HEALTHY PEOPLE RISE UP –
Sept. 28, 2025 – Almost 100 people gathered at Mount Royal Park for a wellness walk organized by Sober Is the New Cool on Saturday. The event is part of a growing international movement, with the walk now held in over 30 countries, from the United States to Australia, the U.K. and India. The gathering was also timed ahead of International Recovery Day.
The organization was founded by Montrealer Kim Bellas, after her son was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Because alcohol can increase the risk of seizures and other symptoms for people with epilepsy, it’s often recommended that drinking either be limited or avoided entirely. Bellas decided to stop drinking in solidarity, originally just for three months.
That pledge became a lifestyle.
“Even though sobriety wasn’t about addressing an addiction for [my son], he still faced issues when it came to telling people he couldn’t drink,” Bellas said. “We wanted to create a space where people feel proud of being sober and proud of becoming the best versions of themselves.”
