Mission Overdose Community Action Team (MOCAT) is hosting two events in August to facilitate a community dialogue around B.C.’s drug-poisoning crisis.
Together, the events are under the name “Flower Power – Growing Stronger Together.”
“Through dialogue we grow our understanding, our knowledge, our compassion, our trust,” says Judith Pellerin, co-chair of MOCAT. “Growing a stronger, more resilient community where everyone is valued and can flourish is the goal.”
On Aug. 26, MOCAT is hosting a free community picnic and art-making session from 3 to 6 p.m. at Fraser River Heritage Park. All ages are welcome and all art materials will be supplied.
“Paint a flower – abstracts, anime, cartoon – wherever your art takes you!” says a press release from MOCAT.
The art will be displayed in businesses on First Avenue for the Flower Power Community Art Show, which takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. on International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on Aug. 31.
The event is being held with the support of the Mission Downtown Business Association.
Live music will be played, coinciding with resource tables, refreshments and conversations.
“August 31 is a time to remember lives lost to the drug poisoning health emergency. It is also a time to work together for change,” the press release says.
MOCAT is also participating in Moms Stop The Harm Purple Ribbon Campaign, they are asking Missionites to wear purple (IOAD’s colour) and tie purple ribbons in remembrance of those lost to B.C.’s drug poisoning health emergency. More information can be found here.
MOCAT is a non-profit which brings together service agencies, people with lived experience, family members, business owners, and healthcare providers to build local partnerships, plan programs and services, address gaps in the system, and plan for a community response based around compassion.
These projects include the community garden at In-Phase Treatment Clinic, providing community education, dialogue sessions, naloxone training, and events for IOAD – made possible by the Community Action Initiative funded by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
Anyone with questions can contact MOCAT Project Coordinator Kat Wahamaa: stopoverdosemission@gmail.com, or visit the Facebook page @StopOverdoseMission.
