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November 5, 2010
NANAIMO – It is with mixed feelings that the Planning Committee for the Harm Reduction Symposium announces that Walter Cavalieri, founder of the Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force and the Canadian Harm Reduction Network will replace Benedickt Fischer as keynote speaker at the December 6th symposium being held in Nanaimo.
Mr. Fischer recently informed the Planning Committee that an unexpected event and opportunity has him out of the country in December and he offered his sincere apologies to the symposium organizers. While the planning committee regrets that Mr. Fischer is unable to join the symposium, the organizing committee is excited about Walter Cavalieri’s upcoming address.
For over 20 years, Mr. Cavalieri has been actively engaged in harm reduction program delivery, program development and research. Since 1999, he has been working with the University of Toronto’s HIV/AIDS research unit, initially to conduct qualitative and ethnographic research with people who use drugs and, and currently, to develop and pilot a peer delivered, street-based mental health outreach program. His research on community-based harm reduction in Canada is available on the internet at www.canadianharmreduction.com/project. For the past 15 years Walter has been involved in bringing a community perspective to the education and training of physicians at the University of Toronto, and for ten years he was employed as a personal counselor for students at Ryerson University. Mr. Cavalieri will be presenting at the 8th annual Harm Reduction Conference in Texas later this month.
The Symposium is accepting registrations until December 3 and costs $75. The early bird rate ends November 8 where delegates can save an additional $25. Registration is available on-line at http://narsf.proreg.ca.
The aim of the forum, which takes place on December 6th, is to:
- Exchange ideas and strategies that incorporate harm reduction principles and practices into direct services, public policy and individual lives;
- Promote dialogue to increase understanding and acceptance of attitudes towards addictions and mental health;
- Encourage culturally safe harm reduction approaches Aboriginal People; and,
- Give symposium participants opportunities to build on innovative practices on Vancouver Island.
The symposium is open to Public Health, Mental Health & Addictions, Community Service Organizations, First Nations’ Organizations, Government, Law Enforcement and community members with an interest in harm reduction.
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Media Contact:
Gordon Cote
Director, NARSF Programs
Phone: 250-754-2773 |
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