(Photo: © Rrodrickbeiler | Dreamstime.com)

By Abby Zieverink

Opioid Awareness Event

4th annual Opioid Awareness event set for Sunday in Grande Prairie

Sep 18, 2021 | 7:00 AM

The Peace Country Drug Awareness Coalition is holding its 4th annual Overdose Awareness event on Sunday evening at the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Tyla Savard, who is a member of the Peace Country Drug Awareness Coalition, says the goal for the event is to bring the community together to support one another through opioid addictions and overdoses.

“We’re creating that awareness that we are all in this, we are all impacted whether we like it or not, and we need to band together and support one another, to actually understand what is going on in our community and make that positive change.”

The event will include food trucks, guest speakers, live music, and information booths at the south side of the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Savard says community groups will be coming together in many ways at the event to share and have those conversations with community members.

“We’re going to be acknowledging some champions in our community for making that positive going forward,” said Savard.

“We will be wrapping up the night with a candlelight vigil to remember those that we have lost.”

Savard says this year, the event is being held later than usual this year, as back to school is a busy time for many families. She hopes more community members of various age groups will be able to attend.

“Grande Prairie is about the community coming together and this subject is no different than any other… We are coming together to make this a better experience for people where we can learn and be stronger,” said Savard.

“It’s important for all demographics and everybody in our community to come and participate in this event.”

Savard says removing the barriers to having an open conversation is crucial to supporting those struggling with addictions, which is exactly what she hopes this event will do.

“Just to be able to know you can have that conversation, and someone can make sense of the jibber-jabber that you’re putting out there… (It’s) a huge difference as to what happens. The weight is off your shoulders, you feel like your brain can actually engage again,” explained Savard.

“We need to take those tiny steps to be able to help build that positive back into their lives and help give them that foundation to help them move forward.”

The 4th annual Overdose Awareness event will be taking place on the south side of the Montrose Cultural Centre from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 19.