Local International Overdose Awareness Day event will honour lives lost

Porter says Wednesday evening is a chance for people to openly grieve and make connections.

There will be educational displays about harm reduction, recovery, dealing with grief and an open mic “if someone wants to come up and speak openly about their journey,” she says.

“It’s for people who are grieving but also for people who are currently using drugs if they want to share their experience or if people want to come up and talk about how they can help people stay alive in our community,” Porter says.

Memorials like flags of hope and a collection of photos of people who have died will also be on display. The Saamis Tepee has been lit purple this week in a show of support.

In its fifth year, this will be the first time the purple chair campaign will be part of the local event. Porter has painted a chair purple, the colour that represents overdose deaths, and the chairs represent empty chairs at dinner tables left vacant by those who have died from an overdose.

As well, a pharmacist will be on hand to train people on how to use a naloxone kit to reverse an overdose, and there will be live music, food and T-shirt giveaways.

The drop-in event will take place from 5-8 p.m. outside the Medicine Hat Public Library at the giant chess set.

by Chris Brown

Local International Overdose Awareness Day event will honour lives lost

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