Greg Hemminger

Greg Hemminger is a phenomenal individual whose impact on the substance use care system can be felt across the province. Greg is seven years removed from an opioid addiction and has dedicated immense time and effort to serving and improving the system that saved his life. Not only does Greg work full time as the Lower Mainland’s regional coordinator for the Tailgate Toolkit Program, an innovative project that aims to provide harm reduction resources and education for people in trades, but he sits on advisory committees with multiple organizations and travels around the province as a public speaker and educator. Greg’s passion for not only improving the system, but consistently speaking to the patient experience in care through a positive lens brings much needed strength and levity to an otherwise incredibly challenging space to work in.

Greg holds many positions in a variety of settings, all centered on his experience as a person with lived experience. He was first connected to Health Quality BC for the OAT Journey Mapping day. Since then, he has been an advisory and faculty member to both the Learning about Opioid Use Disorder (LOUD) Collaboratives: LOUD in Primary Care and LOUD in the Emergency Department 2.0 as. He has spoken at multiple LOUD in PC Learning Sessions and Webinars, never failing to encourage the clinical teams in their OAT prescribing and reminding them of their value in the health system. Greg has enthusiastically chosen to participate in multiple LOUD in the ED 2.0 Working Groups as well, hoping to lend his insight to the improvement work aimed at establishing Employed Peers in the ED as well as improving OAT Access for everyone.

Greg has been a member of BCCSU’s Persons With Lived/Living Experience (PWLLE) committee for over a year. Their experience of working with him is described by their team lead, Nirupa: “In my time working with Greg, I have found him to be an eager and passionate advocate. He always remains positive and solution-focused and as a person in recovery, he invites a unique perspective to the PWLLE committee which ensures a broader representation that improves the outcome of our work. Because Greg is so open and trusting when sharing his experiences, he creates space for others to do the same and does a wonderful job of validating others while making them feel valued.”

Since Greg joined Tailgate Toolkit, their outreach has expanded significantly across the Vancouver area. They have successfully established a presence in various construction sites, engaging with workers in their professional environment, and have found traction in boxing gyms, connecting tradespeople with fitness enthusiasts. Perhaps most notably, they have extended their reach to treatment centers, providing support and resources to individuals on their recovery journey.

His colleague and friend with the Tailgate Toolkit Program, Mika, had the following to say about Greg:

“Despite his impressive skills and accomplishments, he remains remarkably humble, never seeking the spotlight for himself. Always ready with a helping hand, Greg eagerly jumps in to assist on projects big and small, often going above and beyond without being asked. His quick wit and playful sense of humour brighten even the most stressful days at the office, as he has a knack for making everyone laugh with his well-timed jokes and lighthearted banter. Perhaps most importantly, Greg is a constant, reliable presence – the person you can always count on to be there, whether you need professional support or a friendly ear. His genuine care for his coworkers and dedication to fostering a positive work environment make him an invaluable member of the team.” Greg’s involvement has been instrumental in Tailgate Toolkit’s expansion, helping to penetrate these diverse settings and effectively communicate with a wider audience.

Greg’s contributions to improvement work with large scale change projects can be felt in many parts of BC’s health system, and he described his love for this work after being invited to join the LOUD in the ED Collaborative:
“As I’ve shared with Chelsea and others in the past, working with LOUD and Health Quality BC is probably my favorite work. I struggle to articulate how meaningful the work that you do truly is. You can always count on my participation going forward. I only wish I could collaborate more with your organization as your focus and scope is a passion of mine. Thank you for including me and always making me feel that my contributions are truly valued. Given where I’ve been, I cannot tell you how meaningful it has been to be a contributor to important work that you do.”