National Safer Supply Community of Practice

08/14/2026

Women, trans, and gender-diverse people experiencing gender-based violence often navigate multiple and intersecting challenges, including homelessness, drug use, and poverty. Many are also navigating the criminal legal, family policing (‘child protection’), immigration, and other government systems.

In response, shelters across Ontario are adapting their practices to reduce barriers, expand access, and better support shelter participants with complex and intersecting needs.

The HIV Legal Network’s Responsive Shelter project highlights practical, low-barrier approaches emerging across shelter settings. While this initiative builds on our work with Ontario’s Violence Against Women (VAW) sector, the practices featured here are relevant across emergency, drop-in, transitional, and supportive shelter models. The page is designed for shelter operators, advocates, service providers, and community partners seeking to expand access, reduce harm, and strengthen safety through trust-based approaches.

Learn more here: https://www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/responsive-shelter/?lang=en

08/14/2026

What happens at the intersection of mental health, substance use, and incarceration in Nova Scotia?

Join us for our next Research Spotlight Webinar featuring Dr. Laura Beach and Fern Hatcher, Jessi Janes, and Rachel Avery from NECHC’s Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) Team.

Hear key findings and recommendations from this important research on lived and living experience, gaps in care, release planning, housing, and continuity between custody and community.

🗓 Thurs. Aug. 20
🕛 12 pm ET / 1 pm AT
🔗 Register via our website or https://bit.ly/4wUZTcf

website: www.substanceusehealth.ca

.ca

08/13/2026

Read about our Fall Webinar Series on hospital-based OPS/SCS and upcoming Research Spotlight webinars exploring the intersections of incarceration and substance use health.

You’ll also find new community and clinical resources, research hot off the press, upcoming events, and more.

Find it all here: bit.ly/4qdeHQY

08/10/2026

Today is Prisoners' Justice Day. Our statement and related resources is available on our website. Link in comments.

07/22/2026

Tomorrow - Wednesday! This is going to be a great conversation! Bring your curiosity, creativity, and questions and lets think about things like What would public health messaging look like if we centred pleasure? How can we support first responders to provide trauma-informed approaches to overdoses? and more!

Breaths, Naloxone, and the Politics of "Coming To" - Pleasure, overdose response, and why it matters how people are revived

Join us Wednesday July 22nd at 1 pm ET for our next webinar.

Dr Geoff Bardwell (University of Waterloo, Drug Lab) and community partners are discussing research conducted in Kitchener and Galt ON. They spoke with people who use drugs about getting high, overdosing, and 'coming to' afterward. And their stories didn't fit into neat categories of 'good' or 'bad'.

A key topic in the discussion we will have is about how people 'wake up' - what it's like to come to with breaths compared to coming to with naloxone.

In the context of supervised consumption services closing in Ontario and other parts of Canada, this conversation will explore what may be lost when people no longer have access to spaces where overdose response can be grounded in care, dignity, and choice.

Join us by registering:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ihrZ3fBSjKSBx7czvAMjg

07/22/2026

If you are impacted by the wildfire situation, ONWA has supports available, including water, food, toiletries, hygiene kits, cultural items, diapers and formula. We have air conditioning, internet, laptops and other resources available at 380 Ray Blvd. If you need help, call ONWA’s Intake line at 1-800-667-0816

07/16/2026

Have you registered for this yet? It’s going to be a great discussion!

Breaths, Naloxone, and the Politics of "Coming To" - Pleasure, overdose response, and why it matters how people are revived

Join us Wednesday July 22nd at 1 pm ET for our next webinar.

Dr Geoff Bardwell (University of Waterloo, Drug Lab) and community partners are discussing research conducted in Kitchener and Galt ON. They spoke with people who use drugs about getting high, overdosing, and 'coming to' afterward. And their stories didn't fit into neat categories of 'good' or 'bad'.

A key topic in the discussion we will have is about how people 'wake up' - what it's like to come to with breaths compared to coming to with naloxone.

In the context of supervised consumption services closing in Ontario and other parts of Canada, this conversation will explore what may be lost when people no longer have access to spaces where overdose response can be grounded in care, dignity, and choice.

Join us by registering:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ihrZ3fBSjKSBx7czvAMjg

07/14/2026

Breaths, Naloxone, and the Politics of "Coming To" - Pleasure, overdose response, and why it matters how people are revived

Join us Wednesday July 22nd at 1 pm ET for our next webinar.

Dr Geoff Bardwell (University of Waterloo, Drug Lab) and community partners are discussing research conducted in Kitchener and Galt ON. They spoke with people who use drugs about getting high, overdosing, and 'coming to' afterward. And their stories didn't fit into neat categories of 'good' or 'bad'.

A key topic in the discussion we will have is about how people 'wake up' - what it's like to come to with breaths compared to coming to with naloxone.

In the context of supervised consumption services closing in Ontario and other parts of Canada, this conversation will explore what may be lost when people no longer have access to spaces where overdose response can be grounded in care, dignity, and choice.

Join us by registering:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ihrZ3fBSjKSBx7czvAMjg

07/14/2026

Wow - our webinar last week was POWERFUL! Did you miss it? You can watch it here: https://www.substanceusehealth.ca/what-happens-when-care-gets-taken-away-stories-sanctuary-and-loss

Speaker: Travis Peddie (AB), Sam Mackey (AB), Ashley (SK), Akosua Gyan-Mante (ON), Alexandria Gonidis (ON), and Johathan Chuck (ON)

Moderator: Zoë Dodd, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions

July 9th, 2026

07/07/2026

Responding to Police in Health Service Settings: Know Your Rights, Protect Your Clients is a practical resource for health service providers in British Columbia seeking to reduce police interference in healthcare settings and the lives of their clients.