A Recollection from Reggie’s Friend Charlene MacKenzie

Charlene MacKenzie was a good friend of Reggie’s and has shared several memories of him with this archive.

When she learned that I was rebuilding the website and continuing to tell Reggie’s story, she explained why she felt it was worth preserving:

“I’m happy to see you honouring your brother by sharing his story. Not only will it save lives, it will help people who may have a loved one struggling with addiction realize how powerful addiction really is.”

A Night Charlene Remembers

Charlene also recalled a night around 1999–2000, when Reggie was living with our parents and, in her recollection, trying to get his life back on track.

The name of another person who was present has been removed for privacy.

In Charlene’s words:

“Back in 1999-2000 (I’m thinking it was), Reggie was living back home with your parents trying to get his life together. [A friend] and I went to the Legion one night and met up with Reggie. We had a great time, and all went down to St Teresa’s to a friend of mine’s house afterwards (he’s an alcoholic and always up for company drinking).

Reggie wasn’t doing drugs then, none of us were, we were all just drinking. Reggie told me he was trying to get away from that life and move forward. He looked good.

We were all having a great time when a knock came at the door. It was RCMP. They said they had to come in and look around because there was a 9-1-1 call from the house. There absolutely wasn’t!!

They came in looked around and left. Reggie got really upset over it (we all did), but him more so. He said they won’t leave me alone. I’ll always be “Reggie the drug addict” to them. “There’s no moving forward here”, he said.

I felt bad for him because I knew it wasn’t a lie. I believe they hounded him. Sometimes the demons were fighting wear uniforms. Reggie relapsed shortly after.

Editor’s Note

Charlene’s account records what she remembers witnessing that night and how Reggie reacted to the RCMP visit. Her belief that police were deliberately hounding him, and her connection between the incident and his subsequent relapse, are her interpretation of what happened.

What stands out to me is what she remembers Reggie saying:

“There’s no moving forward here.”

That feeling—that his past would continue to follow him even when he was trying to move beyond it—appears at other points in Reggie’s story as well.

Charlene ended her recollection with a question she has carried with her, and a final thought about her friend:

I truly hope he is at peace now and finally clear of all demons.”

“I always wondered if he would have made it if given a honest chance….