International Overdose Awareness Day was marked Aug. 31, and an event was held at Lakeside Rotary Park in Nelson to honour those who have lost their lives due to toxic drug poisoning.
It has been over seven years since British Columbia declared a public health emergency because of the toxic drug supply, according to CBC. Since then, over 12,000 lives have been lost across the province. July marked the 13th consecutive month of over 190 lives being lost in BC.
The event at Lakeside Park was organized by two harm reduction organizations in Nelson: ANKORS and the Rural Empowered Drug Users Network (REDUN). Around 100 people gathered to pay their respects to the deceased and to spread awareness to the public health emergency. The event opened with a song from local Indigenous elder Donna Wright. Speeches from Amanda Erickson of the Nelson Fentanyl Task Force, local MLA Brittny Anderson, City Counsellor Leslie Payne, Cheryl Dowden of ANKORS, and Tiffany Teal of REDUN followed.
CJLY was at the event listening to the speeches and speaking to attendees. Listen to the story below: