Overdose Awareness Day

August 31 was Overdose Awareness Day.  My sweetie and I were only able to participate in one of the events and that was a sharing/caring event at the site of the old Vimy Arena.  I walked along the trail adjacent to Sturgeon Creek.  The walk is so beautiful and every time that I walk, I see something else and it is hard to believe you are in a world class city.  But, looking at the pictures, you can definitely understand why the residents opposed to BORC are concerned about preserving green space.  My tongue is firmly in my cheek.  Green space as far as the eye can see.  On the walk, I was faced with two choices, which fork in the road to choose.  I would like to see I took the one less traveled and that has made all the difference.  The truth is I was running late for the event so I took the shortest path, but for future, I will be exploring the ones less traveled. 

Again, the event was just to raise awareness for Overdose Awareness Day.  It had nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre. It was just a caring/sharing event. 

One mother was there, with her mother, who had a unique perspective.  Her son was saved and successfully treated from his addiction.  She was attending Overdose Awareness Day from a place of gratitude and felt fortunate that she had not a tragic story to share.  She was handing out purple ribbons to wear to raise awareness for Overdose Awareness Day.  She was taking the time to share with each person whom she gave a ribbon to her story and it was powerful.  There was about half a dozen people who would not wear a ribbon.  Which was strange.  Why would you attend an event for Overdose Awareness Day and not wear a ribbon indicating that you were aware of the day?  This mother took the time to locate and purchase the ribbon and cut into strips and then make them into the symbol for awareness and bring pins to place on people.  How could you not wear one of her ribbons?  It was very disrespectful.  The same purple ribbons are used to promote awareness of Alzheimer Disease.  They could have atleast taken the ribbons and used them in Alzheimer Awareness month in January.  Surely these people would want to raise awareness of Alzheimer disease. 

Two Mayoral candidates were in attendance.  My sweetie was very impressed by one.  I was very impressed by the other one.  Different strokes for different folks.  Regardless, they both spoke passionately indicating that all lives mattered.  They both were in favour of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre and it is nice to hear the public support from Mayoral candidates. 

While one of the Mayoral candidates was speaking, we lost the first person who didn't wear a ribbon.  He just waved his arm and made a gutteral response and left while some one was speaking.  Rude and disrespectful.  If we wasn't interested in hearing stories about Overdose Awareness, then why attend the event?  Unfortunately, the rude, disrespectful behavior continued as the people who wouldn't wear purple ribbons talked over the stories shared and talked to themselves and frankly weren't listening. 

Rodell Bautista spoke about his son.  The more I hear about this boy, the more saddened I am that I never got to meet him as he seems like such an amazing young man.  His light continues to shine through the many people who loved him.  Rodell is an amazing gift to Winnipeg.  Every time he speaks, it feels like he is speaking directly to my heart.  He is passionate, shows quiet strength and wisdom beyond his years.  Rodell is destined to help thousands and he freely shares his authentic truth.  It is rare and powerful.

Many people shared their stories.  I can't imagine how difficult it was yet they felt compelled to do so to honour themselves and those who left us due to overdose. 

One of the most powerful images I have is a grand-mother and a grand-daughter standing up together and holding each other.  Unfortunately, they lost their grandson and brother respectively to an overdose.  Some people from the grand-mothers generation may have been ashamed to speak with such love about a grandson who was afflicted with addiction.  Not this grandma.  Her heart was filled with both love and sorrow.  Her grand-daughter was a young woman with the most beautiful hair colour.  I want it but it wouldn't look that flattering on me.  He was a lovely shade of light lilac combined with grey.  It was stunning.  The grand-daughter also had many tattoos.  Some people from the grand-mothers generation might not have been so proud of her grand-daughters ink.  Yet, there this couple were holding each other and sharing their story.  It was like being touched by an angel. 

We have three candidates running to represent this ward at city hall.  None of them attended.  I guess they are not interested in promoting awareness. 

CTV News came half way through the rally.  I guess that they didn't realize that the event was organized in order to promote Overdose Awareness.  It had nothing to do with the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.  It was disappointing that they chose to interview someone opposed to the Centre because that wasn't the purpose of the rally.  It was equally disappointing that this person chose to make his comments to a microphone rather than sit down and have a conversation with the people attending the event.  It seemed a little cowardice. 

Unfortunately, I had to leave the event at the same time as the people who refused to wear the ribbons.  We probably had different reasons for leaving.  As I was leaving, the people who refused to wear the ribbons jay-walked across Hamilton Street without having the common sense to look both ways before they crossed.  They just walked across the four lanes without any regard for traffic and causing some close calls.  That is a lot of entitlement.