The Community Action Team (CAT) Knowledge Exchange aims to accelerate local action being taken to address the overdose crisis through increased connection among and between CATs. Providing a virtual space for learning and networking to bring diverse voices together and amplify the leadership of peers.

2021 Events

Video Recordings – March 17, 2021

Below you will find the recordings from the CAT Knowledge Exchange session on March 17, 2021. Click on the text to see the video, a short description and any resources specific to that part of the event. Recordings of the presentations from the Chilliwack and Abbotsford, Penticton, Comox Valley and Fort St. John CATs are coming soon!

Listen to the opening of this session including a few words from Aggie and Shlomish, CAT elders and knowledge keepers for this work, and Justine Patterson on behalf of the Overdose Emergency Response Center.

Thanks to Connie, Andrea, David and Angela for sharing their CAT’s work setting up virtual Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) in the community.

Thanks to Faith and Stephanie for sharing their CAT’s work to support drug testing in Penticton!

The Comox Valley CAT gave an overview of three projects including peer-to-peer outreach, drug testing and the Brave/Be Safe harm reduction App. Watch the recording below and check out the supporting resources!

The Fort St. John team came together for a conversation following the event. Thanks to Nancy, Shawn, Pamela, Troy, Lyric, and Heather.

  1. Introductions (00:00-01:40)
  2. History of the CAT since it launched in 2018 (01:40-09:00)
  3. Peer’s experiencing arriving at the CAT table (09:00-18:50)
  4. In what ways, as a peer, do you feel supported by your CAT? (18:50-26:45)
  5. How can you assist the CAT in regards to harm reduction? What can we do better, with the help of peers, on the topic of harm reduction? (26:45-35:00)
  6. Can you give an example of ethically engaging peers, as opposed to a time when you have felt tokenized? (35:00-50:40)
  7. What changes need to happen with our CAT this year? (50:40-1:01:10)
  8. Closing remarks (1:01:10-1:03:17)

Video Recordings – October 29, 2020

Below you will find the recordings from the CAT Knowledge Exchange Event on October 29, 2020 for specific parts of the event. Click on the text to see the video, a short description and any resources specific to that part of the event.

We are honoured to have Syexwaliya, a Squamish Elder and knowledge keeper for the Council, join us to open the CAT Knowledge Exchange Event in a good way.

Learn more about the team at the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, including Kate Harris, Katie Fajber and Anthony Gagne, and how we became involved hosting this event.

Justine Patterson, Executive Director for the Overdose Emergency Response Center (OERC) welcomes CATs to the Knowledge Exchange Event and highlighted the importance of the work CATs do locally.

Hosts provide a background on the CAT Knowledge Exchange and how to use Zoom. Participants practice leaving a virtual breakout room and are reminded that unexpected things happen sometimes when meeting online and that we are all learning together.

Reminders to take care of yourself and others, even when meeting online. Hosts go over the virtual safety plan and the supports that are available to participants during the event.

Liberating structures are introduced and participants experience the first liberating structure of the day, Impromptu Networking, as a way for individuals to meet each other and start forming a community at the start of the event.

An incredible panel of peers discussed the following prompt: what does meaningful peer engagement look like in Community Action Teams?

Moderator: Guy Felicella

Panelists: Erica Thomson, Heather Spence, Jennifer McDougall, Kerry Watters

Wise crowds is a technique used to unleash the wisdom of the group! Participants were divided into groups in which one volunteer shared a challenge they faced and then listened as the group offered insights and suggestions.

Mad Tea is a way to generate reflections from the whole group all at once!

Sam Bradd from Drawing Change shares the graphic recording that he has been working on through the event.

See finished version of the graphic recording for the whole event and the graphic recording of the panel.

In closing, Colleen Kennedy, Executive Director at the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, shares some reflections and thanks everyone for coming. The event is concluded and participants are reminded to stay connected with us at substanceuse@bcpsqc.ca.

Graphic Recordings