Our facilitators

Brian Hamel serves as the Executive Director, lead facilitator, and curriculum creator at Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC), where he combines lived experience, systems knowledge, and unapologetic passion to shape the future of recovery coaching across Alberta. 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. He has led the development of RCAC’s training curriculum, delivered throughout Alberta through virtual cohorts, in-person sessions, and collaborative partnerships. He works closely with governments, community-based organizations, and recovery communities to integrate recovery coaches into frontline, peer-led, and interdisciplinary roles.

Brian is especially known for his work advancing ethical standards, recovery coach supervision models, and culturally responsive approaches rooted in dignity and autonomy. Under his leadership, RCAC has become a leading force in Alberta’s recovery landscape, focused exclusively on developing recovery coaches within a Recovery Oriented System of Care. 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 Whether he’s supporting the development of a peer workforce, challenging outdated views of sobriety, or redefining what recovery can look like in Alberta, Brian’s work is driven by one core belief: that everyone deserves to heal in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.

Christine Fiorini is a Recovery Coach Professional at the Recovery Coach Academy of Canada (RCAC). 

With her education in Psychology and professional background in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and crisis intervention, Christine brings a dynamic, people-centered approach to her work. Not one for small talk, she believes meaningful conversations and genuine connection are where true growth happens. 

Christine is passionate about creating compassionate yet playful spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered and believes that our well-being sets the foundation for both personal and professional success. A proud member of the recovery community herself, she integrates her lived experience into her position; offering authenticity, empathy, and relatability to every group of which she is a part. 

Known for her bubbly personality and engaging teaching style, Christine is dedicated to making education in the field of Recovery Coaching both meaningful and accessible. 

Joel Henley is the Manager of Operations at Recovery Coach Academy Canada (RCAC). He brings a calm, strategic approach to his work, helping guide the systems and processes that keep RCAC 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—someone who supports 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 RCAC continues to grow across Alberta, 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.