In response to a province-wide health crisis, a community ‘Fentanyl Forum’ will be hosted at Westview Secondary School (20905 Wicklund Ave.) on Wednesday, October 5. The forum will run from 7:00 to 8:30 pm with doors opening at 6:30 pm. The forum will be held in the Multipurpose Room.
The forum is being organized collaboratively by Fraser Health, School District 42, the City of Maple Ridge, Alouette Addictions with the assistance of the Ridge Meadows RCMP and draws on resources from each organization.
The forum will include presentations by Fraser Health and Alouette Addictions. Following the presentations there will be a panel discussion and Q&A session with the presenting agencies as well as representatives of the first responders working in our community. The organizers would like to thank the RCMP, Maple Ridge Fire Department and BC Ambulance Service both for their support and input on this forum and their work on the front lines of this health crisis.
According to the most recent report from the BC Coroners Service, Maple Ridge has seen 20 deaths from January through to the end of August. This is the third highest number of deaths in the Fraser Region behind Surrey with 62 deaths, Abbotsford with 23 deaths and just ahead of Langley with 19 deaths. Here is a link to the report:
“I want to thank all of the organizations that have stepped forward to make this forum come together in such a short time. We have assembled a strong team to communicate this important information,” said Susan Carr, school trustee and co-chair of the city’s Strong Kids Team. “All around British Columbia we are seeing the headlines about overdoses and deaths due to fentanyl. These overdoses are not confined to drug addicts. This forum is intended to provide parents and youth with information about a drug that is cutting across all demographics and lifestyles. We need to arm citizens with information and start a dialogue with our kids.”
No pre-registration is required for the event. There will be information and displays available prior to the forum start time.
For more information about the forum please contact Susan Carr at Susan_Carr@sd42.ca or Tony Cotroneo, community services manager, at tcotroneo@mapleridge.ca or by phone at 604-467-7392.