Over the past week I travelled more than 3,000 kilometres across British Columbia, spending over 40 hours on the road speaking with people affected by addiction, homelessness, crime, failed policies, and economic hardship. I travelled through Vancouver, Abbotsford, Hope, Merritt, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Williams Lake, Quesnel, Smithers, Salmon Arm, and Prince George to hear the stories many politicians and media outlets refuse to cover.
I want to thank the Mayor of Kamloops, MLA David Williams, frontline workers, and especially the families who welcomed me in and trusted me with their stories of loss, grief, and heartbreak caused by addiction and toxic drugs. As difficult as some of these interviews were to capture, I felt honoured to sit, listen, and help bring their voices to my viewers.
One story that will stay with me is Cassie, a 23-year-old woman in Prince George who moved into supportive housing hoping to rebuild her life. Instead, she says she found overdoses, open drug use, and an environment where addiction was easier to support than recovery.
Over the next week Iโll be releasing raw interviews and footage from across BC so Canadians can hear directly from families and people still trapped in active addiction crying out for help. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel DrewCouver for the full long-form videos and the serious work Iโm doing across this province.