About the Conference
The annual Harm Reduction Conference is presented by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit with the support of the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy. The goals of the conference are to:
- Provide a forum for the safe and open exchange of ideas
- Share strategies and technical information that is evidence-informed
- Challenge myths, stereotypes, and stigma
- Encourage use of innovations locally for program development and implementation
- Provide a forum for networking; locally and regionally
The conference is intended for front line workers including outreach/harm reduction workers, educators, health care workers, enforcement/justice workers, social service providers, peer workers, emergency services, and those in management positions.
8th Annual Harm Reduction Conference
What to Expect? Forward Together: Leading the Harm Reduction Movement will explore revolutionary initiatives, services, groups, and individuals driving change by disrupting systems and implementing innovative approaches to harm reduction, while advocating for harm reduction in a landscape that can be hostile to its principles.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2024 - TICKETS AVAILABLE
6:30pm-9:00pm EST - Zoom
Pre-Conference VIRTUAL Film Screening: A Sobering Story Followed by a facilitated Q&A with Film Producers & Directors, Ryan La Via & Ryan Hill
Virtual Film Screening tickets are available for $17 +HST. Get your tickers here!
THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2024 - REGISTRATION FULL
9:00am-4:30pm EST - Italian Cultural Centre – Thunder Bay, ON
Full-Day, In-Person Conference
Conference Registration Fee: $140 + HST.
The Registration Fee includes the October 16 Pre-Conference Virtual Film Screening &
the October 17 In-Person Conference, refreshments, and lunch.
Students/Seniors (65+) Discount! Please email info@podium-events.com with student card or date of birth (DOB) to receive the 10% off promo code!
If you are a community member and require support with the registration fee, please email:
info@podium-events.com to inquire about the available bursary.
WAIT LIST AVAILABLE! To be added to the registration wait list, please register at: www.tinyurl.com/HarmReduction24
2024 Conference Agenda and Speaker Bios
Agenda
Please see the Harm Reduction 2024 Conference Program to view the agenda, biographies, and session summaries!
Keynote Speaker: Guy Felicella
Guy Felicella is an international speaker and drug policy reform advocate from Vancouver. He started coping with his trauma, an undiagnosed learning disability, and his emotional pain with drugs and alcohol at 12 years old, which escalated into a substance use disorder that left him residing in the Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for 20 years. Today, Guy has over a decade of recovery and uses his career and platform to advocate for trauma therapy, harm reduction, quicker access to treatment and changed drug policy. Guy is an inspiration to many and a fierce advocate for those needing a voice.
Past Conferences
- Harm Reduction Conference 2023 | Thriving Together: Building Stronger Helper Communities
- Harm Reduction Virtual Conference 2022 | Moving Beyond
- Harm Reduction Conference 2021 | Innovative Solutions
For Further Information
Please contact Marianne Bortolin, Podium Events & Consulting Inc. at info@podium-events.com for any questions about the conference.
For more information on harm reduction, please contact the Superior Points Harm Reduction Program by calling (807) 621-7862 or (807) 621-7861 (toll-free: 1-888-294-6630) or emailing harm.reduction@tbdhu.com.