HIV West Yellowhead

10/15/2026

The effects of naloxone or narcan can wear off before the opioid does, and the person can slip back into overdose - always seek medical attention if someone is experiencing overdose, even after they have been given naloxone. Together we can 💜

10/14/2026

NALOXONE ISN’T JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS 💗

It’s for the toddler who found a pill at the park.
It’s for the teen experimenting.
It’s for the friend whose drink was spiked.
It’s for the loved one in a dark place.
It’s for the grandparent who double-dosed because of memory loss.
It’s for the stranger who collapses next to you.

Naloxone is for anyone. Because accidents don’t discriminate.

❤️ Carry it. Know how to use it. Save a life.

Free naloxone kits and training are available through Options HIV West Yellowhead.

10/11/2026

🍂🦃 THANKSGIVING OFFICE CLOSURE 🦃🍂

OPTIONS HIV West Yellowhead will be closed on Monday, October 12, 2026, for Thanksgiving and we will reopen with regular business hours on Tuesday, October 13th.

We’re thankful for the amazing people in our community and appreciate all of your continued support.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍁

10/10/2026

💚 World Mental Health Day – October 10

Mental health matters, and no one should have to face life's challenges alone.

At Options HIV West Yellowhead, we support individuals by providing a safe, non-judgmental space, helping navigate challenges, connecting people with community resources and mental health supports, and reducing barriers to accessing services.

💚 Everyone deserves to feel heard, valued, and supported.

10/09/2026

Don’t Forget! Our New Horizons for Seniors – Fall & Winter Program is here!

Looking for something fun to do this fall and winter? We have a great lineup of FREE activities for seniors and would love for you to join us!

Come try something new, learn a new skill, meet new people, and enjoy activities like watercolours, Reiki, chair yoga, meditation, reflexology, crafts, and so much more!

🎁 And there’s a little something extra! Participants have the chance to win weekly $50 gift cards and be entered into our bigger final draw!

📞 Spots are limited, so don’t wait to register! Contact Christine at 780-865-7134 to sign up or learn more.



📞 Spots are limited, register early! Contact Christine at 780-865-7134 to sign up.

10/06/2026

10/04/2026

Thankyou Andrea Woo for this article:
“A remarkable ruling in Canadian drug policy Tuesday: A B.C. Supreme Court judge has struck down a provision in the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), ruling that it violates the Charter rights of people who use drugs by preventing access to safer alternatives to toxic street drugs.

The ruling comes in response to a constitutional challenge by Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx, who were convicted of trafficking for operating the Drug User Liberation Front, a compassion club in Vancouver that provided drug users with such unadulterated alternatives.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Murray declared Section 5(2) of the CDSA – re: possession for the purposes of trafficking – to be “of no force or effect,” finding that it infringes on sections 7 and 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantee the right to life, liberty and security of the person, and equal protection under the law.

There are “no legally and practically available safety valves in the CDSA” to support a non-medicalized safer supply program, she said, summarizing what several expert witnesses had testified to.

Justice Murray suspended her declaration of invalidity re: Section 5(2) for six months to allow for legislative amendments. She also stayed the pair’s convictions. The federal Public Prosecution Service of Canada has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the ruling.

At the heart of the ruling is what Justice Murray found to be a fundamental contradiction in Canada’s drug laws: A prohibition intended to protect public health and safety can also criminalize actions that can reduce the risk of overdose. But a critic of B.C.’s approach to drug use said the decision fails to account for broader societal harms and called the judge’s praise of the pair “insulting” to police combating the criminal organizations behind the illicit drug trade.

People in the courtroom gallery cried as the judge read her findings and addressed Mr. Kalicum and Ms. Nyx directly.

“I applaud you for what you’ve done,” Justice Murray said. “I think you should be very proud of yourselves. It’s people like you who make a difference. And you just did.”

09/30/2026

🧡 Office Closure – September 30

Our office will be closed on September 30 as we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Today is a time to honour, reflect, listen, and learn. 🧡