THUNDER BAY – The city and health unit will pay tribute to those impacted in the community ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day by illuminating the Boulevard Lake Dam and city hall in purple starting tonight.
The Thunder Bay Drug Strategy and Thunder Bay District Health Unit, along with community partners, announced on Monday that the purple lights will shine from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2 to raise awareness of the overdose crisis.
International Overdose Awareness Day sees landmarks around the world illuminated in purple, and this year the lights will be on for a week leading into Recovery Month, a city release said.
The city will observe the day on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Waverley Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The community is invited to attend the event to learn about overdose risk prevention and show support for those impacted by an increasingly toxic drug supply and overdose.
“Lighting up landmarks is a powerful way to draw attention to overdose awareness and prevention and to show support for family members and friends who mourn those lost to overdose in our community,” said Rilee Willianen, acting drug strategy lead, Thunder Bay Drug Strategy.
“We invite the community to visit the lights and share photos online with the hashtag #endoverdose to help raise awareness of International Overdose Awareness Day.”
