HRC After Hours
A Coffee House Style Night in honour of Mental Health Awareness
This event is in honour of
Mental Health AWARENESS
Join us for a cozy coffeehouse-style “HRC After Hours” event. The evening will be a celebration of creativity, art, expression, community and the stories of healing and hope that live within all of us.
We want you to be a part of this event – check out the “Help Bring This Event To Life” Section of this page for more details.
This is a not-for-profit event with all proceeds going to Girls Inc York Region and the Newmarket Food Pantry.
Join Us on Friday, Nov 20th 6:30 – 8:30pm at Healing Recovery Centre
This event has limited capacity, please register to save your spot.
The Vibe
What the night will feel like
HRC After Hours is a space to experience what mental health actually looks and feels like, beyond the highlight reels, labels, and misconceptions.
Through art, storytelling, music, and lived experience, this night is about sharing real stories. The messy, the meaningful, the hopeful, and creating space for connection, understanding, and community.
Think: Warm lighting, coffee house energy, people gathered together, meaningful conversations, and creative expression in all forms.
Wander through art gallery-style rooms featuring pieces inspired by mental health journeys and recovery
Explore local vendors + small businesses that support mental health and wellbeing
Settle into our community space for a live coffee house experience, including spoken word, music, storytelling, and short films
To secure the cozy vibes for the evening, we will be providing all your favourite seasonal drinks and baked goods to make sure you have something comforting and sweet throughout the night.
It’s a night to take in, reflect, connect, and maybe even see yourself in someone else’s story.
Why We’re Doing This
Let’s be real, a lot of what we see around “mental health awareness” only scratches the surface. It’s polished, simplified, and easy to digest… but it often misses what mental health actually feels like for people living it.
And when that’s all we see, it can make real experiences feel harder to talk about, not easier.
This night is about shifting that.
We’re creating space for real stories, the kind that don’t always make it onto social media. Stories of struggle, but also of resilience, recovery, family, and hope. Stories shared through art, music, poetry, film, and lived experience. Stories that help people feel seen, understood, and less alone.
And at the heart of it all is community.
Being in a room with people who get it.
People who are open, curious, and care about mental health in a real way.
People who have lived it, are living it, or want to better understand it.
Whether you’re navigating your own mental health, supporting someone you love, or simply want to be part of a more honest conversation, this space is for you.
Because when we come together like this, something shifts.
Tickets & Giving Back
Date: Friday, Nov 20th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00pm
Location: Healing Recovery Centre
Cost for this event:
This is a pay-what-you-can event.
Come for free, or contribute in a way that feels right to you. All proceeds are being donated to a local mental health charity.
Have Questions?
Email us at info@healingrecoverycentre.ca to learn more
Help Bring This Event To Life
We’re inviting people of all ages to share their experiences of mental health, healing and recovery. Whether you’re navigating your own journey, reflecting on a past chapter or supporting a child or loved one, we want to create space for real, honest experiences. Together, our stories become more than individual experiences; they create shared understanding, challenge stigma and build a community where no one has to struggle in silence.
You can contribute by speaking or expressing your story through:
Visual art, photography or collage
Music or poetry
Short film
Any other creative medium that feels meaningful to you
You’re welcome to present your work yourself or submit it anonymously to be shared on your behalf.
We’re committed to representing a diversity of voices and warmly welcome stories shaped by different cultures, identities and lived experiences, including First Nations, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, Black and other racialized communities.
Other Ways to Contribute
Not ready to share a story? You can still help us create a meaningful and welcoming evening. We’re looking for volunteers, event sponsors and local businesses interested in contributing coffee, baked goods or another cozy experience for our guests.

