EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is part of an ongoing SooToday series — 'Turning the Tide' — that explores potential solutions to our city’s toxic drug crisis. You can read more about our project HERE.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie recognized International Overdose Awareness Day with a flag raising ceremony today.
Save Our Young Adults founder Connie Raynor-Elliott joined Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker to raise a flag at Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre as members of the volunteer-led organization looked on.
Shoemaker applauded the fact that the area recently dropped to eighth in Ontario for opioid-related death rate, amid a decline in opioid fatalities so far this year.
“I mean, it would be great if they could get rid of the list all together, but we want to be at the bottom of the list if the list continues to exist,” Shoemaker said.
“Thank you to SOYA, because without your efforts I know that those numbers would not be going in the right direction.”
Raynor-Elliott said the upcoming International Overdose Awareness Day event in the Sault is a way to bring together the community while raising awareness.
“Education saves lives, it's been proven,” she said. “Our numbers are going down — I want them to go down even further.”
As previously reported by SooToday, more than a dozen names of people lost to substance use disorder will be added to the memorial wall outside city hall in preparation for this year's International Overdose Awareness Day ceremony being held on Sunday.
The memorial wall currently has 107 stars containing the names of people lost to substance use disorder.
“It's a great day for people to celebrate, and our memorial wall is such a beautiful wall,” said Raynor-Elliott.
“Let's celebrate those who are watching over us as stars.”
The International Overdose Awareness Day event takes place Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. at the memorial wall, followed by a walk to the Roberta Bondar Pavilion where SOYA will host a free family event.
- with files from Kenneth Armstrong
