If you’ve passed by Tyee Spit in Campbell River recently, you may have noticed an overwhelming sight—tens of thousands of tiny flags blanketing the grass.
The powerful display is part of the Blue Hat Memorial Project—50,000 Flags, a community-led initiative created by Campbell River artist and City Councillor Ron Kerr.
Each flag represents a life lost to the opioid crisis in Canada.
In total, 36,000 of the flags are blue, symbolizing the men and boys who have died from unregulated drug overdoses since 2016—about 75% of the country’s total opioid-related deaths.
The other 14,000 purple flags stand for the women and girls lost during that same time.
“It’s overwhelming that we as a society have become numb to this,” said Kerr. “Which is why these visuals are so important—to understand the immensity of this loss.”
Volunteers assited with installing the display alongside Kerr from April 11th to 13th, with the official opening taking place on Tuesday, April 15 at 10 a.m. Members of Campbell River’s City Council and the Wei Wai Kum Nation were in attendance.
“The site of this installation, ʔUxstalis, has been a home to Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ families for generations,” said Chief Chris Roberts. “The opioid crisis continues to devastate Indigenous communities across Canada. That’s why we’re joining the City of Campbell River to advocate for more government investment in treatment and recovery.”
This is the fourth installation of the Blue Hat Memorial Project, which has also appeared outside Campbell River City Hall, at the foot of the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, and on the Nanaimo waterfront.
According to BC’s latest coroner’s report, Campbell River ranks second in the province for overdose deaths per capita.
“This is our reality,” said Mayor Kermit Dahl. “We have to keep this conversation going. Every single flag out there represents someone who mattered.”
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