drew more than 500 attendees, a turnout that Reinhardt attributes to the urgent need for open dialogue around substance use and mental health. “Every time someone steps forward to share their authentic experience of recovery, I believe a life is saved,” he said.
In addition to NCPSG and the New Canaan Community Foundation, the vigil is supported by a broad coalition of local partners, including the Town of New Canaan, New Canaan CARES, Silver Hill Hospital, The Lighthouse CT, and Walter Stewart’s Market. Their sponsorship helps fund logistical needs like sound equipment and seating, allowing the vigil to remain free and accessible to all.
The evening concludes with a Community Pledge, inviting attendees to affirm their role in supporting others and reducing stigma. For many, this public commitment is both personal and collective — a reminder that recovery does not happen in isolation, but within a network of family, friends, and neighbors willing to walk alongside those in need.
For Reinhardt and other organizers, the vigil is more than an annual gathering; it’s part of a broader effort to normalize conversations about addiction in New Canaan and beyond. The Parent Support Group meets weekly at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, offering a safe space for parents and caregivers navigating a loved one’s substance use. These meetings, like the vigil, are grounded in connection and understanding — two qualities that Reinhardt believes are essential to lasting recovery.
“This isn’t just about remembering,” he said. “It’s about creating a place where people feel safe to tell their stories — because every story shared might be the one that helps someone else.” 9th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil
Wednesday, August 27 – Music at 6:15 p.m., Program at 7:00 p.m.
6 South Avenue, New Canaan (corner of Elm Street)
Rain date: August 28
