Today is International Overdose Awareness Day and the day is being marked locally by an event organized by a local whose life was touched by an overdose.
Greg Partridge says he wants to bring awareness of the issue of Overdoses and to create a memorial to those who have been lost. Last week buckets donated by Canadian Mental Health Muskoka-Parry Sound’s Parry Sound office were made available at various locations filled with sticks donated by McNabb’s Home Building Centre and Parry Sound Home Hardware.
The idea is for people to inscribe the initials or nickname of a loved one lost to overdose on one side of the stick and if they wish a personal message on the other. Today the sticks will be placed into the lawn of the Mary Street Centre downtown, along the wall on James Street as a memorial.
The event will run between 9:00 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. and those still wishing to place a stick honouring someone lost to overdose can still do so today at the event.
Also today the Parry Sound Friendship Centre is holding a Sacred Fire on Bowes Street at the site of the former Friendship Centre from noon to 4:00 p.m. in respect of Overdose Awareness Day.