August 2025 News & Notes

Here's what's going on at CAI

International Overdose Awareness Day 2025 – BC Events

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) — a global event held each year to raise awareness about overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of families, friends, and communities left behind. Around the world, events inspire action and encourage dialogue on evidence-based overdose prevention, drug policy, and compassionate support.

The 2025 IOAD theme — “Together we can” — is a call for unity and shared responsibility.

Click here to read the full list of IOAD events across BC

From CAT to NaloxHome: An Interview with Chloe Goodison 

We sat down with Chloe Goodison to learn about her journey from the Youth Committee of the Tri-Cities Community Action Team (CAT) to becoming the Founder & Executive Director of NaloxHome Society. Here’s her story:

"Growing up in Port Moody, I had never encountered the concept of an overdose. I knew about the Downtown Eastside, but it felt distant, like it wasn't something my community needed to worry about. Everything changed one day in high school while riding the SkyTrain. I noticed someone who looked familiar; their fingertips were turning blue. Someone called 911, but no one around recognized the signs of drug poisoning."

Click here to read more

Impact Stories

CAI’s funded programs change lives in profound ways. Behind every data point is a person, a family, and a community impacted by the work we support. These stories capture the human side of that impact—showing the courage, resilience, and transformation made possible through CAI’s investments.

Click here to read about how Watari’s counselling program helped to transform “S.C.”’s life.

CAI Job Postings & Call for Board Members

Job Posting: Project Manager
This position will support the coordination, implementation, and administration of a range of projects and funding initiatives, including managing the distribution of grants and bursaries. In this role, the Project Manager will contribute to project planning, stakeholder engagement, training, evaluation, and knowledge sharing activities across multiple portfolios.

This is a 12-month contract position reporting to the Executive Director. Please submit your resume along with a cover letter, clearly documenting how you satisfy the requirements outlined in this job posting to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 26th. The subject line should mention “Project Manager – Contract”. 

For more details, please click here.

Job Posting: Communications Specialist
This position plays a key role in producing graphic and visual communications that tell CAI’s impact story across its diverse programs and initiatives and to further advance advocacy efforts.

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter, clearly documenting how you satisfy the requirements outlined in this job posting to [email protected] by 5 p.m. Friday, August 29th. The subject line should mention “Communications Specialist”.

For more details, please click here.

Call for Board Members
CAI's Board of Directors is currently seeking expressions of interest for 2-3 new volunteer Directors who are willing to let their name stand for election or appointment to the Board. The role of CAI’s Board is to steward the organization by determining, monitoring, and ensuring appropriate organizational performance.

For more details, please click here.

External Community Opportunities & Resources

• CCSA (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction) is hosting a series of webinars focused on answering questions about improving substance use health at the community level: Summer Webinar Series | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• A resource from Moms Stop the Harm for organizing and hosting your own International Awareness Day event: International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) 2025 — Moms Stop The Harm
• A new blog by First Nations Health Authority: Mental health is an important part of everyones overall health and wellness
• New work from Health Justice BC raises important considerations around involuntary treatment and brain injury: The Realities of Involuntary Treatment with Brain Injury — Health Justice
• On September 18, join for a free webinar to learn how to use data to create an effective fundraising strategy. Fundraising Basics for Small Nonprofits: Using Data to Create an Effective Fundraising Strategy

News Articles

• Article: Mission group uses art to push for social change - Mission City Record 
  “Hope is a verb – it's an action – and it's definitely what we need to keep us going.” 
• Article: Local partners launch Project Connect to uplift health through social connection - Delta Optimist 
  This summer, the Delta Community Action Team (DCAT) launched Project Connect, a community-wide initiative that promotes wellness, reduces isolation, and strengthens the safety nets that support us all. 
• Article: Construction trades launch peer-support program to help workers facing mental health challenges | CBC News 
  Current and former workers are training to help tradespeople, who suffer high rate of mental health concerns. 
• Article: Toxic drug deaths in B.C. down in May, June, coroner says | CBC News 
  The number of deaths due to toxic drugs fell to below 150 people per month for May and June in British Columbia, according to B.C.'s coroner, a downward trend from the same months last year.