Still a Crisis BC

04/07/2026

MomsStopTheHarm has created a FB event for the April 14th Sadness and Rage event at the Victoria Legislature. https://www.facebook.com/share/1ZYrRQ3iUv/

Send a message to learn more

04/07/2026

Naming a Crisis, a community art show, marking 10 years since BC declared a toxic drug public health emergency, starts today at the Victoria Arts Council's space in the Bay Centre, 1150 Douglas Street.

The show runs from 12pm-5pm Tuesday-Sunday, April 7-26.

For a full schedule of events, visit namingacrisis.ca

04/05/2026

Tuesday, April 14th marks the 10th anniversary of BC's declaration of a public health emergency on toxic drugs. A decade later, over 18,000 British Columbian's have died preventable deaths from taking unregulated toxic drugs, many have suffered serious harms and thousands risk dying every day.

Join us at Victoria's legislature grounds from 1:00-3:30 pm to pay tribute to those we have lost and demand action.

08/29/2025

This Labour Day, September 1st come down to the BC Legislature lawn from 11 am to 1:00 pm to honour the lives lost to the toxic drug poisoning emergency and demand urgent, evidence-based political action.

04/14/2025

Spotlight on Speakers Nine Years of Loss: Still no end in Sight

Dr. Jess Wilder

Dr. Jess Wilder is the co-founder of Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, an independent group of physicianson Vancouver Island who advocate for safer, more compassionate, and evidenced-based healthcare policies.

Dr. Wilder is a passionate advocate and has provided compassionate care for the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. She speaks up for the tools and policies needed to keep people safe.

04/13/2025

Spotlight on Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

The Precarious Players

We are thrilled that singers and musicians from the musical, Precarious: A Transformative Musical Tale, will be performing 3 songs at the Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight event this Monday, April 14th.

Nominated for a 2024 Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award, Precarious: A Transformative Musical Tale, is a community collage musical play produced by the Mission Overdose Community Action Team and led by artistic director Kat Wahamaa. Created by community members, family members and peers - those with lived/living experience - the play unveils the stories of the unregulated drug poisoning emergency.

Told with warmth, humour and authenticity, Precarious acknowledges the risky times in which we all live and engages the audience with a vision for transformation. Through songs and scenes, the play weaves together the history of prohibition, explores the facts and fiction within the unfolding human tragedy of the Fentanyl crisis, and celebrates the heroism of peers and families on the front lines.

Knocking down the walls of silence that keep people from talking about substance use is an important step towards addressing the drug poisoning crisis in BC. Recognizing that people who use drugs are real people helps to put a human face behind the numbers of so many preventable tragedies.

Please check out our event on April 14th for more details. Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight
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04/12/2025

Spotlight on Speakers Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

Shane Baker

Shane Baker (Wiloox) is a member of Wilps Gwininitxw (House of Gwininitxw), which is part of the Lax Gibuu (Wolf Clan) of the Gitxsan First Nation located on the northwest coastal region of so-called British Columbia.

For most of his adult life, Shane has worked as a youth worker and workshop facilitator. He has travelled to First Nations across Turtle Island, delivering workshops in a sharing circle format and discussing topics related to mental health, substance use, identity, and culture as a source of strength and direction.

In 2017, Shane partnered with First Nations Health Authority and shared his story of his previous opioid addiction to pharmaceuticals after a life-altering accident left him with a severe traumatic brain injury and almost total blindness. Throughout his recovery, Shane relied on his family and culture for strength, support, and guidance, which helped him address his mental health and substance use.

For 21 years, Shane has been sober and clean. In his ongoing fight for equitable access to care and treatment for those suffering from substance use, Shane shares his strength and knowledge to support to Indigenous families and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the toxic drug epidemic we currently are in. The memories of his lost family members motivates him to continue his advocacy work.

Shane is also a disability rights advocate and a specialist in accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion and believes strongly that these are rights not privileges.

Please check out our event on April 14th for more details. Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

04/09/2025

Spotlight on Speakers Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

LISA LAPOINTE

Lisa Lapointe was a member of the BC Public Service for 30 years, and served as BC’s chief coroner from 2011 to early 2024.
Under her leadership, the Coroners Service received the inaugural Premier’s Award for Evidence-Based Design for its analysis and timely reporting of data on the province’s illicit drug toxicity deaths. In 2014, she led the Coroners Service as the first provincial agency to sign a Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility with the First Nations Health Authority.

Lisa is passionate about the need for evidence and evaluation in the development of public policy and legislation, in particular in the province’s response to the Drug Toxicity Public Health Emergency. She is a board member of the PHS Community Services Society, which provides housing, healthcare, harm reduction and health promotion for some of the most vulnerable and under-served people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Victoria.

Lisa is a spouse, mother, and grandmother, an avid reader, and loves cycling, walking and hiking on the rural paths near her Central Saanich home.

Please check out our event on April 14th for more details. Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

04/08/2025

Spotlight on Speaker for Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

ADAMA OLSEN

Adam Olsen (SȾHENEP) was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saanich North and the Islands and member of the B.C. Green Caucus in 2017 and re-elected in 2020.

Adam has a deep love and respect for his home in the W̱SÁNEĆ territory. As an advocate and facilitator, he is committed to good relationships and improving public participation to strengthen all aspects of the community.

His 16-year career in elected public service began when he was elected Councillor in the District of Central Saanich (2008, 2011). Prior to that Adam worked for two decades in the service and communications sectors where he gained valuable experience in building relationships, connecting people, problems, ideas and solutions.

Born in Victoria, BC, Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the Saanich Peninsula. He is a member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), where he and his wife, Emily, are raising their two children, Silas and Ella.

04/08/2025

Spotlight on Speakers for our event Nine Years of Loss: Still No End in Sight

LESLIE MCBAIN

We are honoured to have Leslie McBain as one of the impactful voices at Still a Crisis BC. Leslie co-founded MomsStopTheHarm in 2015 following the tragic loss of her only child, Jordan, to a drug overdose.

As a dedicated advocate, Leslie works tirelessly to change provincial and federal drug laws and policies to better support individuals who use illicit substances. Her work continues to make a powerful difference in the fight for harm reduction and better public health outcomes.

We hope to see you at the Leg on April 14th. Please see Event for more details.

04/08/2025

Recently Peers Victoria hosted a 3 part speaker series on the toxic drug crisis and created this Faces of BC's toxic drug crisis banner.

MomsStopTheHarm