SOYA founder asks for compassion on Overdose Awareness Day

Connie Raynor-Elliott is fed up with how some residents use social media in Sault Ste. Marie, particularly those who upload photos of locals struggling with substance use disorder and homelessness.

That was one of several issues the founder of SOYA (Save Our Young Adults) addressed during her speech on International Overdose Awareness Day, which took place at the Memorial Wall outside City Hall on Saturday.

Recognized annually on Aug. 31, the campaign is aimed at ending the drug poisoning crisis while remembering those who have died.

Raynor-Elliott has felt disheartened by the divide she senses has worsened on issues surrounding addiction, and she took the opportunity this afternoon to call on Saultites to show a little more compassion.

“We have to get rid of the stigma — dead people can’t ask for help,” she said. “I’m watching our city divide and it’s breaking my heart. You see it online — all of a sudden there’s a picture of somebody pushing a shopping cart. Really? Do you know that person? Do you know their story?

“Our city is pretty compassionate, but it really frustrates me when you see a picture,” she continued. “Have a little bit of a heart, quit posting pictures. They’re literally bent over and you took the time to take a picture — but did you call 911?”

As SooToday reported last month, data released by the Office of the Chief Coroner showed that Sault Ste. Marie had the highest opioid-related death rate in Ontario during the first three months of this year.

Thirteen opioid toxicity deaths were reported in the city between January and March of 2024, up from eight during the same three-month period last year.

And as more names were added to the Memorial Wall in 2024, Raynor-Elliott noted the display doesn’t fully represent the community’s tremendous loss of life.

“We have a lot of people on this wall, and this is only a third of the people that we’ve lost,” she said. “We started moving names to the other side. I really want to shut it down, but we can’t until we get the services that we need.”

“My dream is to shut SOYA down,” she added. “I don’t want SOYA to exist anymore. I don’t want us to be needed.”

On Aug. 20, Ontarians learned of the Ford government’s decision to ban new supervised consumption sites, which ended hopes for a Sault facility.

But for the addictions and mental health agencies that do exist in town, Raynor-Elliott took the opportunity on Overdose Awareness Day to express her appreciation for their work.

“Our agencies are working their butts off,” she said. “Their staff is tired. We really need to work together. I know we can do this because Sault Ste. Marie is amazing, we’re strong, and we don’t stop fighting.”

Raynor-Elliott was joined by Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and Sault MP Terry Sheehan during Saturday’s formal portion of the memorial.

Shoemaker lobbied hard for a supervised consumption site to be built in the city and made it a key part of his election platform.

Now, he promises the city will do everything it can to advocate with the minister of health and improve the existing services that are offered locally.

“It really is a shame that we have to rely on groups like SOYA in absence of the proper funding from the ministry of health for addiction outreach and services,” he said. “But SOYA is filling a critical need in our community. Thank you to everyone who contributes to SOYA and contributes to the betterment of our community.”

Following the ceremony, attendees headed over to the Roberta Bondar Pavilion for a free event that included a barbeque, live music and agency representatives.