Community partners are coming together to host a meaningful event in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st at Festival Plaza in Fort St. John.
The event will highlight the continued impact of the toxic drug crisis in the region, reduce stigma, and honour the lives lost to overdose.
A collaboration between Moms Stop the Harm, the Fort St. John Friendship Centre, Urban Systems, and the Nenan Dane Zaa Deh Zona Family Services Society, the day will feature a wide range of activities including naloxone training, information booths, and cultural performances.
Organizer Hailey Testawitch, a member of Saulteau First Nations who lost her father to overdose, says the event will also include opportunities for community members and health representatives to share their stories and knowledge.
The event is set to begin at 10:30 a.m., with a memorial walk at 4 p.m., and will end with a candlelight vigil to remember those lost.
Overdose remains a critical issue in Fort St. John. In 2024, BC Emergency Health Services responded to 227 overdose-related calls in the city — one of the highest counts in northern B.C. — and the BC Coroners Service reported 46 overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2025.
Community members are encouraged to attend, listen, learn, and support those impacted by substance use.
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