Chilliwack Overdose Prevention Society is holding a rally outside the Chilliwack courthouse Thursday morning (Feb. 10) to draw attention to the deadly overdose crisis.
“We plan to stand in solidarity with Moms Stop The Harm ,” said Tanis Oldenburger, project coordinator for Chilliwack Overdose Prevention Society. “The rally is to draw awareness to this worsening public health crisis and the atrocious numbers we expect from the most deadly year yet.”
Thursday is when the B.C. Coroners Service comes out with the annual tally on toxic supply-related fatalities across the province in this sixth year since the B.C. situation was labelled a “public health emergency” in 2016.
An increasingly poisoned street supply from fentanyl could translate into B.C.’s “most deadly year yet.” By the end of October it was already clear 2021 was on pace to be a record year.
Various rallies and demonstrations are being planned across the province, and in Chilliwack the gathering is at 9:30 a.m. outside the courthouse near Five Corners.
Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families offering support to those impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths. People heading to the rally are asked bring masks, photos of loved ones, noisemakers and signs.
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