Since 2020, Urban Matters has been convening representatives from local governments and their key partners across Alberta to learn, share knowledge, and explore their unique and collective experiences of the impacts of the drug poisoning and overdose crisis. This work has focused on bringing together representatives and guest speakers to look at solutions being implemented across Alberta and Canada in order to understand the local government role in responding to the crises in the current socio-political climate of Alberta. A resource guide has also been developed to support local governments to unpack and understand the practical opportunities for them to get involved in responding to the drug poisoning crisis.

Impact:

While work at the local level is essential, so are collaborations between communities. Local governments impacted by the toxic drug supply are looking for ideas and tactics to address the crisis. Prior to this project, discussions were informal and based on existing connections. There was a lack of a coordinated, formalized approach to transferring knowledge between local governments and their partners as the efforts in those communities expanded, and the information gathered was limited to working on local initiatives. The Collaborative is focused on leveraging these existing informal connections and strengthening them. This has been achieved through a convening platform including multiple local governments and community stakeholders with the purpose of collectively building knowledge around the impacts of the drug poisoning crisis and what local governments can do to respond.