The Sunshine Coast commemoration of International Overdose Awareness Day is moving to Mission Point Park and House this year.
The Aug. 31 event to honour those who have died from the toxic drug crisis and to gather those affected by the crisis will run from 3 to 6 p.m.
Organized by i2i Peer Support and Vancouver Coastal Health, the event will include speakers, food (provided by Run with Soup) and beverages, grief support from Sunshine Coast Hospice, naloxone training, musical offerings from Khyah Singh, Threshold Singers, DJ Ocea and more.
For the past couple of years, the Sunshine Coast International Overdose Awareness Day event has been held at Hackett Park, drawing dozens of people to remember loved ones and share in strength and grief as the prolonged crisis continues.
On the Sunshine Coast, five people died of drug toxicity in the first half of 2024, according to provincial data. Thirteen people died of toxic drugs on the Coast last year –– the highest number since 2016.
At least 1,158 British Columbians died because of unregulated drug toxicity in the first half of 2024, according to the BC Coroners Service. More than 14,948 people have died of unregulated toxic drugs in B.C. since a public health emergency was declared in 2016.
“More and more people are impacted by the ongoing toxic drug crisis we need more of a change,” says event co-organizer Brian Mackenzie of i2i and long time peer support advocate. “There hasn’t been much improvement, and it’s an election year, so it’s a good time to get people’s awareness up and hopefully get them better informed about why the crisis is still happening.”
For more information contact i2i Peer Support at 604-740-6495 or [email protected].
