This 5-part webinar series features conversations about hospital-based OPS/SCS sites from across Canada, highlighting different models and approaches to implementation/advocacy. This series is part of the Safer Harbours Study, led by Dr. Tommy Brothers, with funding support from Research Nova Scotia.
Webinar 1: St. Paul’s Hospital (Vancouver, BC)
Tuesday, September 8th, 2026
Moderated by Dr. Tommy Brothers
Speakers: Naomi Watt, Serena Eagland, and Ian Haynes
Related resources
About St Paul’s Hospital OPS and about Rain City
2022. Doherty, E., et al. Implementation of a nurse-led overdose prevention site in a hospital setting: lessons learned from St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. Harm Reduction Journal. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-022-00596-7 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-022-00596-7
2022. Nolan, S., et al. Harm reduction in the hospital: An overdose prevention site (OPS) at a Canadian hospital. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109608
Webinar 2: Vancouver Island Unsanctioned Hospital OPS (BC)
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026
Moderated by Dr. Tommy Brothers
Speakers: Dr. Jess Wilder & Dr. Ryan Herriot
Related resources:
Pop-up Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) Toolkit: Guidelines and Notes from Vancouver Island. Created by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy. Dec. 2024.
Webinar 3: Casey House (Toronto, ON)
Tuesday, October 13th, 2026
Moderated by Dr. Tommy Brothers
Speakers: Christene Stevens and Jen Bordin from Casey House
Related resources:
- Take a tour of Casey House's SCS
- Casey House Commentary - September 2026. Inside outpatient care - supervised consumption services
- Big F*cking Deal is a short film that explores the stigma and systemic inequality that people experience when living with HIV and additional challenges. Even though HIV can be medically managed, stigma and inequality continue to determine who gets consistent, safe care. When living with HIV includes facing mental health challenges, substance use, unstable housing, or discrimination, treatment can quickly become impossible to maintain. The film brings those lived realities to the surface, showing how a treatable condition can turn into a life-shaping crisis. The creative idea began with a simple insight: we often see unhoused people and look away. The film helps humanize those we disregard, especially the people for managing HIV without a strong support system. By fully inhabiting Jordan’s life, the story shows love, joy, loss, and deterioration, not as a moral failure, but as the result of stigma, shame, and eroding mental health. The film engenders empathy by showing how easily any life can unravel.
Webinar 4: Fraser Health (BC)
Tuesday, October 20th, 2026
Moderated by Dr. Tommy Brothers
Speakers: Jennifer Conway-Brown, Erin Gibson, and Tara Jeeves.
Jenn and Erin are managers for the toxic drug response portfolio at Fraser Health. They both oversee the implementation of harm reduction programming, including supply distribution, drug checking, and the SCS/OPSs. Erin also manages the Episodic Overdose Prevention Service (EOPS) and Jenn oversees the regional overdose outreach team. Tara is an EOPS staff member who works in acute care at Fraser Health.
Related resources:
Tarnow, J., et al. (2025). Exploring the role of peers in addressing the toxic drug crisis in emergency departmentsWebinar 5: Royal Alexandra Hospital (Edmonton, AB). CJEN. 48(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.29173/cjen248
Fraser Health Authority. 2025. Overdose Prevention Site Manual PPH - Toxic Drug Response. View.
Webinar 5: Royal Alexandra Hospital
Video will be posted after the webinar.
Tuesday, October 27th, 2026
Moderated by Dr. Tommy Brothers
Speakers: Dr. Karine Meador, Dr. Sheri Klassen, & Dr. Kathryn Dong
