Victims’ families share their stories at City Hall rally

It wasn’t a usual speaking event for Coun. Evan Woolley, who shared his experience of being affected by a drug overdose during a gathering at City Hall on Friday for International Overdose Awareness Day.

An emotional Woolley said this day was never one that was important to him — it got lost with other awareness days in a busy calendar.

“I maybe gave it a passing acknowledgment or a thought, and then I carried on with my day, my week and my life,” Woolley said. “But not anymore. Today is now a very important day to me.”

On April 7, Woolley lost his brother Cameron to a drug overdose.

“His life should have been more, it should have been longer,” Woolley said.

He talked about his brother’s last day. He had been back in Calgary for a week after a stay at a rehabilitation facility in B.C.

“He was staying at my dad’s. They spent much of the day together,” Woolley said.

“We texted back and forth about lunch and a dog walk the following day. He chatted with friends, he worked out, he went over to his mom’s. It was a good day.”

That evening, Woolley said, his brother made “a mistake.”

“This was not something that was supposed to happen to us. This is what happened to other families,” said Woolley.

“And now this is happening to us and other thousands of individuals across our city and country.”

Kelly Blain is another one of those who have been affected this year by drug overdose. She lost her 25-yearold son Jamie on May 23 to an accidental opioid overdose.

“Jamie’s death was not caused by a lack of will power, moral, values or willingness. And it was preventable,” said Blain.

Blain said addiction is a disease that affects every aspect of a person’s life and is often misunderstood.

“People often view it as a moral deficit, where the person lacks strength or will power, or their mother didn’t raise them right,” said Blain.

“It is this misunderstanding that creates stigma and shame surrounding this illness, and it’s the stigma and shame that creates massive barriers for people struggling with addiction to get the help and medical care that they need.”

Blain said no person should have to prove their worthiness to access the care that they need.

“Last year, I was here at International Overdose Awareness Day with Jamie. I know he is here with me in spirit today,” said Blain.

“I know he would be proud of me for continuing to advocate for the change we so badly need for our loved ones struggling with addiction.”