TORONTO — Renowned Canadian entrepreneur Gordon Lownds, co-founder of Sleep Country Canada, is preparing to share his deeply personal journey from business success to the depths of drug addiction in his upcoming memoir, Cracking Up: From Rising Star to Junkie Despair in 1,000 Days. The book is set for release on August 15, 2025, through Life to Paper Publishing and will be available wherever books are sold.
Lownds, a respected name in Canadian retail and investment banking, built a billion-dollar enterprise with Sleep Country Canada in the mid-1990s, alongside Stephen Gunn and Christine Magee. At the peak of his career, Lownds was a high-profile CEO leading one of Canada’s most successful mattress retail chains. But behind the scenes, his life took a devastating turn.
According to the publisher, Cracking Up recounts with brutal honesty how an experimental use of crack cocaine spiraled into a full-scale addiction, pulling Lownds into the dangerous underworld of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The memoir reveals a dark chapter of drug dependency marked by overdoses, run-ins with law enforcement, threats, and a life surrounded by street-level crime, while navigating a toxic relationship and losing control over everything he had built.
“There are no guarantees that we will ever come back from our bottoms alive,” Lownds shares in his memoir, highlighting how quickly life can unravel, regardless of status or success.
The book also chronicles his turbulent journey through rehabilitation and the long, difficult road to recovery. While the early chapters capture a rapid descent into despair, the latter part offers a raw, unfiltered look at rebuilding life after addiction—with support from friends, mentors, and what he calls “a host of angels” who helped guide him back.
Lownds’ story serves as a stark reminder that addiction can affect anyone. Despite his achievements—including a BA in Philosophy from York University, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and leadership roles in retail and investment banking—his life unraveled in less than three years. Yet, after years of struggle and self-discovery, he emerged determined to tell his story in hopes of helping others.
A High-Profile Entrepreneur Turned Advocate
Before his personal struggles, Lownds’ professional career was a Canadian business success story. After launching Kenrick Capital in 1988 with Stephen Gunn, he went on to co-found Sleep Country Canada in 1994, growing it into one of Canada’s most recognized retailers before selling the company to Bain Capital in 1999. He later co-founded ListenUP! Canada, building it into a national hearing healthcare chain with over 120 locations before its sale in 2012.
Today, Lownds is sharing his story to shed light on addiction, recovery, and resilience, offering a cautionary tale to readers while providing a message of hope.
Book Release Information:
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Title: Cracking Up: From Rising Star to Junkie Despair in 1,000 Days
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Author: Gordon Lownds
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Publisher: Life to Paper Publishing
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Release Date: August 15, 2025
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Availability: All major book retailers and online platforms
For more information or to connect with Gordon Lownds:
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Website: gordonlownds.com
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Instagram: @gordonlownds
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LinkedIn: Gordon Lownds
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