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August 31 is “a day to honour those we’ve, support those still struggling and recognize the resilience of the individuals affected by this crisis,” Heather Boswell, from Moms Stop the Harm and a Healing Hearts facilitator told Fort St. John city council on Monday.

Boswell and Hailey Testawich of Nenan Dane-Zaa Family Services gave a short presentation to council on August 11, asking that August 31 be proclaimed Overdose Awareness Day.

For the past six years, the Fort St. John Community Action Team (FSJ CAT) has organized activities to raise awareness about the overdose crisis, highlighting the need for continued outreach and education.

Since 2016, some 49,000 Canadians have died from a drug overdose, said Testawich.

“Each one a person with a story, a family, a community in mourning.”

This is a crisis which has hit Indigenous people particularly hard, and in 2024 First Nations people died at 6.7 times the rate of other BC residents.

“Here in Fort St. John, we do have a drug crisis. The impact is severe, especially in our community,” she said.

“In 2024, BC Emergency Health Services responded to 227 overdose-related calls in Fort St. John, which is one of the highest rates in northeastern BC. Our region saw 46 overdose deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, which is well above the provincial average.”

This year, Boswell says they will focus what’s available in the community for people who are struggling with addiction and their families.

“We want to say, ‘this is what Fort St. John offers’, because a lot of people aren’t aware of what there is,” Boswell said.

At Festival Plaza in Centennial Park on Sunday August 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., after an opening ceremony featuring a prayer by an Elder, drumming and opening words, attendees will be able to visit booths from various local organizations. Each of these groups will have information about their programs and services, and include Foundry, Employment Connections, the Metis Society, Northern Health, Moms Stop the Harm and community Peer Groups.

Between 2 – 3 p.m., there will be closing Vigil and Remembrance with a candlelight vigil and the opportunity for people to share words of remembrance of loved ones lost to drugs.

By proclaiming August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day, Boswell says “the city would send a powerful message that we remember those that we’ve lost, that we support those still here and we’re committed to ending the stigma and saving lives.”

A light-up of the Centennial Park stage has been scheduled for August 31, in recognition of Overdose Awareness Day.