Vancouver Island and Oceanside Drug Deaths Summary, 2025
This is the updated data for Vancouver Island and Oceanside on the impact of the toxic drug poisoning crisis.
Oceanside
It’s another winter season without a permanent shelter for those experiencing homelessness in Oceanside, as advocates continue to push for more services.
‘It’s atrocious out here:’ advocates continue pushing for permanent Oceanside winter shelter By Jordan Davidson – Nanaimo News Now – read the source article here Jan 9, 2026 Another winter without a full-time shelter for the unhoused in Oceanside is well underway. Oceanside Homelessness Task Force chair Shayla Day and other […]
Report finds PQB youth face increasing mental health challenges
Youth engaging in ‘risky behaviours’ at higher than B.C. average by Kevin Forsyth @ Vancouver Island Daily – Read the Source Article Youth in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region exceed provincial averages in substance use, with nearly one-third reporting they used substances because they felt down, sad or stressed, according […]
Homeless people on Vancouver Island need winter shelter. So why is it so hard to supply each year?
Concerns about winter shelters include public drug use, theft and loitering by Maryse Zeidler · CBC News · Read the source article here – As far as home tours go, a look around April Lushaw’s residence doesn’t take long. Lushaw lives in Sidney, B.C., a quiet seaside community of about […]
International Toxic Drug Poisoning Awareness Day, August 31st, 2025
Join us Sunday August 31st at 4 pm for International Toxic Drug Poisoning Awareness Day. We’ll be at the Picnic Shelter in Parksville’s Community Park for speeches and refreshments, then at 7 pm for a Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance, hosted by Moms Stop The Harm members.
International Overdose Awareness Day August 31
The OCAT will be commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day again this year at the Parksville Community Park on August 31. Meanwhile, take a look at the official website for the international event.
Bridging The Gaps II, our April 14th event wrap-up
The April 14 event for the 9th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Toxic Drug Crisis was positive and encouraging with about 60 people in attendance. We had Dr Ray Baker, Dr Tribesty Nguyen our resident MHO, the film Toxic and Robert Colbourne the director/producer to introduce it, a panel, and group discussions. Here is […]
Bridging The Gaps II – Our Next Steps In The Toxic Drug Crisis
April 14th is the 9th anniversary of the Public Health Emergency declaration due to the Toxic Drug Crisis. The Oceanside Community Action Team will be hosting “Bridging the Gap 2”, a day of speakers, a panel, community discussion groups, and a screening of the documentary “Toxic”. This event will be April […]
Island Health sees a fourfold increase in deaths of unhoused people in three years
The Island total is one-quarter of the 458 such deaths reported across B.C. last year At least 114 people experiencing homelessness died in 2023 in the Island Health region, more than four times as many as in 2020, according to data from the B.C. Coroners Service. That year, 26 such […]
The OCAT is pleased to announce the recipients of the 4 x $1000, 2024 grants for community work.
Knox United Church For their community work including outreach efforts to service and support challenged folks in our community. By helping ‘at risk’ folks coming through their doors on a regular basis in the way of food cards and also as subsidies for counselling that they provide. Thank you all […]