Over 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.
Every year on Aug. 31, Sault Ste. Marie marks International Overdose Awareness Day, which is when those who died due to drug poisoning are remembered.
The local event has been organized for years by Save Our Young Adults from Drug Abuse and its founder Connie Raynor-Elliott.
The theme for the 2025 event is 'One Big Family, Driven by Hope.'
"The overdose crisis does not just shatter our families. It fractures our communities," Raynor-Elliott said.
"Imagine a new meaning of what family can be. A family driven by hope, love, and action. We are one big family - not just because we share in the pain of loss, but because we share in the power to change what comes next."
This year's event will begin with a remembrance ceremony at 5 p.m. at the memorial wall outside the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre, followed by a community event at 5:30 p.m. at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion.
The memorial wall currently has 107 stars containing the names of people lost to substance use disorder. Raynor-Elliott said more than a dozen additional names will be added before the ceremony.
Today was the deadline to add new names.
There are now so many stars filled with names of people lost that the front is completely full, and stars on the back of the monument are now being used.
Raynor-Elliott said she is going to ask the city to add an accessible walkway around the back side of the monument so grieving friends and family don’t have to walk over the grass.
"We'll have to get on that next year, for sure, because it'll be too late in the seasons to do that now," said Raynor-Elliott.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker has confirmed his attendance at the event, while MP Terry Sheehan said he will not be able to attend. MPP Chris Scott has not yet confirmed if he will attend, Raynor-Elliott said.
The community event will include a free barbecue, guest speakers, live music and information tables from dozens of local agencies working together to combat the opioid crisis.
Tym Morrison will sing Dancing in the Sky, a song about loss written and originally recorded by B.C.-based Dani and Lizzy Nelson.
Raynor-Elliott said the water tower at The Water Tower Inn will be illuminated in purple light on the evening of Aug. 31 in solidarity with the event.