*SEND AN EMAIL OF IN SUPPORT OF THE YALETOWN OPS*

1. COPY AND PASTE: ken.sim@vancouver.ca; CLRbligh@vancouver.ca; CLRboyle@vancouver.ca; CLRcarr@vancouver.ca; CLRdominato@vancouver.ca; CLRfry@vancouver.ca; CLRkirby-yung@vancouver.ca; maryclare.zak@vancouver.ca; jill.murray@gov.bc.ca; miranda.compton@vch.ca; hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca; brenda.bailey.MLA@leg.bc.ca; jennifer.whiteside.MLA@leg.bc.ca; Christine.Massey@gov.bc.ca; CLRzhou@vancouver.ca; CLRklassen@vancouver.ca; CLRmeiszner@vancouver.ca; chume@raincityhousing.org; elenore.sturko.mla@leg.bc.ca; paul.mochrie@vancouver.ca; sandra.singh@vancouver.ca

2. COPY AND PASTE INTO SUBJECT: IN SUPPORT OF THE LIFE-SAVING THOMUS DONAGHY OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITE IN YALETOWN

3. COPY AND PASTE INTO BODY (Feel encouraged to make edits):

TO:

Ken Sim, Mayor, City of Vancouver

Rebecca Bligh, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Christine Boyle, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Adrienne Carr, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Lisa Dominato, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Pete Fry, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Sarah-Kirby Yung, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Mike Klassen, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Peter Meiszner, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Lenny Zhou, City Councillor, City of Vancouver

Sandra Singh, General Manager, Arts, Culture and Community Service, City of Vancouver

Paul Mochrie, City Manager, City of Vancouver

Catharine Hume, Co-Executive Director, Raincity Housing

Mary Clare Zak, Managing Director, Social Policy & Projects, City of Vancouver

Miranda Compton, Executive Director, Substance Use & Priority Populations, Vancouver Coastal Health

CC:

Hon. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament, Vancouver Centre

Hon. Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, British Columbia

Christine Massey, Deputy Minister Mental Health and Addictions, British Columbia

Jill Murray, Director, Overdose Strategic Priorities, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, British Columbia

Elenore Sturko, MLA, Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addiction, Recovery & Education, BC United Party

Hello!

My name is  ____________________ (optional). I am writing to express unwavering support for a vital service in the Yaletown community–the Thomus Donaghy Overdose Prevention Site.

As a (resident/community member/drug user/frontline worker/etc), I am incredibly appreciative of the services I have witnessed being provided at this OPS, such as the following:

1. Staff are able to provide first-aid to folks in and around the building, reducing pressures on paramedics –this includes people who may  inhale (smoke) substances and must use outside of the building. It is important to note that B.C. Coroners Service reports show the recent majority of toxic-drug overdoses are increasingly occurring via inhalation, and there are no safe inhalation spaces in Vancouver’s West End, making this OPS space even more vital.
2. The site offers access to harm reduction tools, including sharps containers for safe disposal of drug paraphernalia;sterile drug-use equipment; respite from extreme weather; etc.
3. Overdose prevention services mitigate collective risk of bloodborne infections
4. The site provides a sense of community–drug users are able to access a space where they are unlikely to be discriminated against for their drug use.
5. Snacks and beverages are available to folks in need of nourishment

I also wish to express gratitude to the underpaid workers who operate the site–they are doing life-saving work that often comes with the burden of trauma and loss of people they work in relation with. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and foster a welcoming environment, which coincides with how the OPS is one of few places employing drug users as peer staff–meaning the folks the City of Vancouver should be following leadership from as they have the most intimate and nuanced understanding of the toxic drug crisis.

The Yaletown OPS offers a space where people who use drugs can use under supervision–and not die. Its existence showcases commitment to safeguarding lives during a drug toxicity crisis. To shutter it would present the opposite.

I believe, with the demand for overdose prevention services on the rise and overcrowding occuring, it is imperative that we not only maintain the Thomus Donaghy OPS, but expand operation of these vital sites, including, but not limited to:

1. increasing OPS operating hours to be open 24/7
2. introducing safe inhalation sites to the West End/Yaletown
3. additional OPS services open to the public around the city
4. I am also advocating for more accessible, enjoyable OPS facilities, i.e. spaces that don’t resemble medical facilities (fluorescent lights, cubicles), much like Pubs and Bars with comfortable seating and entertainment.

Until the drug supply is unpoisoned, services like the Thomus Donaghy OPS in Yaletown are a vital component to keeping people alive during this crisis. And, to ground this email in reality and as a blaring reminder: this is NOT an addictions issue, it is an emergency of unregulated drug supply poisonings in the face of government inaction when we need a consistent, regulated and demedicalized supply of drugs accessible to all.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME (optional)