Ottawa

September 14 & 16, 2021

Getting to Tomorrow Ottawa is a community public health dialogue on solutions to the overdose crisis.

Participating organizations: AIDS Committee of Ottawa, Algonquin College, Algonquin College, Carleton University, City of Ottawa, Community Addictions Peer Support Association, Crime Prevention Ottawa, Drug Users Advocacy League, Families for Addiction Recovery, Howard Society of Ottawa,Metis Nation of Ontario, Government of Ontario, Moms Stop the Harm, Chief Coroner for Ontario, Ontario Inner City Health, Operation Come Home, Oscapella and Associates Consulting, Ottawa Board of Health member, Ottawa Police Service, Probation and Parole Services, Public Health Ontario, People with Lived and Living Experience, Rideauwood Addiction & Family Services, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, Senate of Canada, Shepherds of Good Hope, Somerset West Community Health Centre, Ottawa Hospital

Community Partners

Support drug policies based on evidence and compassion.

Getting to Tomorrow is a project of Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. Sign up for their monthly newsletter to get updates on the project and learn more about drug policy and how you can take action for change.

Resources

A computer and notebook on a table

Changing how we talk about substance use

Donald MacPherson being interviewed by media | cdpc media guide

Getting to Tomorrow Media Guide

Turning Point overdose prevention site

Sample Presentation to City Council

Close up of two people holding hands

Getting to Tomorrow Discussion Guide

Latest Blog Posts

Courtesy: Alex Brownlee, Overdose Awareness Day Ottawa

Report from public health dialogue in Ottawa reveals decriminalization and government leadership are key in addressing drug toxicity crisis

Ottawa, ON. — Decriminalization, safe supply, and a working task force that includes People With Lived and Living Experience are some of the demands put forward by Ottawa participants…

City of Ottawa

The whole community benefits from a ‘safe supply’ approach to substances

Reforming our policies on the use of illegal substances can save individual lives — but also help our neighbourhoods thrive.

light shining through a forest

I don’t judge you for yours, don’t judge me for mine

Who are you to judge us on our addiction?

Rideau canal

Coalition of local and national harm reduction and drug policy organizations seek solutions to Canada’s overdose crisis at Ottawa’s first-ever public health dialogue on rising drug toxicity deaths and policy solutions

Opioid-related deaths have nearly doubled in Ottawa during the COVID-19 pandemic. | Getting to Tomorrow Ottawa

Angel statue in a cemetary

A friend of mine has died today

Criminalization, stigmatization and ugly looks put her in a grave. All because she used a drug. Does not mean she wasn’t brave

Shoes with white cards written with names of the deceased arranged along the pavement

Why decriminalize drugs?

“I stopped doing dangerous drugs in a dangerous fashion the first time my drug use was treated as a means to cope, a health issue—and was being treated as such—rather than a crime.”

Cloud pattern set against the backdrop of a setting sun

We are more than you think we are

We are beautiful, loving, caring, worthy and hopeful souls who deserve a life to live.

Toronto waterfront with the CN Tower in the distance

Study: Opioid-Related Deaths in Ontario during COVID-19

Findings of this report broadly suggest a need for policies and programs designed to urgently address the increase in opioid mortality, such as access to harm reduction…and safer supply of drugs.

People standing shoulder to shoulder at a protest rally in Ottawa

Advocacy and recovery, recovery and advocacy

Self worth, a career, and even true love—advocating for PWUD has given me all of that, and so much more.

Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery

A crowd marching in a rally in Ottawa holding signs

Meeting the community driving drug policy change in Ottawa

News & Updates

News & Updates

Wendy Muckle standing on a porch railing

Five overdoses in two hours: Tuesday night offers snapshot of continuing opioid epidemic (Ottawa Citizen)

A capped syringe on the ground

White: The whole community benefits from a 'safe supply' approach to drugs (Ottawa Citizen)

Wendy Muckle, CEO of Ottawa Inner City Health

'We're all living in this fear': Experts, advocates convene to talk safe supply, overdose crisis in Ottawa (Ottawa Citizen)

Three people clasping their hands with their heads down

Ottawa dialogue focuses on solution to the overdose crisis (CityNews Ottawa)

Ottawa city street

Opioid-related deaths in Ottawa nearly double during pandemic (CBC)

Harm reduction equipment on a table

Ottawa police issue warning about crisis with overdoses; officers respond to 91 drug overdoses so far in 2021 (CTV)

Crushed white pills on a table

Four suspected overdose deaths in 24 hours in Ottawa last weekend: Ottawa's top doctor (CTV)

Videos

Videos

Doodle drawing of a man holding a pill bottle against his back

Addiction doesn’t discriminate

Rideau Canal

Meet the people of Sandy Hill Community Health Centre

Shoes on the pavement with signs representing people who have died from overdose

Marking Overdose Awareness Day

Sean LeBlanc, founder of Drug Users Advocacy League | Sean LeBlanc Drug Users Advocacy League

Sean LeBlanc, founder of the Drug Users Advocacy League