On November 1st, after 4 months of consultation & deliberation, a provincial committee released a report titled Closing Gaps, Reducing Barriers: Expanding the Response to the Toxic Drug and Overdose Crisis. In response, individuals and organizations have responded in unison to express disappointment, and call for what is truly needed to address the poisoned drug supply underpinning the overdose death crisis: a predictable and regulated supply of drugs accessible to all within a prescriber model and beyond. If you wish to add your name or organization to the list, email Tyson Singh: tsa154@sfu.ca.
In July, the B.C. legislature came forward to request public feedback on the drug toxicity crisis response. The next month, it announced that 10,000 lives had been lost to the illicit drug supply since 2016, when it was formally declared an emergency.
Four months after opening the consultation portal, the all-party Select Standing Committee on Health released its long-awaited report to the legislature on November 1st, 2022.
The result was another disappointment. While not every recommendation is flawed, the report obscures the issue of a poisonous drug supply, and recommends nothing outside of the status quo. The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Sheila Malcolmson, stated the committee report re-affirmed the BC NDP’s current guiding frameworks – the same framework that currently leads to six deaths per day in the province, and other serious consequences of the emergency.
The report is filled with seemingly deliberately ambiguous recommendations that “engage” rather than order, are “rapid” with no timelines, and create “frameworks” with no regulation.
The report deceptively utilizes the label ‘safe supply’ by having its definition fit a political analysis, rather than what the community has used it to demand. The committee highlights their “robust” debates, done mostly in-camera, making this report feel like a learning exercise and not a crisis response.
To be clear: we need an accessible, predictable, and regulated supply of drugs at a dose that people actually use. Now. We need politicians and public servants with the political will to make bold changes in that direction.
Until then, every overdose is a policy failure.
Key points:
- The report continues to draw the parameters of the overdose crisis as a ‘health issue.’ The reality is people have always used drugs for a wide variety of reasons, and solutions are necessary for substance use needs that will not and should not be met by the healthcare system. There is no elusive, single reason people use drugs. This was reinforced by the Métis Nation of BC challenging ‘pan-Indigenous’ approaches to substance use to the committee. Focus on stopping drug use obscures the direct cause of overdose deaths – a poisonous supply. Delineating responsibility of the overdose crisis to the much more difficult to solve ‘upstream’ drivers of drug use, like housing and trauma, has been one way to rationalize little action on the drug supply.
- The report promotes further prohibition, a main driver of the overdose crisis. Prohibition-based policies are a primary systemic cause for the potency and unpredictability of the current drug supply (i.e., as restrictions clamp down, drugs are made less detectable by surveillance, and more potent in the process). The report recommends developing ‘innovative solutions’ to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs – but further supply-side disruption without adequate supply-side intervention risks making the supply even worse.
- Shockingly, the report recommends more police funding. The report recommends advocating “for an increase in funding from the federal government” for police to refer drug users “who are not charged” to “supports,” under the incoming decriminalization policies. Police should not be the body referring people to treatment services, especially as a coercive option that might otherwise lead to a charge or harassment. In addition to being the agents of prohibition and criminalization of drug users, the police have been a barrier to overdose response and their behaviour is linked to worse outcomes in treatment for some marginalized populations. Literature shows regressive policing is associated with negative health outcomes for some sub-groups of the drug using population. The geographic location of policing also inhibits access to healthcare in urbanized areas for fear of police engagement. There is a significant body of evidence that correlates regressive policing with the reinforcement of inequities, upholding the numerous socioeconomic structural vulnerabilities drug users experience. The report makes space to mention forced treatment without noting that locally, this has shown to have no significant impact on substance use patterns, and recent international research shows that coerced care is associated with more overdose deaths. Premier-elect David Eby has suggested he will try to impose coerced care policies onto some people who use drugs.
- The report contradicts demands by the BC First Nations Justice Council and other Indigenous leadership to the committee. The BC FNJC called for ways to keep police “out of contact” with people who use drugs. Sto:lo Tribal Council Grand Chief Doug Kelly and Dr. Nel Wieman of the First Nations Health Authority both cited criminalization targeted at Indigeous populations as a major concern; and Dr. Wieman expressed concerns over the insufficient threshold of a 2.5 gram exemption to drug possession outlined in the incoming decriminalization policy. The report makes no recommendation to challenge the 2.5 gram exemption before implementation (only to evaluate it), while it does advocate for an expansion of police.
- The report conflates funding for assorted mental health services and treatment with funding to combat the drug supply that causes overdoses. The committee states that the federal government has contributed $800 million to combat the overdose crisis nationally – however, these funding streams often have little to do with the drug supply and are not directly related to the drug toxicity crisis.
- The report cowers away from any demedicalized, supply-side intervention and reiterates fears of prescription diversion – despite access to a diverted supply being safer and more predictable than what is available otherwise on the illicit market.
Overall, the report makes no recommendation that strays from the status quo. It takes no risks in supporting organizations and communities doing work outside of regulatory frameworks. The sole risk the report seems comfortable in taking is the continued risk of lives lost to the poisoned drug supply, while leaning into assessments and research.
This report and its recommendations replicate the same tiresome do-nothing-hope-for-better strategy well-worn by the majority BC NDP government. People who use drugs across the province are stepping up to build their own systems of safe supply, risking surveillance, discrimination and criminalization. As communities grieve thousands lost to this preventable public health emergency, the province’s latest report fails to respond with the urgency that is needed.
Collectively, we are disappointed that the provincial government asked an exhausted and grief-stricken population to provide free consultation on the overdose crisis in exchange for hope, just to continue on its current path. The current path will not save lives. The chief coroner will continue to announce tragic numbers of deaths by the poisoned supply.
Signed,
Tyson Singh Kelsall RSW / outreach social worker / PhD student Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University / sχʷəyem (live) & stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ lands (work)
Tara Myketiak / outreach worker DTES / MSW student UVic / settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Jake Seaby Palmour RSW / Settler-Metis / MSW student UBC Musqueam Lands Occupied Without Consent
Maddie Beaumont BScN RN(C)/ outreach nurse / MN student UVic / live and work on the unceded and stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ lands
Miriam Sherman BSc / Drug Checking Technician with Substance (Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project) / Harm Reduction Worker / settler on Lkwungen Territories
Piotr Burek / Harm reduction worker / MA student in Social Dimensions of Health / settler on Lkwungen Territories
Bret Enemark BA / Student midwife at TMU / addict/alcoholic in recovery
Serena Eagland, RN(C)/ Clinical Nurse Specialist/MSN Student University of Calgary/live and work on the unceded and stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ lands
Kim Calder, RN / Indigenous Nurse Educator (VCH), I work in the shared and stolen territories of my relatives of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ nations and reside in my home community of Semiahmoo
Fraser Macpherson, RN, live & work on xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories and muwacǎth (Mowachaht) and mačłaatḥ (Muchalaht) territories.
Targol Salehi, RSW, VCH – live, work and play on the stolen lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Liam Shibata ORW, VCH, settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Autumn Longtin-Gauthier, RSW, VCH settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Jason Fitzpatrick social navigator bsw rsw, DUDES Club Society
Jessica Foy- Cultural Wellness Manager, Kilala Lelum- uninvited guest from Treaty 7 territory, Tsuut’ina Nation, on the stolen, unceded territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Jennifer Malcolm, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Kilala Lelum Urban Indigenous Health & Healing Cooperative, live and work on the traditional unceded homelands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Caitlin Shane, Lawyer, Pivot Legal Society, live & work on xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories.
Rory Marck, MA, Mobile Outreach Program Manager, Primary Care Co-Lead, Kilala Lelum Health Centre, settler from Treaty 6 territory living on the traditional, ancestral, occupied territories of xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Sean O’Callaghan / MPH student / Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University / settler on unceded, ancestral lands of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Nations.
Nathan Crompton, VANDU & Our Homes Can’t Wait
Meenakshi Mannoe, MSW RSW, settler on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Amber Kelsall, RN / UBC Nurse Practitioner Student / settler on the stolen land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
karina czyzewski, MA, MSW, RCSW
CityU Faculty, VCH MHSU counsellor & private therapist; white settler on the stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations
Kit Rothschild, retired RN, Community Co-ED at PACE Society, on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
PACE Society, serving and advocating for sex workers of all genders in the DTES and beyond for 28 years. 148 W Hastings st, Vancouver, on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Juls Budau, Harm Reduction worker, education co-ordinator for Uniting Northern Drug Users, Masters of Social Work student, stimulant prescribed safe supply researcher, living on traditional territories of the Lheidli T’enneh.
Nina Taghaddosi, RSW, settler on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
jasmine kamaljit kaur veark (ਸਮੀਨ ਕਮਲਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਵੇਰਕ) BA / dtes outreach case manager / uninvited settler occupying traditional and ancestral qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓, q̓ic̓əy̓, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, qiqéyt, xʷməθkwəy̓ə, Skwxwú7mesh, Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ lands
Jenn McDermid BSW/MA, settler on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Rory Higgs, peer researcher/advocate @ UBC School of Social Work, Health Justice, BC Hearing Voices Network; settler on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories
Jennie Pearson MA/ UBC PhD Student/ settler on the stolen, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations
Stephanie Korolyk, BSc, MEd student University of Calgary, settler on unceded Quw’utsun territory
Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users’s (VANDU) Board of directors
Pivot Legal Society – Pivot works in partnership with communities affected by poverty and social exclusion to identify priorities and develop solutions to complex human rights issues. Pivot is based on the stolen and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)
Kelvin Gawley
Anna-Maria Trudel, Filmmaker, setter on unceded territories of Tiohtià:ke
Maja Kolar (they/them) – RPN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, white settler on the stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ nations.
Navi Dasanjh, RSW, settler on stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
The Canadian Drug Policy Coalition – (CDPC) is a policy advocacy organization striving to end the harms of drug prohibition. Its vision is for a safe, healthy, and just Canada in which drug policies and legislation, as well as related institutional practices, are based on evidence, human rights, social inclusion, and public health principles. The CDPC operates as a project within Simon Fraser University in the Faculty of Health Sciences on never ceded səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) lands
Leslie McBain for Moms Stop the Harm
Isabelle Ouellet-Chong / Shelter Caseworker, Projets Autochtones du Québec / settler on unceded territories of Tiohtià:ke.
Michael Lifshitz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University
Erin Isnor / Project Coordinator DTES Outreach/ settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands
Rod Malton, Outreach Worker, VCH, settler on unsurrendered lands of Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Sophia Banks, community kitchen coordinator, support worker.
Meagan Lennox / outreach worker DTES / settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Sharnelle Jenkins-Thompson, MSW, Manager of Community Outreach, West Coast LEAF, settler and Metis, residing on the traditional, unceded homelands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ Nations.
Dylan Griffith, Kootenay Insurrection for Safe Supply / uninvited settler on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Ktunaxa, Syilx, and Sinixt peoplesBlake Edwards, VCH ORW DTES, Settler on Stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaʔ, Stó:lō, Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh lands.
Serena Lee, MSW, outreach social worker VCH, settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands
Blake Edwards, VCH ORW DTES, Settler on Stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaʔ, Stó:lō, Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh lands.
Robyn Kelway, Social Worker, VCH, settler on the unceded and stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaʔ, Stó:lō, Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh lands
BC3S – Terry Sho Murray, Director of Operations/Finance BC3S (British Columbia Solid Support Society), sho8899@hotmail.com, Peer Program Facilitator B.E.A.P. (Business Engagement Ambassador Project), sho@impactabby.com, 604 786 4488
Jeff Woodyard/ Outreach Worker, VCH, DTES / Settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Amber Streukens, Program Coordinator, ANKORS/REDUN, uninvited settler on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Ktunaxa, Syilx, and Sinixt peoples / redun.bc@gmail.com
Bernie Pauly RN, Ph.D, Scientist, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Christopher Dickinson, Social Worker, VCH, settler on the unceded and stolen xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Səl̓ílwətaʔ, Stó:lō, Shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh lands.
Kirsten Larsen, RN, Clinical Coordinator and I am a settler on stolen territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations.
jenn breau, rsw, settler on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations.
Caelee Smith/ Social Worker on the DTES /VCH/settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands
Tanya Spahmann TRU_BSW Student TRU Research Assistant Kamloops BC
Sarah Whidden, Project Manager of Peer Initiatives, OER & RAP, VCH
Kinnon Ross RN, BSN, BA registered nurse & settler who is living and working in amiskwacîwâskahikan, treaty 6.
Tanis Rose Oldenburger Co-founder & Executive Director Mountainside Harm Reduction Society
Vikki Reynolds PhD RCC Clinical Supervisor live and work on the traditional unceded homelands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Brave Technology Coop, building overdose detection tools with people most impacted by the overdose crisis, a cooperative based on unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territory and working across Turtle Island.
Gordon Casey, settler on unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territory and working across Turtle Island.
Heather Hobbs, RSW, MA / settler on Lkwungen Territories
Kelsey O’Hanlon, DTES Outreach worker, VCH, settler on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Peak Resilience is an intersectional feminist therapy practice on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Jennifer Hollinshead, MA, RCC, CCC on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Kristen Hydes, MA, RSW (pronouns: she/her/hers), Registered Social Worker (# 11871)
Canadian Certified Counsellor (#13254) / the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Alexandra Lasocka. stolen xwməθkwəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh lands (live). anishnaabe algonquin nation territory (work).
Jonathan Chapnick, Portage Legal Services
Carrie Hill, MA/Documentary Photographer at Carrie Hill Creative, uninvited settler living and working on unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Stephen Barker, Registered clinical counsellor
Friday Bailey, Early Childhood Educator/ BCYC/ Pedagogist, settler occupying the unceded territory of the Ts’msyen Nation.
Wendy Bufton, RSW / Social Worker / live and work on the traditional unceded homelands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Arwinder Kelsall / Saanich, BC
Karis Bergsma, Social Worker, VCH, settler on the unceded, stolen territory of the Xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh lands.
Bridgid McGowan, MA, Registered Clinical Counsellor and Clinical Supervisor, living and working on the traditional unceded homelands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Bruce Wallace, Professor School of Social Work, University of Victoria / settler on Lkwungen Territories
Kes Posgate, former DTES legal clinic worker & member of UBC Law Students for Decriminalization & Harm reduction
Kanna Hayashi, PhD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Anmol Swaich / BA Hons / MSc student, SFU Health Sciences / settler on stolen, unceded Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, and Kwikwetlem lands
Meagan Taylor BSW / outreach social navigator DTES / tired of preventable deaths / settler on stolen, unceded Skwxwú7mesh-ulh Temíx̱w, səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ & šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmaɁɬ təməxʷ lands.
Alli Heppell, MSW RSW (she/her) from the ancestral, unceded, and occupied territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, Hwlitsum, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem, Matsqui, Qayqayt, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, and Stó:lō Nations.
Donna Baines, Professor and Former Director, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Living and working on the unceded, traditional and ancestral territory of the Musqueam.
Karen Lo, RSW and settler who is living and working on unceded and stolen kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, Stó:lō, and the q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ lands.
Sunny Manhas BSW, UBC MSW student, settler on the traditional, ancestral, occupied lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nations
Yvonne Ju, recent grad of the UBC BSW Program, DTES peer work, live and work mainly on the traditional territories of the the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Kwantlen, and Tsawwassen First Nations
Phoebe Wong, MSc, Aud(C), RAUD, RHIP / VCH Audiologist / settler on the stolen, unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, səlilwətaɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations
Kelsey Speed / MSc / PhD student UBC
Cameron Eekhoudt, PhD Student (BCCSU) and Board member for the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Live & work on xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) territories
Annah MacKay / Education Coordinator, BCCSU / harm reduction advocate / settler on the stolen land of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations