There are 645 candles flickering in the lobby at the Interior Health Building at the corner of Doyle and Ellis in Kelowna. It's a travelling display called "Burning Bright". Each candle represents a person lost since January of 2016.
BC has seen some of the highest opioid death rates in the country, and a crisis was declared in the province in 2016, but the regional lead for BC's response said, we're in line with other regions in this sad trend.
"I actually think we have done a better job of declaring an emergency," said Corrine Dolman, "and really focusing and bringing attention to the issue."
The Candle display, is aimed at starting conversations and break down the stigma that goes with drug abuse.
"We want to continue to recognize the people who have died and not forget them," added Dolman.
Few people have felt the pain and loss that comes with drug-related deaths like Helen Jennens has. She lost her son Rian to an overdose, and then she lost her son Tyler too. "He was actually one of the first recognized fentanyl overdoses in January of 2016," said Jennens. She agrees, that people need to get past the stigma. "These are medical issues, not moral failings," she said.
The display is at the Kelowna Community health and Services Centre this week, the Vernon Library next week, and the downtown Kamloops Library for the week starting April 22nd.
