Rally to keep CTS sites open in Ontario, 5:30pm Wednesday 28 August 2024 at 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener

What: Rally to keep Consumption and Treatment Sites open in Ontario
When: 5:30pm to 8:30pm, Wednesday 28 August 2024
Where: in front of Waterloo Region Council Chambers
Location: 150 Frederick Street Map

From the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region:

SDC stands in solidarity with those asking the province to keep CTS (Consumption and Treatment Services) sites open in Ontario. Come show your support at at a rally for change tonight.

Dear friends,

SDC is deeply concerned about the planned closure of Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) sites across Ontario, and we wanted to share our official statement with you. The Ford government’s decision is anti-science, anti-evidence, and yet another way to limit the healthcare options available to Ontarians. SDC stands in solidarity with drug use advocates and all those who’re asking the province to keep CTS sites open.

Read The Media Release (PDF, 251 kBytes) (Mirror)

Julian Ichim and Donald Lacasse are members of SDC’s lived expertise consultancy and have been fighting for safe injection sites with the Alan Ryan People’s Defense Brigade since 2014. These are some of their reflections on the provincial government’s decision to dismantle harm reduction services like CTS sites and safe supply.

What some lived experts are saying: “By closing down the safe injection site and rejecting safe supply, the Ford government is promoting criminality and keeping drugs in the hands of dealers who only care about profit and not people’s lives.” “I am worried that this is a process of elimination. They did this when they first came to this land. By eliminating us, they can start over. They can erase us and rewrite history again.”

How You Can Help

Please join us in supporting grassroots organizers at a peaceful rally this evening – together, we can bring greater awareness and urgency to the need for an adequately resourced, evidence-based drug strategy in Waterloo Region.

Tonight’s rally for change is being organized by the Drug Action Team Waterloo Region, an unfunded, volunteer-driven team of Waterloo Region residents with interest, experience, and expertise in resolving a wide range of drug-related issues. You can find them online at drugactionteam.ca.

Overdose Action Day Rally for Change. Wednesday, Aug 28th. 5:30 – 8:30pm. 150 Frederick St. Kitchener. 820+ residents of Waterloo Region have died by preventable overdose. Rally together to call all levels of government and community to action. We have the evidence, we know the solutions, now is the time for action. Bring your signs, banners, shirts, photos of loved ones. Free Pizza (while supplies last).

In solidarity,
The team at SDC

Kitchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum, 6:30pm, Thursday 23 November 2023 at St. John The Evangelist Church

What: Kitchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum
When: Doors open 6:30pm, Forum 7:00pm, Thursday 23 November 2023
Where: St. John The Evangelist Church
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Contact: Text message 519-635-8951

Come ask the candidates how they will tackle housing issues.

KItchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum | Come ask the candidates how they will tackle housing issues | Thursday, November 23rd (2023) | Doors open: 6:30pm Forum 7:00pm | St John The Evangelist | 23 Water St N Kitchener | For questions text 519-635-8951 (Black letters on white, clip art of bullhorn and ballot wiht pen, B&W logos of supporting organizations at the top, including The Council of Canadians Kitchener-Waterloo, Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, GroundUpWR, ACORN Tenant Union Waterloo Region, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, Olde Berlin Town Neighbourhood, Beyond Housing, Basic Income Waterloo Region, WRYIMBY, GreenWR, Grand River Unitarian Church, Unsheltered Campaign, Hold The Line WR)