From Bas Stevens. International Overdose Awareness Day was held in Abbotsford Friday. The event was attended by between 20 and 25 people.
There was a three-minute silence for those lost to overdoses. Following eating, those present painted stones in remembrance of friends/loved ones no longer with us.
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
All photos by Bas Stevens.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
International Overdose Day. Bas Stevens photo.
Bas Stevens
Bas is the owner and photographer at MonoPod Photography.
You can follow Bas on Facebook where he publishes many of his photos.
To see more of Bas’ photos on Abbotsford Today click here
To see Bas’ photos of the homeless during Moving Day On Gladys Avenue click here
Bas Stevens lives in downtown Abbotsford and shares the neighbourhood just as readily with his neighbours with homes as he does with the homeless, the drug addicted and others who are down on their luck.
Bas has a home and is known to most in the power structure in Abbotsford as a man who calls things as he sees them and is very involved in his community and the political process which guides it.
You can find him most Wednesday nights over at Jubilee Park during The 5 and 2 Ministries meal for the homeless. Failing that, you catch him either at Legal Grounds Coffee House chewing the ear off of a politician or giving as good as he gets over at O’Neill’s Home Cooking over on Gosling.
You stand a good chance of finding him Saturday mornings over at the Abbotsford Farm and Country Market and Saturday evenings back over at Jubilee Park.
Wherever he is Bas usually has his eyes and ears wide open. We’re proud to have him as a contributor and urge you to get to know him if you give a damn about Abbotsford. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who cares more than he does.