Montrealer helping other at-risk women overcome struggles

Montrealer Liane Berry has endured many challenges throughout her life, from battles with addiction to run-ins with the law.

Now, having risen above it, she’s helping other at-risk women overcome struggles of their own with her new autobiography “Seven Times Rise.”

“It’s a true story that’s hard to believe, but, and it’s not made for the lighthearted either, to be honest, or young people either, or even someone who’s very new in sobriety, I like to say, you might not wanna read this until you get to six months clean,” explained Berry. “One day something clicked and it changed and I started to live a different way and then that brought me to a healthier lifestyle, a better life, less fear and that’s where I am today.

“This book was on my mind for many years. I would say at least 20 years before I actually wrote it. So by the time I got to writing it I was just so ready to pour out my heart. And I realized that I had some significant times of sober times in my life, like actually six significant times before this one, the one that I’m at now. And so it’s the seventh time that I’ve risen up from using and from being at my bottom.”

Berry is also the driving force behind LI-BER-T House in Pointe-Claire, a transitional housing facility for women who are looking to reintegrate into society.

“We just ask, what are the five things that you want to prioritize right now? And then based on that list of five things, we look at, can we get it done at the house here? Do you need to be referred to community resources? Do you want to go to school, work or that type of, you know, questioning? And then we go out there and help them find what they need,” said Berry.

Montana Séguin, Assistant Case Manager at LI-BER-T House added, “At the end of the day, no one else can force you to start recovery or to stick to being sober. Like it’s very much your own decision and your choice that you make every day. It’s the wonderful one day at a time that I love.

“I’ve hung out with residents, like we’re just buddies, which is kind of fun sometimes, but other times it’s like they’re talking to me about stuff that’s bothering them, and they just need someone to talk to, or like a third party to listen.”

Berry credits her brother for helping her come up with the name LI-BER-T House, spelled “L-I” for Liane, “B-E-R” short for berry, and “T” for transformation.

“They get together and eat together or sometimes watch a movie together, you know, maybe go to meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous together. So it creates, you know, it develops a friendship, a sisterhood of sorts.”

One she hopes will keep growing.