John Derry knows about addiction.

He holds a degree in addiction counseling from the world leading Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction in Minnesota.

As a pharmacist and a counselor in Ontario, Derry was in day to day contact with people struggling with addiction.

But aside from his dealing with addicts, he has first hand knowledge. Derry is a recovering alcoholic.

"I know what it's like to be on the treadmill of thinking you're successful and doing everything society expects and appearing to be OK on the outside but feeling an emptiness and hollowness on the inside," said Derry from his home-based retreat on Kelowna's Westside.

"I started re-evaluating my life and it became clear to me that I wanted to spend my life helping people recover from addiction."

Derry made the decision to change careers from pharmacy to counseling while living in Ontario.

But a chance invite from an old friend brought him to Kelowna in May.

He soon realized the tranquil setting was a perfect fit for a business centered around recovery.

He purchased a home that was operating as a bed and breakfast and moved to Kelowna in August.

"It became so apparent to me that the Okanagan was such a beautiful destination where people were willing to come," he said from his office and group counseling area overlooking Okanagan Lake.

"I want this to be a place that is not just an institution. Recovery can be fun. Life can be fun."

Derry's business, called A Home Away, has room for six to ten people and provides individual and group counseling and aftercare programs for recovering addicts. He calls it a bed and breakfast retreat with counseling.

"We're not offering detox," said Derry.

"If someone uses they need to leave. I'm not offering health care, I'm offering a home away, a recovery retreat experience where people can come and restore themselves. I'm looking at people experiencing a renewal of a balanced lifestyle with a balanced attention to mind, body and sprit."

"Having six to ten people here each month will help me cover costs and make this financially sustainable," he said.

Derry will incorporate local experts in fields like anger management, recreation, stress reduction and relationships.

He has hired a chef out of the Okanagan University College's culinary arts program to provide meals to people staying in the house.

"I'm hopeful this can become a model of recovery that can be and will be emulated and replicated through the country," said Derry.

"Recovery doesn't have to cost a lot of money. It doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't always require seven or eight health care disciplines. Yes there is a need for that for some people, but a lot of people don't need that."