Barrie 'Flags of Hope' campaign seeks to raise awareness and honour lives lost to overdose
A Barrie mother has created a "Flags of Hope" campaign to shine a spotlight on the ongoing drug crisis while honouring the lives lost.
"We're making flags of hope in memory of those that we have lost due to toxic drugs, as well as to bring hope to those that are still struggling with substance use issues," says Christine Nayler, founder of the campaign.
On August 31, known as "International Overdose Awareness Day," the flags will be carried to Barrie City Hall.
The ceremony will include a "Walk of Hope," starting at the Salvation Army Parking Lot in Barrie, followed by lowering the flags.
Friends and family who lost loved ones to substance abuse will have the opportunity to honour lives lost to addiction.
Nayler lost her son, Ryan, to an overdose after struggling for years to get support.
She says that the mission of this initiative is to bring awareness of the challenges of those who are struggling with substance abuse, homelessness and mental health issues.
"Those three issues are interconnected, and it's really hard to address one without addressing all three," Nayler says.
She hopes similar campaigns will bring awareness and lead to better support systems for those who are struggling.
"We haven't seen changes in the drug laws that would actually help to address some of the issues related to the toxic drug supplies like safe supply, decriminalization," Nayler says.
If you would like to be a part of "Flags of Hope," visit their community page for more information.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about Plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Construction begins on LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa
Shovels have hit the ground for constuction on Canada's LGBTQ2S+ national monument in Ottawa.
B.C. man awarded $5,000 in damages in first-of-it-kind intimate image case
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.