2021 - Vancouver - Holden Courage Memorial

Wandering the back alleys of Vancouver's Mount Pleasant community checking out Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) works. - one final mural shot. This one is not part of VMF.

The mural is one of two in Mount Pleasant paying tribute to Vancouver graffiti artist Holden Courage (AKA as Sefer), who passed away in 2015 at 21 from a toxic drug overdose. Sefer was Holden’s graffiti artist name.

The Sefer Project celebrates graffiti and includes the Holden Courage Memorial Fund for Artists supporting graffiti artists in Vancouver.

The project and fund were founded by Vancouver broadcaster Tara McGuire in memory of her son Holden Courage. The fund is coordinated by The Vancouver Foundation.

Annually a Holden Courage Memorial Graffiti Jam is held as part of the Vancouver Mural Festival.

ABOUT HOLDEN
Toxicology screening confirmed Holden died of opioid toxicity, otherwise known as a heroin overdose. To be more precise, an unfortunate mixture of alcohol and heroin. A combination of the two is often enough to slow and eventually stop even the youngest, strongest, and most beautiful of hearts.

BC’s ILLICIT OVERDOSE DRUG STATUS:
14 April 2021 marked the 5 year anniversary of BC declaring opiate drug deaths an emergency health crisis.

5 people are dying of an overdose every day in B.C., 5 years after a public health emergency was declared.

The BC Coroners Service said 7,072 people died of an overdose between January 2016 and the end of February 2021. Provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall declared the emergency on April 14, 2016.

The latest data shows a total of 329 people died in the first two months of 2021.

So far, 2021 is shaping up to be worse than 2020, the deadliest year on record for overdose deaths with 1,716 lives lost.

The average age of those dying from illicit drug toxicity is 43. Fentanyl or fentanyl analogues are now detected in 80 per cent of all deaths.

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increasingly toxic illicit drug supply and heightened anxiety and loneliness for many people with addiction issues.

Five years later with more deaths, no real, fulsome, safe supply of drugs and all the government seems to be doing is research and writing up plans that never come to fruition.

As B.C. marks five years since declaring a public health emergency due to opioid deaths, the provincial government has announced it will be making an official federal request to become the first province in Canada to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.

Decriminalization of drug possession and increased access to safer supplies are important initiatives but people with addiction issues also require help and supports.

Despite evidence-based solutions, models and best practices that have worked in other jurisdictions, the province and the federal governments have yet to move forward with policy changes and actions required to ensure access to regulated, pharmaceutical grade alternatives to the toxic drug supply.

Overdose deaths continue and illicit drug suppliers flourish with no defined solution in sight - unbelievable.

05 May 2021 - The Tyee.
Read more from Holden’s mother (Tara McGuire) here:

I Want to Tell You How This Feels:

thetyee.ca/Analysis/2021/05/05/I-Want-To-Tell-You-How-Thi...

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Taken in: Canada / British Columbia / Vancouver / Mount Pleasant (show map)

Taken on: March 5, 2021

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Sets appears in: • 2021 - Vancouver BC

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Camera: Apple iPhone 12 mini, f/2.4, 1/122 sec, 1.6mm, ISO 80 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Apple iPhone 12 mini
Aperture:	f/2.4
Exposure Time:	0.008 sec (1/122)
Focal Length:	1.6mm
ISO:	80
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Luminar AI
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