Who We Are
In Memory of Patrick "Patch" Coffey
A foundation built on love, loss, and the belief that every young person deserves a chance to recover.
Our Purpose
Our Mission
The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery is dedicated to supporting youth and young adults (under 25) in Canada affected by substance use disorder. Through bursaries and financial assistance, the Foundation helps families access essential treatment and counselling services that might otherwise be out of reach. In partnership with other organizations, the Foundation also works to raise awareness and advocate for expanded publicly funded treatment programs and facilities, ensuring that young people across Canada have access to the care and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.
Patch's Story
Patrick "Patch" Coffey was a bright, funny, compassionate, and deeply loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. To those who knew him, Patch had an incredible ability to make people laugh, put others at ease, and make everyone around him feel welcome. He was the kind of person who brought warmth and joy wherever he went.
Patch grew up with a deep love for the outdoors and spent many summers at camp, first as a camper and later as a camp counsellor. He had a natural gift for connecting with young people and was someone others looked up to for his kindness, humour, and authenticity.
A gifted performer, Patch studied Drama at the University of Guelph and continued pursuing his passion through training with The Second City. He dreamed of becoming a high school drama teacher and was preparing to apply to teachers' college, hoping to inspire young people through creativity, confidence, and laughter.
Like many young adults, Patch also struggled with substance misuse at times. He was actively working toward recovery and looking forward to the future when, at just 24 years old, he died from a fentanyl-induced accidental overdose. Patch did not intend to use fentanyl, and he did not want to die.
His loss has left an immeasurable void in the lives of everyone who loved him. While we miss him every day, we also remember the remarkable person he was - his generosity, his humour, his compassion, and the countless lives he touched. This foundation exists so that his legacy can continue changing lives for years to come.
Why We Exist
Sadly, Patch's story is not unique.
Across Canada, substance use disorder among youth and young adults has become an increasingly urgent crisis. Drug toxicity deaths have risen dramatically over the past two decades, driven largely by the proliferation of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply. Canada now sees more than 7,000 opioid-related deaths each year, the majority involving fentanyl or its analogues. Most are accidental - affecting people who had no idea what they were consuming, and who could have survived with better access to treatment and support.
Patch's family, like many others, understands firsthand the profound gaps that exist in substance use treatment and counselling services for young people in Canada.
Despite Toronto being one of the largest cities in North America, publicly funded treatment options specifically designed for young people remain scarce. Existing programs often carry long waitlists, limited capacity, or offer only outpatient services. Many facilities serve a wide range of ages and needs, placing vulnerable young people alongside older adults or others who may not yet be committed to recovery. For families left without adequate public options, private treatment - sometimes outside of Canada - becomes the only path forward. For most, that cost is simply out of reach.
No young person should be denied the opportunity to recover because of cost.
Our Commitment
The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery was established to help close these gaps.
The Foundation provides direct financial assistance to youth and young adults under the age of 25 who require substance use counselling or treatment but whose families cannot afford private services. By helping families access care when they need it most, we aim to give young people a real chance at recovery - before it's too late.
Beyond financial support, the Foundation is committed to raising awareness and advocating for stronger, youth-focused treatment services across Canada. In the long term, we hope to support the development of dedicated youth recovery facilities in Ontario - spaces where young people can receive the specialized care, safety, and support they deserve.
This vision includes the possibility of one day establishing "Patch's Place," a youth-focused recovery centre built on leading treatment models that prioritize compassion, safety, and long-term healing.
Through this work, Patch's legacy lives on - giving other young people hope, support, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
The People Behind the Foundation
Board of Directors
Peter Coffey
Chair / Treasurer / Director
Peter Coffey is the Co-Founder, Chair, Treasurer, and Board Member of The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery. Peter has built an extensive career in financial services and capital markets, holding a variety of senior leadership positions. He currently works as a fintech consultant and is active in the real estate sector. Throughout his career, Peter has maintained a strong commitment to helping disadvantaged families and communities. He has volunteered and supported charitable organizations including the United Way and Dr. Graham's Homes in India.
Following the sudden and tragic loss of his son, Patrick ("Patch") Coffey, to an accidental overdose, Peter committed himself to support families facing the challenges of substance use disorder. His mission is to help alleviate the emotional and financial burdens experienced by families seeking treatment and recovery services for their children.
In Ontario, limited public funding and a shortage of accessible treatment options often leave families with no choice but to pursue costly private counselling and rehabilitation programs. For many, these essential services are simply unaffordable. In response to this critical need, Peter, together with his family and fellow board members, co-founded The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery. The Foundation provides financial assistance to youth and young adults who require substance use counselling and treatment but whose families lack the resources to access private care.
Charlotte Coffey
Director
Charlotte Coffey serves as a Co-Founder and Board Member of The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master's of Counselling Psychology. Charlotte is a grade five teacher and child and youth psychotherapist based in Toronto.
Charlotte brings a strong social justice lens to both her clinical and advocacy work, grounded in the belief that every young person deserves equitable access to compassionate, informed, and affordable support. In December 2018, Charlotte experienced the traumatic loss of her older brother, Patch. This loss profoundly shaped her understanding of the complexities of addiction, grief, and the barriers families face when trying to access care in Ontario.
Since joining the foundation, Charlotte has become deeply committed to advocacy efforts focused on improving accessibility, affordability, and systemic support for youth and families navigating addiction and mental health challenges. In honour of her brother, she is dedicated to being a voice for those seeking treatment, support, and hope during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Jamie McNicol
Secretary / Director
Jamie McNicol leads SMB Sales at TELUS, where he brings over 20 years of experience and a deep passion for helping small and medium-sized businesses grow. He leads a global team of more than 1,100 sales professionals across Canada, Asia, and Africa, delivering a full suite of telecommunications and security solutions.
Over nearly two decades at TELUS, Jamie has held progressively senior leadership roles spanning Product Development, Channel, Sales, and Marketing across both the TELUS and Koodo brands. He has led large-scale teams of over 1,000 team members, including overseeing the Koodo Shops program and contributing to the team's recognition with the J.D. Power 2018 Wireless Purchase Experience Award. Jamie began his career in his native New Zealand in 2001, working in Product Development and Supply Chain at Telecom NZ (now Spark).
He and his wife, Christine, have 13-year-old twins, Atticus and Scarlett. Together, they own Recovery Counselling Services, a counselling practice specializing in addiction recovery, making The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery a cause that is deeply personal to their family.
Bruce Marrison
Director
Bruce is an entrepreneur and business owner with more than 35 years of experience helping for-profit and not-for-profit organizations grow.
His firsthand experience watching his son struggle with addiction led him to shift his focus from board roles with Squash Ontario and Squash Canada to The Patch Coffey Foundation for Youth Recovery. Bruce and his loved ones were fortunate to find the support they needed for his son and the entire family, and in the process they learned just how few accessible, affordable addiction resources exist for youth in Canada.
Making a Difference
Our Impact
We have helped young people and families across Canada access the treatment they need - see the full story of how your support is making a difference.
Help Us Continue This Work
Through this work, Patch's legacy lives on - giving other young people hope, support, and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.