It’s what we do
Have a look into the projects we have done over the last few years. This includes a wide range of community support throughout Ridges Meadows. STORM Partners - Salvation Army Ridge Meadows, Community Services, Fraser River Indigenous Society, Food For The Soul, Foundry, Maple Ridge Outreach Society, Alouette Addictions.
Past Projects
Wow! OVER $900 raised to support men’s mental health programs at the Family Education and Support Centre in our community!
Thank you to everyone who attended, participated in, donated to and volunteered at our Annual STORM Show & Shine event! Looking forward to seeing you all again next year!
Black Balloon Day
Each year, March 6th marks Black Balloon Day. Black Balloon Day started in 2016 when Greg Trembly’s family wanted to honour his life after he lost his battle with addiction and died of an overdose on March 6th, 2015. The day became an annual event to honour the lives lost due to overdose. We hold an annual walk holding the number of balloons that represent the number of overdose deaths in our community. In 2023, that number was 37, by 2024 that number jumped drastically to 53. Our goal is to reduce that number every year, through education, support, stigma reduction and access to life saving harm reduction supplies.
We remember.
In 2024 we had to purchase 53 black balloons, a shocking jump from the 37 purchased in 2023. In 2023 across British Columbia, 2511 lives were lost due to toxic drug poisonings. Thank you to everyone who chose to walk with us, shared their stories and brought photos of their loved ones.
ST.O.R.M.
Show & Shine for Men’s Mental Health
In 2023 we reviewed the statistics for local and provincial toxic drug poisoning deaths and recognized the data consistently shows a larger number of deaths are male. We sought out additional data surrounding men’s mental health and suicide statistics and recognized there was a need for men to connect and to be supported. This brought the idea to host a free community event focused at bringing men together while raising money to support men’s mental health programs. The Annual ST.O.R.M. Show & Shine event was born!
We have been fortunate enough to have generous gifts donated each year that have been given away as door prizes to both attendees and car registrants. In 2024 we raised just over $900 to donate to the Family Education and Support Centre’s men’s mental health programs- including “Caring Dad’s” and “Men’s Anger Management.”
Each year has featured local classic, new and custom cars, food trucks, and vendors that showcase the supports and services offered in our community. We determine prize categories and have trophies and prizes for the top car, truck or motorcycle in each category!
International Overdose Awareness Day
Each year, August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day. A day to remember the lives lost due to toxic drug poisonings. We hold an annual event in Memorial Peace Park to honour the lives lost and take action to end the opioid crisis together.
This year we hosted a screening of the locally filmed, produced and directed documentary “Toxic” as a lead up to our IOAD event. We distributed purple lights in the community for folks to light the town purple in honour of the lives lost due to toxic drugs in our community. At our IOAD event we also unveiled our new project- The Compassion Cruiser. We converted an electric vending bike to distribute harm reduction supplies in a manner that is less stigmatizing.
At our International Overdose Awareness Day event in Memorial Peace Park on August 31st, 2024 we gathered community partners, peers and speakers to honour the lives lost due to the toxic drug crisis in our community! We heard an official welcome from Elder Colleen Pierre, words from MLA Bob D’Eith, Councillor Onyeka Dozie and from International Speaker Guy Felicella. We then opened the mic up and heard from a number of community members who’s lives have been touched by the toxic drug crisis.
Speaking Through the ST.O.R.M.
In 2023 we held our first annual Speaking Through the STORM- a TED talk style event held at the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge. In 2023 we heard from International Speaker and advocate Guy Felicella. In 2024 we had two of our own peers- Lindsey Hansen and James Baryluk share their stories, and we had Kirk Buxton of Kirk’s Probiotic Soda also share his journey. Both years we put together a panel of incredible humans who had all been impacted by the toxic drug crisis in different ways to participate in an interactive discussion where audience questions could be answered. Each year the event was catered by Erin Tulloch and her team from The Kanaka Kitchen.
In 2024 Lindsey shared her story of being caught in the throws of addiction as a youth, and how she believes creating spaces that promote emotional safety can help prevent similar stories. James shared his heart-wrenching story of the obstacles he has overcome and how he challenges the stigma he faces on a daily basis. Kirk shared his story of resilience and the importance of creating a community to support you throughout your journey.
In 2023 we heard Guy’s story and how he ended up in a 20 year cycle of crime and addiction before the life saving measures of harm reduction combined with much needed human connection allowed him to find a way out. Now sober, and a loving husband and father, Guy spreads his message of hope and advocates for harm reduction and safe supply.
