Man launches harm reduction program

Using his own experiences as a guide, Terance Grady is hoping to make life a little safer for addicts living in Saskatoon.

Through the launch of his nonprofit organization Saskatoon Cares, Grady plans to fill the gaps that addicts in the city face when it comes to accessing clean needles when they need them — especially during the hours when services such as the needle exchange are not available.

“I like to think of us like a gap plug,” he said, “because on evenings and weekends there is not much available and addictions don’t take a back seat.”

Currently, the-non-profit-is-raising money through a GoFundMe page to fund the purchase of uniforms, business cards and other gear that will make them more identifiable to those they are trying to help.

The idea to start Saskatoon Cares came when Grady was walking down an alley in his neighbourhood and came across a dirty needle. Rather than complain and pass the problem off to someone else, Grady decided to spend some time picking up dirty needles. When he returned them through the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s needle exchange program, he was given a number of clean needles — which he in turn handed out to those on the street who needed them.

Now, he spends time scouring the alleys of Pleasant Hill each week cleaning up discarded and dangerous used needles, exchanging them and handing out the new ones in an effort to stop the spread through needle-sharing of bloodborne illnesses such as HIV.

A former addict himself, and a part-time employee of AIDS Saskatoon, Grady has been learning about the best ways to run his harm reduction program, but he says building trust with those he is trying to help by showing compassion and empathy is the most important step. “I’m only doing what other cities have been doing for quite some time,” he said. “There’s a lot that is needed in this province and clearly more needs to be done … They’re going to use anyway, right, because it’s really hard to get out of the triangle of addiction.”

I like to think of us like a gap plug, because on evenings and weekends … addictions don’t take a back seat.

LIAM RICHARDS Terance Grady, founder of Saskatoon Cares, scours areas near dumpsters and alleys cleaning up dangerous used needles, exchanging them for clean ones in a bid to stop the spread of blood-borne illnesses.