Purple flags at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum, Murrayville Five Corners, and other local sites symbolize the 247 local people who have died from overdose since 2016.

91原创 is not immune from the opioid crisis that has killed 10,000 in this province since the government first declared it a public health emergency in April 2016.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important people understand these deaths are throughout 91原创,鈥� said Daniel Snyder, the event organizer and chair of 91原创 Overdose Response Community Action Team.

鈥淭his is not an issue affecting only the homeless or 91原创 City,鈥� he said, explaining it鈥檚 just more visible in the City鈥檚 downtown core.

鈥淥verdose deaths occur throughout all of 91原创, including in Walnut Grove, Aldergrove, Willoughby, Brookswood and all our surrounding neighbourhoods,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hile the focus is often on the 鈥榲isible鈥� (homeless) cohort of our community, most drug use remains hidden, and the vast majority of overdose response calls are to private residences.鈥�

The purple flag displays are also at 208th Street and 80th Avenue, and as of Sunday, at the Fort 91原创 Community Hall.

鈥� READ MORE: B.C. reaches grim drug death record

To help the public better understand the scope of the crisis and also the local resources and options for action, the local action team is hosting an event on Wednesday, Aug. 31, at Douglas Park. The Overdose Awareness Day event starts at 6:30 p.m.

鈥淭he event is open to all,鈥� Snyder noted. 鈥淥ur encouragement to parents of young teens is to start the conversation. Be open. Consider your own biases, and judgments to substance use and people who use drugs. Don鈥檛 forget alcohol is a drug too. Parents should use their own discretion in bringing young children. Our aim is to be sensitive and appropriate while making sure our messaging is clear.鈥�

The event includes a community awareness walk from Douglas Park to Innes Corners, a free barbecue, and a candlelight vigil.

鈥淭his is our third year doing awareness/memorial displays in the community, the goal of which is to raise awareness, start conversations, and reduce stigma,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e believe the overdose death toll is a direct result of failed drug policy in our nation and that the vast majority of these deaths are preventable.鈥�

A B.C. Coroners Service report has indicated that safe supply is not contributing to overdose deaths. Six years into this crisis, the death toll has doubled, Snyder noted.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time for leaders, policy makers, and government to drastically adjust their approach. Pushing beyond decriminalization, expanding safe supply, and insuring proper resources (such as a health contact center, overdose prevention sites, opioid agonist therapies (OAT, suboxone/methadone), and improved access to detox and treatment facilities) are available in our community is imperative,鈥� he said.

鈥� READ MORE: B.C. request to decriminalize street drugs approved in May 2022

One unique aspect of next Wednesday鈥檚 event is the opportunity for the public to take naloxone training.

鈥淭here are no health authority stipulated age limits on naloxone training or receiving a kit. We would encourage everyone to get trained. Parents can make their own decision on what is age appropriate for their children,鈥� Snyder said. 鈥淚ntramuscular naloxone training involves an injection with a vanish point syringe, and some basic training that takes 10 to 20 minutes.鈥�

This event will feature a large resource fair that includes community resources and agencies working in 91原创 around the issues of overdose, substance use and addiction, recovery and harm reduction.

Agencies taking part in the event include Mom鈥檚 Stop the Harm, Lookout Housing Society, 91原创 Community Services, the Lifeguard App, Wagner Hills, Gateway of Hope, Fraser Health, Encompass, 91原创 Hospice, The tailgate toolkit, Ishtar Women鈥檚 Resource Society, the Foundry, Vision Quest Recovery Society, and more.

鈥淲e are very proud of the fact that we are able to bring both harm reduction and recovery-related resources together,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here is no reason for divisiveness on different approaches to substance use in our communities. Since substance use happens on a spectrum, and we recognize that research shows that vast majority of substance use in our communities is undertaken responsibly and does not lead to disordered or problematic use, we want to provide resources that enable people to be safe and reduce potential harms. We also recognize that for some substance use can become a problem, and we will continually advocate for improved access to diverse types of treatment and recovery.鈥�

There will be opportunity to learn from the community resources.

There will also be speakers sharing personal stories of their lived experiences from the stage, along with music and memorial opportunities for those in attendance who have lost loved ones, Snyder added.

The organizers have set up a .