Thank you to all of our attendees! Missed the How to Save a Life event? Here's the recap video.

Megaphone and the Overdose Prevention Society are partnering to deliver stories from the front lines, and overdose response training in your neighbourhood this fall.

Our team will share perspectives from the front lines of a provincial health emergency, and offer training to help ensure your community has the skills and equipment it needs to respond to an overdose when it happens.

The FREE events run from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at locations throughout the city between October 11 and November 13. To save your seat, please REGISTER HERE.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding partner, the City of Vancouver, and our media sponsor, CBC Vancouver.

These events take place on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. We would like to acknowledge the historical and ongoing colonial genocide against Indigenous peoples that make it possible for many of us to be here on this land. 

General event information

Events are free.
Doors at 6:30 pm.
Program at 7:00 pm.

Venue information below

Presenting storytellers

NICOLAS CRIER
Nicolas Crier is an adoptee of Cree heritage. At 40 years old he has spent approximately half his life surviving in the streets, at least 10 of them in the Downtown Eastside. He’s been publishing as a freelance writer the whole time. It never occurred to him that being a drug user would ever be useful, but a year ago, he joined Spikes on Bikes as a volunteer overdose responder and outreach rider, a job he knows his street experiences earned him in terms of respect and trust within the Downtown Eastside community. He is also sending love to his six-year-old son, Money.

SEKANI DAKELTH
Sekani Dakelth is passionate about trans rights, sex worker rights, and harm reduction. She facilitates a trans supper club at PACE Society, she works front desk at a non-profit, and she sells Megaphone magazine. She is currently seeking wellness.

DALAN GLANCY
Better known as Dal for short, Dal has a passion for helping others. He has lived in the Downtown Eastside for seven years, has overcome addiction issues, and is proud to call the Downtown Eastside community home.

SAMONA MARSH
Samona Marsh has lived in the Downtown Eastside for over 25 years. She is on the board of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, as well as various other boards dealing with people in the neighbourhood who use drugs. She also works in an overdose prevention site. Samona carries with her the memory of her father, who she lost on March 5th this year.

JIM MCLEOD
Jim McLeod is an active member of the community. He has served on the boards of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and the Drug Users Resource Centre. He describes himself as a functional addict who has been chemically dependent for most of his life.

DAVID NAPIO
David Napio describes himself as a Cree Native of North America from Sturgeon Lake, Alberta. He is currently participating in the prescription heroin program at Crosstown Clinic, the first and only one in North America. He is glad to be part of that program. It’s been an important part of his life. Lately, he’s been finding new confidence in dealing with the media.

ANTONETTE REA
Antonette Rea is an award-winning poet, playwright, performer, activist, and storyteller who survived the streets of the Downtown Eastside as a transgender sex worker. She has endured severe discrimination, violence, homelessness, and drug addiction.

SPIKE
Spike is a neighbourhood activist who cares deeply about people. He plays poker and likes heavy metal. And he’s proud to say that he will never cut his hair.

Venue information

Wednesday, October 11 - opening night
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
800 E Broadway

Monday, October 16
Gordon Neighbourhood House
1019 Broughton St

Tuesday, October 24
South Van Neighbourhood House
6470 Victoria Dr

Monday, October 30
Grandview Calvary Baptist Church
1803 E 1st Ave

Monday, November 6
Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House
4065 Victoria Dr

Monday, November 13 - closing night
Kits Neighbourhood House
2305 W 7th Ave

To support the series as a sponsor or volunteer, please contact [email protected].

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