From Recovery to Ripple Effect: Kelly's Journey with On a Dime

Last fall, I had the pleasure of re-connecting with Kelly Lydiard at Social Venture Institute (SVI) Alberta, a gathering hosted by Momentum where social entrepreneurs come together to learn, reflect, and support one another. We’ve connected at SVI Alberta a few times over the years, and each time, I’m struck by how much his journey has evolved since I first met him more than 6 years ago.

After overcoming addiction himself, Kelly began shaping what would become On a Dime Transformations, a unique recovery program that helps people overcome addiction, build meaningful careers, and sustain long-term recovery. The business plan was developed through the support of a Momentum Self Employment program. Kelly told me that using LivePlan—an online business planning tool—was a very beneficial part of the program to help him think through the tough questions that would set him up to actually launch his business. 

After completing the program, Kelly partnered with Fresh Start Recovery to run a demonstration project version of On a Dime. This gave him the opportunity to develop his curriculum and test his approach with people on their own recovery journey. The participant results were remarkable—a 100% completion rate.

More than six years later, Kelly is still operating the business, but what stands out most to him is the impact. Since its start, On a Dime has worked with more than 220 individuals, including people in recovery, Indigenous participants, and youth working to move toward a better future. Over 150 graduates have gone on to greater stability and a clearer sense of their own direction.

Many are now on pathways to better employment or have secured good jobs. On a Dime grads are also giving back to their communities as volunteers. And some, like a graduate named Hailey, are now pursuing self-employment as well as working in the non-profit sector. That kind of ripple effect is powerful.

Kelly’s connection to Momentum continued to evolve over the years. Like many entrepreneurs, he’s faced pivotal decisions in his business journey, and he’s stayed in touch with our Self Employment staff for guidance and perspective during some of those key moments.

Most recently, we had the opportunity to host On a Dime’s second Indigenous-focused cohort right here at Momentum. Kelly described it as a real full-circle moment the first time he came into Momentum for the cohort and saw on the reception schedule that On a Dime was in one of our classrooms. More than 6 years after being in a Momentum classroom as a participant, now he was the one offering a learning experience.

At the end of the On a Dime cohort, I had the chance to attend the final pitch session and hear directly from participants about their progress. It was remarkable to witness the confidence, clarity, and sense of possibility in the room and to celebrate their success together. It was clear that when someone like Kelly succeeds, the impact extends far beyond one business. Kelly took a chance on himself when he decided to turn his experience into a business that could help others.

Now through On a Dime Transformations, he’s created pathways for hundreds of people to do the same. 

That’s the kind of impact that stays with you—and it’s why we’re so proud to have Kelly as part of the Momentum community.

If you’re interested in starting a business, check out Momentum’s Self Employment programs on our website.

If you are helping run a business or non-profit pursuing social impact, check out SVI Alberta ‘lite’ in Calgary this October at Social Venture Institute: Alberta.