Dr. Bernie Pauly is a white settler living on Lekwungen traditional territory.  She is a professor of Nursing at the University of Victoria, a Scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. Her research and work focuses on reducing harms of substance use and homelessness with a focus on community led solutions for healthier communities. Currently, she is a co-lead of the BC Provincial Evaluation of Prescribed Safer Supply and the Canadian Managed Alcohol Program Study.

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Garth Mullins is a drug user activist and award-winning radio documentarian. He is host and executive producer of the Crackdown Podcast where drug users cover the drug war as war correspondents. This is Garth’s second overdose crisis. He used injection heroin for over a decade and is now on methadone. He is a board member of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and is also a trade union organizer and plays in the band Low Dead Space.

Dr. Maulik Baxi is a Medical Health Officer and Medical Director at Fraser Health. He oversees Communicable Diseases portfolio. His areas of interest are Vaccine-Preventable Diseases,
Emerging pathogens, as well as Sexual Health and Blood-borne Infections programs.

His practice interests are the intersectionality of determinants of health and their impact on public health outcomes.

Traci Letts - Acting Chair of Moms Stop The Harm, a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths. Drawing from personal experiences as a mother, sister and former partner of illicit drug users, Traci brings a compassionate and understanding perspective to her work as an advocate for Drug Policy Reform. 
 

Colin is a Leader with the Health System Improvement team of Health Quality BC. Prior to this, he was the Chief Technical Officer of a medical device start-up. Recently, Colin led an ongoing provincial Community Action Team Knowledge Exchange, to foster collaboration and accelerate the spread of harm reduction in communities. Colin is currently leading work to improve OUD care across emergency departments in BC, as well as AUD supports in primary care.

Judith is a Public Health Nurse with Fraser Health Authority. In the role of Toxic Drug Response since 2018, she has supported the establishment and coordination of Community Action Teams (CATs) in Abbotsford and Mission.

“The toxic drug supply is not an issue for those other people; it is a killer that does not discriminate. It is a community issue."

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Brittany is a Mi’kmaq person of Bear River FirstNation and mixed settler ancestry, residing on Semá:th and Mathxwi First Nations unceded territory, in what is colonially known as Abbotsford. Brittany has lived experience of homelessness and substance use and has used her knowledge of these experiences to spend her career working in substance use and homelessness programs throughout Alberta and B.C. 

Tanis Oldenburger is a daily fentanyl user who lives with concurrent mental health diagnosis as well Autism Spectrum Disorder - but, don't let the jargon fool you - Tanis is the founder and executive director of Mountainside Harm Reduction Society. Mountainside runs the FTIR drug checking service for the Fraser East region, as well as other various peer-led support services and projects. Tanis also coordinates the Chilliwack Community Action Team which aims to combat stigma and discrimination towards PWUD. 

Jen works at the nexus of research and community development. As Senior Project Manager, Community-based Research for UBC's Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, she partners on a number of different projects related to illicit substance use. Her team has recently incorporated the New Matrix Meal dialogue approach to translate knowledge, increase understanding and reduce stigma.

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Greg has been the Lower Mainland Harm Reduction Coordinator for the Tailgate Toolkit since January of 2022. In that time he has delivered over 150 talks at Construction sites, Trade Schools and various conferences to thousands of attendees. Greg leans on his lived experience in one-hour presentations designed to promote opioid awareness, its disproportionate affect on those in the construction and trade industry industries while promoting healthy dialog regarding issues that have been taboo for far too long.

Hello my name is Bailey. I am currently an outreach worker for the Overdose Outreach Team(OOT) with Fraser Health. I myself spent over a decade in active addiction and recently celebrated 3 years of sobriety.  I got into this field of work to help others suffering from addiction. To be alongside them, to give care, as well as hope.  Our team works with housed individuals that are most likely to experience a toxic drug poisoning and want support in accessing services, to help reduce risk.

Daniel Snyder is a passionate recovery & harm reduction advocate. Married with two kids, he likes to play poker & chess, spend time in nature, in the gym & travel. Daniel focuses on sharing his personal story of overcoming addiction, advocating for drug policy change, and reducing stigma surrounding substance use & the current ongoing toxic drug poisoning crisis.

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For over 35 years Kat Wahamaa has collaborated with a diversity of folks, devising community anti-stigma /harm reduction arts projects. She has lived experience with substance use and with her son Joseph, who was killed by Fentanyl poisoning in 2016. As a mother and grandmother, Kat is deeply aware that the unchecked, unregulated drug emergency is creating intergenerational trauma. Kat is an advocate with Moms Stop The Harm, coordinator of the Mission Overdose Community Action Team and artistic director of The Precarious Players. 

Josie Kane MA RCC is a clinical counsellor who works at Archway Community Services & in private practice at Oakhill Counselling & Consulting Services. She specializes in trauma, mental health & substance use issues. She is passionate about reducing stigma & advocating for social justice.​

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My name is Jami Hall. I work with Lookout Housing and Health Society, providing supports and services to adults who face multiple barriers daily.
I specialize in Harm Reduction and work hard to ensue those who choose to use substance are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to use safely. I have been connecting with individuals who may be experiencing homelessness for 16 years and provided services with or without change. My focus is to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect and hope to eliminate the stigma attached to this demographic, with one conversation at a time.