OTR4MentalHealth

I have been following CAPSA for some time now but today was my first time attending a "Stigma Ends With Me" event.

Thank you to Shawn Fisk for the incredible and educational event. I walked away with so much more understanding of the stigma surrounding drug use than when I entered the auditorium at The Royal this morning.

These auditoriums should be packed for these events!

Working on getting a story in the Kingston Whig Standard.

The journalist is looking to connect with families in Kingston and Napanee/Belleville area for an interview.

If you are, or know someone who is interested in sharing their story to help build up the reach of "Steps to Remember" and to honour the Canadians lost to the opioid crisis, please message me.

Hoping to get this out quickly so that the story is live, before the July 3 and 4 walks.

A recap of walk #3 in Kingston.

Once again, the weather couldn't have been better!

Starting about 10 minutes late, I started the walk at Kingston City Hall with my walking buddy, Layla Hasan and her friend Ray.

The walk took me around Fort Henry where in the late '90s, my family set up our Celtic jewellery booth at the Kingston Celtfest. I have a great picture my daughter Chelsea McPherson and Aric with Natalie MacMaster which brought some fond memories (and a few tears) as I thought back to the innocence of a young, much happier Aric.

Afterwards, we made our way to the Integrated Care Hub - ICH, which had received an temporary exemption from the Ontario closures of the supervised consumption sites. This exemption isn't without conditions and is only until September. Thank you to the shift lead, Amber (hoping that I remembered correctly) for taking the time to speak with me and others who signed the banners. Please, if you see this, thank each and every staff member and harm reduction worker for the compassion that they bring into the lives of those using the Hub!

Much of the walk was exploring much of Kingston that I had never seen including Lemoine Point Conservation Area which is a beautiful oasis, in a beautiful city!

I have already posted about dropping in to Pedal Works Café & Studios on Princess Street but this place can't be mentioned enough. Check them out if you haven't already!

57,113 steps in memory of those lost to the opioid crisis since 2016.

Thank you to everyone in Kingston for your support, including the more than 500 reactions to a Facebook post on Kingston's 98.3 FLY FM!

Next up...
July 3 - Toronto - Ajax
July 5 - Belleville - Napanee

Another gem in Kingston... Pedal Works Café & Studios. I was originally introduced to this place by Councillor Wendy Stephen - Lakeside District in 2024 as I walked from Niagara Falls to Ottawa.

My route in Kingston this year, "accidentally" brought me by, once again!

Make sure to make it a stop, if you are in Kingston or if you live in Kingston and you haven't yet been there, you need to go!

Thank you, Martha, for one of the tastiest smoothies that I've had.

That's it Kingston! An amazing day. Recap coming in the next few days.

57,113 steps. You are all remembered❤️

That's it Kingston! An amazing day. Recap coming in the next few days.

57,355 steps. You are all remembered❤️

Found a gem in Kingston (I know....that can be said of all of .of.kingston ) Conservation area.

A quick shoe change, water refill and sunscreen application, after 38000 steps, only 3 more hours to go.

Stopped for a shoe change, water refill and sunscreen in Lemoine Park. What a fantastic find!

38,000 steps so far today and approximately 3 hours remaining in today's walk which will end at Kingston City Hall.

A short stop at the Integrated Care Hub - ICH . Yesterday was the last day for Supervised Consumption Sites in Ontario but the Hub gained an exemption until September, leaving it as the only SCS operating in Ontario.

Thank you to all the harm reduction workers, everywhere!