OTR4MentalHealth

A recap of walk #3 in Kingston.

Once again, the weather couldn't have been better!

Starting about 10 minutes late, I started the walk at Kingston City Hall with my walking buddy, Layla Hasan and her friend Ray.

The walk took me around Fort Henry where in the late '90s, my family set up our Celtic jewellery booth at the Kingston Celtfest. I have a great picture my daughter Chelsea McPherson and Aric with Natalie MacMaster which brought some fond memories (and a few tears) as I thought back to the innocence of a young, much happier Aric.

Afterwards, we made our way to the Integrated Care Hub - ICH, which had received an temporary exemption from the Ontario closures of the supervised consumption sites. This exemption isn't without conditions and is only until September. Thank you to the shift lead, Amber (hoping that I remembered correctly) for taking the time to speak with me and others who signed the banners. Please, if you see this, thank each and every staff member and harm reduction worker for the compassion that they bring into the lives of those using the Hub!

Much of the walk was exploring much of Kingston that I had never seen including Lemoine Point Conservation Area which is a beautiful oasis, in a beautiful city!

I have already posted about dropping in to Pedal Works Café & Studios on Princess Street but this place can't be mentioned enough. Check them out if you haven't already!

57,113 steps in memory of those lost to the opioid crisis since 2016.

Thank you to everyone in Kingston for your support, including the more than 500 reactions to a Facebook post on Kingston's 98.3 FLY FM!

Next up...
July 3 - Toronto - Ajax
July 5 - Belleville - Napanee

A short stop at the Integrated Care Hub - ICH . Yesterday was the last day for Supervised Consumption Sites in Ontario but the Hub gained an exemption until September, leaving it as the only SCS operating in Ontario.

Thank you to all the harm reduction workers, everywhere!