Hundreds of residents made their way from the Couchiching multi-use facility to Seven Oaks, to take a stand against the opioid crisis. The Overdose Awareness Walk featured drums, speeches, healing, Noloxone training and an urgent call to end the stigma surrounding drug addiction. Northern Ontario is one of the worst regions in the world for opioid deaths and overdoses per capita, according to a CBC report. Overdose Awareness Day was honoured across northern Ontario with several events and displays. The local walk was organized in part by the family of the late Chauncey Grover III, who lost his life to drug addiction in 2020. Look for next week’s Times for additional coverage of the walk and the opioid crisis. – Allan Bradbury
Building awareness, one step at a time
