Courtenay and Campbell River will take part in International Overdose Awareness Day this month with community events, memorials, and public gatherings. The annual day is recognized worldwide and aims to honour those who have lost their lives to toxic drug poisoning while offering support to families and raising awareness of the crisis. This year’s theme, “One Big Family,” highlights the importance of compassion, connection, and community unity in addressing the ongoing drug emergency.
On August 25, purple chairs will be placed at Island Health service locations in eight different communities across Vancouver Island, including Campbell River, Nanaimo, Comox Valley, Port Alberni, Duncan, Westshore, Oceanside, and Victoria. Each chair will serve as a quiet memorial space, symbolizing the lives lost to toxic drug poisoning. Visitors will find purple ribbon pins, interactive memory boards, and information about available resources. Purple has long been associated with remembrance in this global campaign, and the chairs give residents a way to pause and reflect while feeling supported in their grief.
Courtenay will host its main International Overdose Awareness Day event on August 29 at the Comox Valley Art Gallery on Duncan Avenue. The gathering will run from noon to 3 p.m. At 1 p.m., a ten-minute “die-in” demonstration will take place, with participants lying down to represent the lives lost to toxic drug poisoning. This peaceful protest was developed by health advocates who have called for stronger action to save lives and is being replicated across communities on Vancouver Island, the mainland, and even other provinces. Participation is voluntary but is expected to send a strong message about the urgency of the crisis.
Campbell River will also host its community event on August 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Spirit Square. The gathering will include food, music, and cultural support services, bringing people together in a space of remembrance and solidarity. The Campbell River Community Action Team is leading the effort. On August 31, the Campbell River Farmers Market will feature a booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the Tailgate Toolkit. The booth will provide resources and information tailored to people working in the construction industry, a group significantly affected by the toxic drug crisis.
The scale of the problem across Vancouver Island remains severe. Toxic drug poisoning is the leading cause of death among people aged 19 to 59 within the Island Health region. It is also the second highest cause of potential years of life lost overall, behind only cancer. In the first six months of 2025, 163 lives were lost in the region due to unregulated drugs. Of these, 30 deaths occurred in North Vancouver Island, 77 in Central Vancouver Island, and 56 in the South. Each of these deaths represents a person, a family, and a community forever changed.
Health leaders stress that every one of these deaths is preventable. They note that remembering those lost is not only a way to honour their memory but also a way to keep the crisis central in public conversations. They emphasize that solutions require a broad response that extends beyond health care. Investments in housing, education, income support, and social connection are needed to reduce vulnerability to substance use. At the same time, continuing to expand harm reduction services, treatment access, and prevention programs remains essential to saving lives.
Island Health has also created an online memory wall that will remain open through September 20. The digital platform allows people to post tributes, photos, and words for loved ones, offering another way to engage with the “One Big Family” theme and strengthen collective remembrance.
For those who need immediate help, support services are available. Residents can contact Service Link at 1-888-885-8824 to learn about available programs. The Vancouver Island Crisis Line operates 24 hours a day at 1-888-494-3888. Mental health and substance use services can also be accessed through HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca. For harm reduction information, including where to obtain naloxone, residents can visit Toward The Heart.
By uniting for International Overdose Awareness Day, Courtenay, Campbell River, and other Island communities are sending a clear message. They are standing together to remember lives lost, to support those impacted, and to call for stronger, lasting action against the toxic drug crisis.
