City Hall to Light Up for International Overdose Awareness Day

On Saturday, August 31, Owen Sound City Hall will be illuminated with purple lighting in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD).

International Overdose Awareness Day is a campaign for communities around the world to come together to remember without shame those lost to overdose, acknowledge the grief of loved ones left behind, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and try to find ways to reduce the incidence and impacts of overdose. It is about taking action to save lives.

In partnership with and at the request of SafeNSound, the lights at City Hall will be turned purple to honour those that we have lost from overdose. While every individual action matters greatly, coming together as an international community creates a powerful collective action—one that moves us with greater speed toward our shared goal of preventing and ultimately ending all overdoses.

“Together we can” 

We are highlighting the strength of coming together and standing in support of those connected to the tragedy of overdose. For people who use drugs and those who don’t. For heartbroken friends and family members of lost loved ones. For activists who fight for sorely needed policy reform. For healthcare and harm reduction workers. For tireless advocates. Overdose can affect anyone, and we encourage you to remember the tenacity of our community. Lean into the power that we can have when we work together.

This August 31, reach out and connect with others in our local community and join the global IOAD movement. Our collective voices are stronger, louder, and the most impactful when brought together.  Let’s remember, together, we can end overdose.

For more information, please contact Phil Eagleson, Fire Chief at 519-376-2512 or email peagleson@owensound.ca

Quotes:
"This International Overdose Awareness Day, our thoughts are with everyone in our community and beyond who has been affected by drug overdose. By illuminating Owen Sound City Hall with purple lights, we want to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and show our support for this important issue.”

-Mayor Ian Boddy

Quick Facts:
    City Hall will be illuminated with purple lights in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31
    This day is an annual global event that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths.
    More information can be found on the Grey Bruce Public Health website.