Vigil to honour Manitobans lost to overdoses on Aug. 31

Winnipeg Free Press

12 hours ago

Devin Ramdoyal had a gift for connecting with people, devoting close to 500 hours as a volunteer at St. Amant.
But while Devin brought joy to others' lives, he struggled with mental illness since childhood and turned to drugs to self-medicate.
Devin's life ended on Feb. 7, 2021, when he overdosed at the age of 22.
Supplied photo
A vigil honouring loved ones lost to overdoses will be held at 8 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Pembina Fisher Park.
Sandra Ingram, Devin's mother, described him as 'the light of her life.'
'He was my beautiful boy and my only child,' she said. 'This could happen to anyone. Nobody sets out to be an addict.'
As she navigated her grief, Ingram connected with parents who also lost children to overdoses and became involved with Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH), an advocacy group of Canadian families affected by substance use-related harms and deaths.
A retired communications professor, Ingram channelled her pain into action. She became the first facilitator in Winnipeg for Healing Hearts, an MSTH bereavement support group that meets once a month at Riverview Community Centre. She now chairs the local planning committee for International Overdose Awareness Day.
For the second year, a vigil will be held on Aug. 31 at Pembina Fisher Park.
Purple flag markers will memorialize the Manitobans who fatally overdosed in 2024. Manitoba Justice's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported 570 suspected substance-related deaths in 2024.
The event starts at 8 p.m. with a speaker introducing the sponsor, MSTH. The candlelight vigil will begin as the sun goes down.
Some attendees will share stories, while others may simply state the name of a loved one who passed.
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The vigil is open to anyone who wants to show support.
'Overdoses are happening in every community — in your own backyard. The more stigma is broken down, the better chance we have to help those in need,' said Ingram.
Ingram's message to parents is clear. 'Be aware that any child who is different — whether that's a learning disability, mental illness or non-heterosexual orientation — is more at risk. With all the pressures of daily life and social media, it's sometimes too much. Get your kids the help and support they need.'
For those using drugs alone, the National Overdose Response Service (nors.ca) is a confidential, anonymous phone-based service that acts as a virtual safe consumption site.
For more information, visit momsstoptheharm.com
Candice G. BallLord Roberts community correspondent
Candice G. Ball is a community correspondent for Lord Roberts. Email her at [e-mail]
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