If you see a lot of purple on 20th Street just south of Avenue P on Saturday, it’s because it is the colour that marks Overdose Awareness Day.

Prairie Harm Reduction, located in that block, has arranged to have the street closed to host a day of memorial and remembrance which includes a barbeque, tables with educational materials, as well as naloxone training and art is even part of the day.

Engagement Manager Miranda Deck says this day is more than statistics.  She says they’ve had people contribute, in the last couple of weeks, by providing a story about people they’ve lost, and they are preparing a video to post on their socials to give the issue a face, not just a number.

In a few weeks’ time, an art project which includes participation from clients at the safe consumption site with help from the Commonwheel Artists Coop.  Work on that continues Saturday and will be unveiled as a mural at their site on 20th Street.