Guy Felicella

Guy Felicella

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Vancouver, British Columbia

Harm Reduction Advocate, Advisor and Addiction Educator

Guy Felicella is a harm reduction advocate and addiction educator who has spent 3 decades in the grips of addiction and surviving many life-threatening infections. Guy Felicella spends his time educating youth and consulting with political leaders and policymakers on the importance of alcohol and drug prevention. He is currently employed by Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Centre on Substance Use, and delivers inspirational talks on overcoming homelessness, addiction, and the effects of trauma and mental health challenges. Through personal stories, he champions resilience, advocates for changing biases toward those marginalized by addiction, and emphasizes the transformative power of human connection.

GUY FELICELLA BIOGRAPHY

Guy Felicella grew up in a middle class home in Richmond but fell into addiction at a young age. Guy spent 30 years in the repeated cycle of gangs, addiction, treatment and jail. He spent nearly 20 years residing in the two block radius in the Downtown Eastside and using many resources, including harm reduction, to keep himself alive. Guy Felicella spent three decades living in the grips of addiction and homelessness, surviving multiple life-threatening infections, several public health crises and six overdoses. Today, Guy has escaped the grips of the turmoil that kept him suffering and resides with his wife and three young children with over a decade of sobriety under his belt.

Guy Felicella is passionate about advocating for the vulnerable people who still suffer from addiction and educating communities on harm reduction to eliminate the stigma that exists around it. Currently, Guy works for Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Centre on Substance Use. Guy Felicella spent nearly his entire life suffering in addiction and now he is using his experience to change the hearts and minds of people to the idea that recovery is harm reduction and harm reduction is recovery.

Gone are the days when it’s either harm reduction or recovery; it’s both! Guy Felicella has been featured in the media including, but not limited to, The Today Show on NBC, CTV Vancouver and two TEDx Talks.

Currently, Guy works for Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Centre on Substance Use and collaborates with many organizations globally. He shares his profound journey of overcoming homelessness, addiction, and the far-reaching impacts of unresolved trauma, anxiety, depression, and living with undiagnosed ADHD. He focuses on the perseverance and actionable solutions required to face and overcome challenges with safe spaces to share, grow and take action become the change we want for ourselves and in our world. Guy highlights the unexpected gifts and freedoms that emerge from embracing learning differences, showcasing how these obstacles can become stepping stones to happiness and success. Audiences gain insights into shifting personal biases and altering perceptions towards those stigmatized either through addiction, failure, or judgements faced by their peers for seeking support. In his daily work and speaking engagements he powerfully illustrates how human connections can pivot the course of a life to create transformative experiences for themselves and their peers.

His inspirational talks extend beyond harm reduction, delving into themes of leadership, change, authenticity, overcoming challenges, resilience, mindset, overcoming adversity, beating all odds, courage, hope, support systems and determination. He also delivers presentations on mental health, safe spaces, addiction, substance abuse, homelessness and preventative health services, while also addressing the profound impacts of unresolved trauma, anxiety, depression, and undiagnosed ADHD. Guy is on a mission to use his story to help others face any challenge or opportunity with grace and to make an impact in everything they do.

Videos

Podcasts

Play

Knockin‘ Doorz Down

Jason & Mikey

Guy Felicella - From Homeless Heroin Addict Living on the Streets of Vancouver to TEDx Talk Motivational Speaker Working with Vancouver Coastal Health.

Guy Felicella Topic Presentations

removing the stigma of harm reduction and the discrimination against substance users.

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • Harm reduction saves lives; without resources like safe consumption sites, I would not be alive today. Simply put, you can’t save a dead addict. 3 out of 4 people who will die today in BC due to drug overdose will be in a private residence, blue collar people with diverse careers. Who we initially picture to be the face of a substance user, the “homeless user,” isn’t correct.

safer alternatives

bridging the gaps between harm reduction and recovery.

reducing harm in the community

narcan training: reducing stigma in the workplace

Testimonials

Guy’s presentation was moving, inspirational and a wonderful example of how strong the human spirit can be to fight your way out of one of life’s darkest places to a healing journey of understanding, self-compassion, recovery, thriving and paying it forward. We were hanging off every single word from the moment he started. One of the most moving life stories I have been so lucky to hear, live and learn from. I know I speak for all of our 50 youth change makers, Guy Felicella left us awe inspired and so very hopeful. Guy’s life story needs to be heard by us all, especially given the urgency of the current fentanyl crisis.

Martha Turner Osborne

Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer
Teachers Life

I’ve had the opportunity to witness Guy’s lectures on several occasions over the years and it never ceases to amaze me how he touches the audience with the passion he brings to telling his story, keys to being not just a good public speaker, but an excellent one. His ability to frame his story to keep the listener engaged displays professionalism and expertise. Guy Felicella is actively engaged with his audience while displaying a strong stage presence. The knowledge translation that can occur from someone who has lived it cannot be overstated. Guy Felicella is able to do what so little can, tell his story, make the listener feel as though they are there living it with him, and provide...

Robert L. Tanguay, BSc (Hons), MD, FRCPC, CISAM, CCSAM 

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Calgary

We consistently receive enthusiastic and positive feedback from program participants regarding the practice changing impacts of Guy’s presentations. His contributions in the media and at other public events, as well as in briefings at the municipal and provincial level with elected officials and staff have helped to bring a human face to the issue of problematic substance use. Most recently, he closed out the BCCSU’s first annual provincial conference on substance use and addiction with a standing ovation. He simply is an amazing story teller.

Cheyenne Johnson, MPH, RN, CCRP.

Co-Interim Executive Director
British Columbia Centre on Substance Use

Guy Felicella is an amazing human being with an incredibly inspiring story. He came and spoke to all the students at Parkland Secondary School and made a huge impact on the students and staff. I would highly recommend bringing him in to your school, your office, your organization….. because we can all benefit from becoming more compassionate human beings. Thanks Guy!

Lizanne Chicanot

Principal
Parkland Secondary School

Guy is an abundantly inspiring colleague and compelling speaker, who has a gift for drawing upon his personal experiences to educate, motivate, and challenge assumptions about substance use, addiction, recovery and harm reduction. He has the ability to mobilize his audiences to action by weaving his own journey into powerful calls for necessary changes within systems, policies and practice Guy’s wisdom and leadership are an asset to every discussion on harm reduction and substance use, whether he is addressing a room full of law enforcement professionals, healthcare providers, or families impacted by addiction and substance use, or a small, focused meeting with policymakers, regulators,...

Miranda Compton

Regional Director, Prevention and Addiction Programs
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Articles & Media

Coming Soon!

Books

Coming Soon!

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