University of Waterloo is hosting this panel on decriminalization on Tuesday June 7 from 1pm to 2:30pm Eastern. See link below for more information and to register.

Health policies demand solid empirical evidence from high-quality research, thoughtful and ongoing discussion, knowledge sharing, and consideration of diverse perspectives.
The need to hear a range of expert perspectives on illicit substance use and/or addiction, e.g., public supply of addictive drugs (PSAD; also known as ‘safe supply’), decriminalization, or legalization, is key to developing policies that can address their social, health, and economic consequences. As major drug law policy changes are being considered and implemented in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere, policy makers, health-care professionals and politicians need access to all relevant research.

Learn more and register: https://uwaterloo.ca/public-he...diverse-perspectives

The Committee of Youth Officers for the Province of Ontario (COYO) was formed in 1979 at the Ontario Police College, as an association of police officers dedicated to the collection and dissemination of child/youth crime and protection information.

Since 1979 our committee has grown and expanded to include representatives from numerous police services, youth services workers, educators from various school boards, Ministry representatives from Child and Youth Services, Community Safety and Correctional Services and Education and youth workers from the private sector.

Each year, the COYO holds an annual conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and brings together over 500 participants from policing, education, probation and other youth related services.

2022 Conference: Respond, Rebound, Renew – Moving Forward Together

April 19-20, 2022 (in-person and online - hybrid event)

More info and register: https://coyo.on.ca/conference-information-1

In partnership with Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and the Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC), the Peer Advisory Committee of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy is offering an opportunity to meet with Guy Felicella on March 16th, 7-8:30pm to explore the role of addiction peer support.

If you are interested in attending, please register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-peers-perspective-tickets-277058087197

Wednesday March 16, 2022
10AM EST – 11:15AM EST
FREE!
Registration:  https://issues-of-substance.eventbrite.ca

The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council has endorsed legalization with strict regulation as the best drug policy option to immediately and dramatically improve health and safety for all residents of Canada, prevent thousands of drug poisoning deaths and injuries annually, and, provide financial savings to public, non-profit, and private sector budgets.

A central consideration was that neither prohibition or decriminalization policy models reduce the toxicity of a robust, unregulated drug marketplace killing and injuring residents across Canada. Four thousand people died of un-prevented drug poisoning in Ontario in 2021, with no relief expected in 2022. In Waterloo region, drug poisoning deaths (158) outnumbered Covid-19 fatalities (145) in 2021.

Short presentations will be followed by a question period, with journalists first, and audience members second. The Issues of Substance report will be available on March 16th at www.overdoseprevention.ca

Join WRCPC’s Michael Parkinson along with:

• Irene O’toole, Vice Chair, WRCPC
• Ruth Cameron, Executive Director, ACCKWA*
• Judah Oudshoorn, Professor
• Sara Escobar, Peregrine Outreach
• Jesse Burt, Harm reduction/outreach, ACCKWA*

* Aids Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and area

Registration:  https://issues-of-substance.eventbrite.ca