“This has been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

Matt Charbonneau
Special to Spur Ottawa

Kombucha, a fermented and sweetened black or green tea known for its health benefits, is a growing fad, but thanks to an Ottawa pastor the beverage is also giving a boost to local addiction recovery initiatives. Jon Ruby, who pastors Union City Church in the Glebe, and his business partner Johanne Beattie recently co-founded Carlington Booch, a handcrafted kombucha business that also offers hope to people recovering from addiction.

“At the end of the day, we’re not really selling a product—we’re selling a story,” Ruby explains. “If we can help break the stigma of addiction and give comfort, that’s the purpose of Carlington Booch.”

Carlington Booch held its first major promotional event May 12, at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market in Westboro and will return weekly through September. They also take orders through Facebook, Instagram, and email.

The business donates a portion of each sale to support programs within the Ottawa-area addictions community, but they also offer direct support to those in recovery by providing job placements.

“We’re all in recovery ourselves,” says Ruby, who has been sober since 2005, “so we want to keep each other accountable. I didn’t plan to be here, but I love what I’m doing. Part of this is helping me stay sober, as well.”

From left to right: Jon Ruby stands with his wife, Vikki, Johanne Beattie, and two of their team members. Photo courtesy of Carlington Booch.

While many of their customers do not struggle with addictions, Ruby says Carlington Booch highlights the importance of encouraging addicts in their recovery and daily quest for sobriety.

“Our hope is to engage people in conversation. At some level, most of our lives have been touched by someone in addiction. I think it is part of being in a community that understands what you are going through or have been going through.”

Jason Cott speaks from personal experience when he stresses the value of Carlington Booch. After battling addiction for more than 20 years, he has now been sober for the past year.

Cott first met Ruby when he enrolled for treatment with Jericho Road Ministries, in May last year. He soon began attending Union City Church.

“I was a very desperate and sick individual who needed help,” Cott recalls. “I was very confused and looking for direction. I was really pulling towards God and asking Him for help.”

As part of his treatment program, Cott began volunteering with Carleton Booch in February and became their first regular staff hire the following month.

Photo courtesy of Carlington Booch.

Although trained as a skilled machinist, Cott says, “This has been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had in my entire life. We’re trying to bring hope to people who didn’t think they had any. [Ruby] is being directed by God and God is blessing everything. What we’re doing is actually going to make a difference.

“I have a voice and I can share my story and someone is going to benefit,” he adds. “What we’re doing with Carlington Booch, we can (figuratively) bring people back from the dead.”