Honouring Elder Wanda Whitebird on International Overdose Awareness Day

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Every August, Toronto gathers to mark International Overdose Awareness Day — a time to remember lives lost and reflect on the urgent need for compassion and change. At the corner of Queen Street East and Sherbourne, Moss Park has long been a gathering place for Toronto’s First Nations community and harm reduction advocates. In 2022, ceremonies, healing circles, and community celebrations were held here to honour those lost to overdose — guided by Indigenous leaders who cared deeply for their people, as First Nations remain among the most impacted by the ongoing drug poisoning crisis. Today, as construction for the new Ontario Line reshapes the area, the memories and teachings rooted in Moss Park continue to endure. International Overdose Awareness Day comes amid a worsening crisis. Since the Ontario government began closing supervised consumption sites in March 2025, overdoses have surged. According to the Toronto Drop-In Network, June 2025 alone saw a 288% increase in overdoses, leaving communities like Moss Park hardest hit. We also honour Mi’kmaq Elder Wanda Whitebird, founder of the Annual Strawberry Ceremony and a tireless advocate for Indigenous health and safety. Though she passed into the spirit world in November 2024, her teachings of care, community, and inclusion continue to inspire.  

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