Sunday, August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. ⁠💜 ⁠ Every day, countless lives are touched by the heartache of addiction and overdose. Families are forever changed, friends are left to grieve, and communities feel the profound impact of the opioid crisis. ⁠ ⁠ At UGM, we have lost dear friends, mourned with community members, and seen firsthand the heartbreak caused by the opioid crisis.⁠ We know this heartache may touch your own life, too. In 2024, unregulated toxic drugs claimed at least 2,511 lives in BC – the highest ever recorded. With International Overdose Awareness Day approaching, we’ve gathered a selection of resources to help you reflect, learn, and respond: 💜 What Is Addiction? An Overview of Addiction in British Columbia: https://bit.ly/4oZln47 💜 Debunking Misconceptions About Addiction: https://bit.ly/3JALmPi 💜 How to Talk to Your Kids About Addiction: https://bit.ly/3HReIbE 💜 How to Support a Family Member Through Recovery: https://bit.ly/45QBdFv Join us in raising awareness by sharing these resources with friends, family, or anyone who might find this helpful. (fb)

Meet UGM legacy donor and volunteer, Jean. 💙🩵💚 Her story is one for the books. Read more ⬇️ Jean was born in Prague to a family who stood in opposition to the Nazi regime of the Second World War; for their resistance, they were sent to a concentration camp. Jean and her parents survived. Subsequently, the family lived for three years in France before immigrating to Vancouver in 1951. It was these childhood experiences that set Jean on a path of advocacy and giving back. “When my family and I arrived in Vancouver, the Carnegie Library was the only place where, as a 10-year-old, I could get French language books — at that time, I spoke no English,” she shares. “We used to come down to Chinatown to pick out the books for the next week and do some grocery shopping at Army & Navy and Save On Meats, the things that we ourselves could afford as immigrants at that point. So I saw a lot of the interaction, even then, between the haves and the have-nots in Vancouver.” Having staunchly navigated life with compassion and intention, Jean is in no way finished with her mission of standing up for others. “I've walked picket lines and done my share of protesting against injustice, because I know that life isn't fair, but that doesn't mean that people should exploit that unfairness,” she explains. “What it boils down to is that Canada has been very good to me, and now I'm in a position to give some of that back. And I want to give back because it makes me feel good, and because I think it's the right, moral, ethical thing to do. If I can, I will.” Learn more about Jean’s story, and how you can make a lasting impact for generations to come: https://bit.ly/45ZDrDP (fb)