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11/13/2025

Unverified , November 13, 2025: A fatality related to fake Dilaudid pills.

We have received a report from a community source regarding a fatal overdose and awareness of a lot of fake Dilaudid pills in the drug supply in the region between Enfield and Shubenacadie in Nova Scotia.

Counterfeit pharmaceutical pills are in Nova Scotia:

• Counterfeit pills (fake or ‘pressed pills’) are potentially harmful - they are made to look identical to prescription pills, but they contain unexpected drugs and fillers
• Counterfeit hydromorphone tablets (D8s, ‘dillies’) may contain drugs like fentanyl, nitazenes, benzos or vet tranquilizers like xylazine or medetomidine.
• Fentanyl test strips only detect fentanyl – they do not detect nitazenes, hydromophone or other opioids.
• Naloxone will reverse an opioid overdose but not it won't reverse a benzo or tranq toxicity. CALL 911 and use naloxone – it won’t hurt someone and could save their life if it’s an opioid overdose.

It can be hard to tell if a pill is real or fake. Assume all drugs from the internet or street supply are fake and could be stronger than you expect.

Prepare for the unexpected:

✔ Use with a friend or call NORS (virtual spotting) 1-888-688-NORS – they'll stay on the phone with you and get you help if needed. Go to an Overdose Prevention Site:

• ReFIX Halifax: 2151 Gottingen St. (902-209-9370)
• PeerSix Sydney: 75 Prince St. (902-567-1766)

✔ Start low and go slow. Start with a small amount and see how your body reacts.

✔ Avoid mixing drugs – Combining opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol greatly increases the risk of overdose and death.

✔ Have naloxone ready – Naloxone can help with opioid overdoses, but it will NOT work on other substances, such as benzodiazepines. Even if you're unsure what substance caused an overdose, always give naloxone—it won’t harm the person, but it may help if opioids are involved.

🆘 If someone overdoses:

• Call 911 immediately – Tell them someone is unresponsive.
• Give naloxone if you have it. More than one dose may be needed if high potency opioids are involved. If there are no opioids, naloxone will be ineffective but will not cause harm – give it anyway.
• Stay with them and make sure they can breathe.
• If they stop breathing, perform CPR until help arrives.

You can get naloxone for free at most pharmacies and harm reduction programs.

Under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, you cannot be charged for drug possession if you call 911 to help someone overdosing. Do not be afraid to call for help.

Looking for help? You can contact:

• Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line – 1-888-429-8167
• Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868; Text CONNECT to 686868
• Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30; Tues and Thurs until 8 pm) - 1-855-922-1122
• 211 Nova Scotia - information and referrals to community and social services: Call 2-1-1 or 1-855-466-4994; Email: help@ns.211.ca

10/28/2025

Join us at The Hub for Hobby Day. This Wednesday from 10am - 12pm we'll be making and enjoying French toast 🍞 All supplies provided. We hope to see you there ☺️

Address: 101 - 5506 Cunard St. Halifax.

10/28/2025

Please know your health card number and expiry date 🧛‍♀️🧛‍♂️

10/10/2025

Meet Rita Joe: a “Gentle Warrior” whose poetry spoke truth, healing, and hope. Through her words, she reminded us of the importance of telling our own stories and passing them to the next generation.

“My greatest wish is that there will be more writing from my people, and that our children will read it. I have said again and again that our history would be different if it had been expressed by us.” - Rita Joe

Rita Joe was considered to be the Poet Laureate of the Mi’kmaq People. Born in 1932 in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia, Rita Joe’s poetry focused on, explored, and celebrated her Mi’kmaq identity. She wrote seven collections of creative work, some of which also spoke to her time at the Shubenacadie Residential School and her experiences afterward in reclaiming her language and culture.

Nicknamed as “The Gentle Warrior”, Rita Joe was known for her spirit of openness, resilience, and peace. Over the decades, Rita Joe received a number of awards and honorary doctorates for her work, gaining national and international recognition for the power of her poetry.

Her legacy lives on through her influence on Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, as well as in her importance to Mi’kmaw storytellers of many different mediums.

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For Mi’kmaq History Month, we’re highlighting Mi’kmaw storytellers who have shaped and strengthened our culture. Follow along to learn about them and tell us about your favourite storytellers in the comments below!

10/10/2025

09/30/2025

Truth and Reconciliation Day is a moment to reflect on a painful history and the resilience of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Residential schools forcibly removed generations of Indigenous children from their families, often erasing language, culture, and identity.

The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), finalized in 2006, was the result of decades of advocacy and legal action. It involved approximately 86,000 Indigenous peoples who had been enrolled as children in these schools. Survivors didn’t just receive compensation—they fought for their stories to be heard and for the truth to be documented.

The IRSSA also led to the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which collected survivors’ testimonies and works to educate all Canadians about the lasting impacts of residential schools.
Truth and Reconciliation Day is an opportunity to learn, listen, and reflect on the ongoing work of reconciliation—honoring the past while committing to meaningful action alongside Indigenous communities.

For more information, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Pictured: Nora Bernard (1935–2007)

Nora Bernard, a Mi’kmaq survivor of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, fought tirelessly for justice. In 1995, she launched the first class-action lawsuit on behalf of survivors, leading to the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA)—Canada’s largest class-action settlement.

Known for her courage, kindness, and determination, Nora spent twelve years ensuring survivors’ stories were heard and recognized. She passed away having seen her vision realized, leaving a lasting legacy of advocacy and resilience.

09/30/2025

📣 Important Notice: Closed for Regular Programming on Treaty Day – October 1st

We will be closed for regular programming on Tuesday, October 1st in celebration of Treaty Day.

To mark this important occasion, we will be offering a Traditional Salmon Dinner as a way to honor and celebrate the strength, culture, and resilience of Indigenous communities.

🧡 A heartfelt thank you to Listuguj First Nation for generously providing the salmon for this special event. We are deeply grateful for your support and partnership.

We invite everyone to join us in recognizing Treaty Day — a time for reflection, education, and celebration of treaty relationships and responsibilities.

09/16/2025

Day of Caring is happening today! Reps from Vital Statistics, Service Canada, Opportunities and Social Development, and CRA are here to support your needs. Drop in to get your photo ID, birth certificate, taxes filed, or talk to someone about Disability or Income Assistance, and register for a SIN or the Canada Dental Care Plan. Open today until 1pm.

09/12/2025

09/05/2025

What is the Day of Caring?
This is a FREE, positive and welcoming event. If you are unhoused, at risk of being unhoused, and/or underserved, you are invited to attend.
Services offered include:
• Birth Certificates
• Driver's Licenses
• Provincial ID
• Tax filing
• Social Insurance Numbers (SIN)
• Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
All at Brunswick Street Mission from 9am-1pm on Tuesday, Sept 16. Contact outreach@brunswickstreetmission.org or call (902) 809-5530

08/31/2025

International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to reflect, listen and learn. If you’d like to deepen your knowledge of harm reduction and the toxic drug crisis, we invite you to check out the resources below:

🔘 Anti-Stigma Toolkit: https://www.antistigma.ca/

🔘 CATIE statement on the need for a spectrum of substance use services: https://www.catie.ca/catie-statement-on-the-need-for-a-spectrum-of-substance-use-services

🔘 What makes Canada’s illegal drug supply dangerous: https://www.catie.ca/prevention-in-focus/what-makes-canadas-illegal-drug-supply-dangerous

🔘 Monitoring and responding to the unregulated drug supply: https://www.catie.ca/monitoring-and-responding-to-the-unregulated-drug-supply

🔘 Mobile Overdose Prevention Site (MOPS): https://www.catie.ca/programming-connection/mobile-overdose-prevention-site-mops

🔘 Responding to an Overdose in a Toxic Drug Supply: https://orders.catie.ca/products/ATI-80002