Advocate speaks out against supervised consumption site in Winnipeg

On the anniversary of his son’s fentanyl overdose, a local advocate speaks out against supervised consumption sites.

Joseph Fourre, founder of Singing Red Bear Foundation, lost his son Harlan three years ago to a fentanyl overdose.

Since then, Fourre has dedicated his life to advocate against substance abuse.

“It’s never easier,” Fourre said on the third anniversary of Harlan’s death. “Through the Singing red bear foundation and the ‘No thanks I’m good campaign’ and going out and talking to the youth, it brings solace.”

“And it we can save just one young person, his death was not in vain,” he added.

Fourre has been in recovery for several years and advocating against supervised consumption sites, a system he has firsthand experience with.

“I was addicted; I used supervised consumption sites. I lived next to one in Edmonton. And what I saw repeatedly was that people did not travel far after they purchased drugs. They used near by,” Fourre said.

He believes that the answer to solving Manitoba’s ongoing drug problem is by focusing on a recovery plan for those with addiction.

 “I spoke with a young lady who just got out of the hospital because she overdosed. And she’s back because she’s got no place else to go. What we need is a real plan. A real recovery plan that will give people a way out,” said Fourre.

One longtime resident of the North Logan community is concerned with the location of the supervised consumption site and worries about a nearby playground.

 “How can that be 100 metres from that site. It doesn’t make sense to me. I raised kids here.  My daughter was born barely 200 meters from there. Today it took me a hard time to raise kids in the community. And that’s what we have to give kids a good opportunity and a good example,” said Isidro Zapata, North Logan resident.

In a statement to CityNews, Bernadette Smith, Manitoba’s minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, said, “Manitobans were clear when they elected our government that opening a supervised consumption site to prevent people from dying of overdoses is a priority. We are committed to that work, and we are committed to getting it right.

In the meantime, Fourre continues to advocate for recovery.

“Just remove the stigma. Don’t think of them as dirty or whatever. Just have that love compassion and empathy,” Fourre said.