Turning Point Executive Director Carolyn Corrigal spoke to the crowd at the International Overdose Awareness Day event in Red Deer. (Ian Gustafson/rdnewsNOW)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Local crisis

Turning Point Society holds International Overdose Awareness Day event

Aug 29, 2025 | 5:09 PM

This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day event in Red Deer was a bit more solemn compared to years’ past.

That’s because the Turning Point Society of Alberta, who helped co-organize the International Overdose Awareness Day event with Moms Stop the Harm, announced two weeks ago it is losing all of its provincial funding, effective Nov. 1.

The community agency has helped serve the community for the last 37 years and now may be at risk shutting its doors.

Executive Director Carolyn Corrigal said today they serve the entire central health zone and have 16 sites in rural communities who depend on them for safe supplies, education, safe testing, and supports.

“In Red Deer, we see around 1,800 individuals per year who access our programming and drop in. Those people come from all walks of life,” she said.

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Corrigal said these cuts made by the government will impact most of their programming and the majority of their budget.

“This is really important for a lot of reasons and perhaps the most startling reason is the 100 people per day that we see in winter in our drop-in that need us to get out of the cold,” she said.

Supporters can also donate to Turning Point through their website or in person at 4611 50 Avenue in Red Deer.

“We know what impact this is going to have on not just our clients but for everyone,” she said. “We want people to help, we always have. We want people to live, we want them to improve their wellness, find stability, and find recovery when they’re ready. We don’t want to stop helping. Our clients are our friends and this community is our home.”

(Ian Gustafson/rdnewsNOW)

On Friday afternoon, Red Deerians gathered at the Rotary Park picnic shelter for the event to remember those who were taken too soon by drug overdose-related deaths.

It began at noon and ran until 3 p.m. and featured speeches from those who wanted to share their stories. There was also a free barbecue, vendors, naloxone training, a drumming circle, and a memorial tree where attendees could hang the name of a loved one who was taken too soon.

They also held a silent auction with all proceeds going to Turning Point.

Corrigal explained it’s important to acknowledge the opioid crisis, the effects of prohibition, the grief, the impacts, and especially those whom we’ve lost.

“Central Alberta is still very much in an overdose and opioid crisis. The drug supply over the years is increasingly potent and toxic. We are consistently seeing fentanyl showing up Alberta-wide in sample testing at extremely deadly rates,” she added.

“This crisis has become very complex and that is why overdose prevention, measures, programming, and education is imperative.”

She explained the root causes can be attributed to prohibition, trauma, illness, poverty, and housing to name a few.

“At Turning Point, overdose prevention is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to mental health and addiction that we contribute to in a recovery-oriented system and care. Crime reduction is a part of the spectrum of services that need to be available to those experiencing addiction.”

In addition, she said access to safe supplies, education, a safe place, and people who truly care and treat them like human beings are also needed for those who are addicted.

“I have to tell you as service providers on the front line, we’re tired. We need more services and we need more resources,” she said.

Corrigal explained although she doesn’t have specific stats, in Red Deer we experienced an increase in deaths and an increase in substance-related harm over the last few years, especially since the closure of the overdose prevention site.

“Things are getting worse downtown and it’s getting harder and more dangerous for the clients,” she said. “Our services are needed now more than ever at an increased rate to keep these issues from exploding further.”

The event wrapped up with the Moms Stop the Harm’s Walk to Remember at 3 p.m. where they walked to City Hall to honour their loved ones.

Candace Albrecht, who lost her 21-year-old daughter Gabrielle Morris two-and-a-half years ago to a drug overdose, said to families who may be in similar situations it’s important to not give up.

“That’s the one thing we never did. She always lived at home, we didn’t do the tough love and kick her out on the streets and hope for the best,” she said.

“We held space for her at the time when she needed it. If you need help, just reach out because there’s always somebody who will understand.”