В Чарльз Хой парке пройдет 25-я годовщина Международного дня осведомленности о передозировках

Purple Ribbon Day returns to Charles Hoey Park Aug. 29 Published 7:00 am Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Purple Ribbon Day will return to Charles Hoey Park on Aug. 29 as the community marks the 25th annual International Overdose Awareness Day and remembers those who have died from toxic drugs. This year’s theme is ‘Still Needed’. The Cowichan Community Action Team, Cowichan Tribes, Coalition to End Homelessness, Cowichan Women’s Health Collective and Island Health (Community Health Promoter) are bringing Purple Ribbon Day back to Charles Hoey Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “On one hand, it feels heavy to host the event again and again,” said Cowichan Community Action Team coordinator Cailey Foster. “As this year’s IOAD slogan says, ’25 years on, Still Needed’. We gather to remember loved ones lost year after year as the death toll rises, as well as the number of people who may survive but are permanently affected (such as with toxic brain injury). At the same time, building community and creating networks of support is more important than ever, and that feels good to do. We can find hope in the work happening in our community, from youth-serving organizations to groups that reach people across various backgrounds.” Foster says CCAT has been part of hosting these community gatherings for the past five years, with participation growing each year. Purple Ribbon Day will offer a space to learn and connect. Community members can receive naloxone training, visit the ‘Ask a Pharmacist’ table, and learn about local service providers. Foster says the event will hopefully increase the chance of people accessing a service if they or a loved one are in need. The day will begin at 11 a.m. with a performance by the Tzinquaw dancers and drummers, followed by a community barbecue at noon. At 1 p.m., those who wish to participate can join a ‘Living Library,’ which will run for approximately 30 minutes. Event guests are encouraged to visit the welcome table to pick up a card and collect a stamp from each service provider table to enter to win one of the prize baskets. Winners will be drawn at 2:30 p.m. There will also be live music, art activities, and photos on display. There were 5,630 overdose deaths in Canada in 2025. While that was a slight decline from previous years, events such as this remain focused on education and awareness. “The memorial aspect is at the heart of this day as we remember so many people who are gone too soon,” said Foster. “A challenging thing when someone passes away from toxic drugs is that there can be shame due to stigma when talking about that person and their passing. It is common for people to experience disenfranchised grief. Purple Ribbon Day is a safe place to remember and acknowledge loved ones lost, with people who understand.” One of those who understands firsthand is Tracy Pocock, who has called the valley home for more than 30 years. Now a mentor and Peer Support Lead with CCAT, Pocock knows the challenges of street life and addiction intimately. A fall and brain damage led to her becoming dependent on morphine, which she was first given to stop the swelling in her brain. She says her journey back from addiction and homelessness has not been easy. While she no longer depends on alcohol or street drugs, she does still receive them in pill form. This year’s IOAD theme, ‘Still Needed’, resonates strongly with Pocock. She says that while the Cowichan Valley has the Village, Cedar Branches and other resources, combined they are still only able to house a small number of people, while last year’s final unhoused count was more than 400. “To the people who work every day to improve the lives of the unhoused and maybe guide them to a life off the streets, we are mostly patiently waiting for the government to really see that even though a person has a drug addiction and does not have 4 walls and a roof, the person’s life was not always this way,” said Pocock. “Putting up more fences, restricting access to a safe and dry place to exist during and deciding for us where and what we need without even having a two-minute talk with us is only going to result in the Cowichan Valley being right where we are, ‘Still Needed’ after 25 years. Transitioning from street life to what some people call society life is a long and very involved process; most of the process is emotional and trauma-based.” Purple Ribbon Day will again have a memorial tent where people can add a loved one’s name to a tree and light battery-operated candles. Cowichan Hospice and an Elder will also be present for those who would like to speak with them. The community barbecue will provide an opportunity for people to connect. Wear purple and come to Charles Hoey Park on Aug. 29 to learn more about the services available in the community and remember those who have been lost. “I hope visitors will learn about resources that could benefit them or a loved one,” said Foster. “We hope that people may take away the message that they are not alone, and every person matters. We hope people will leave with a feeling of hope, connection, and maybe even inspiration to take action.”