Sixteen-hundred-eighty-one people have died of an overdose in Saskatchewan since 2010, when the data first started being collected.
The executive director of Saskatoon’s Prairie Harm Reduction says that’s how many crosses are being erected on the ground of the Legislature Tuesday in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Mercredi says, “Each cross not only represents a person who died, but also their friends and family who are left behind.”
He states that overdoses and overdose deaths are increasing every year and the problem is not going away, and adds that Premier Scott Moe and Mental Health and Addictions Minister Everett Hindley have not held a press conference to acknowledge or address what is currently happening in our communities.
Prairie Harm Reduction, Moms Stop the Harm, and the Regina Harm Reduction Coalition are calling for government investment in proven life and cost saving measures, including safe consumption sites.
Mercredi says, “We shouldn’t have to rely on small businesses and donations to keep our family and friends alive.”
While overdoses are on the rise in Saskatchewan, there have been significantly fewer in Saskatoon over the past two years, which is how long the safe consumption site has been open.
Regina’s site more recently opened as well.
Even with these two sites, Mercredi says the province is trending to have more overdoses than ever before.

The groups are gathering at the Legislature between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. with a pipe ceremony at 1pm.