The very first memorial bench, honouring those who have lost their lives due to drug overdose, will be unveiled in Salmon Arm on Aug. 31
Kayla Belcher is the organizer of the event, with the support of The Shuswap Family Center, Rise Up Indigenous Wellness, Moms Stop The Harm and local Interior Heath Mental Health and Substance Use team and Peer Engagement and Inclusion.
Belcher moved to Salmon Arm seven years ago, where she said she made major changes in her life and embraced recovery. She is focusing on building a career in the field of human services and as a spiritual medicine healer.
Her dream is to build this memorial bench beside the Howling Wolf Carving at the Shuswap Family Centre. Belcher said what sparked the idea was seeing Penticton’s memorial bench, and thought that Salmon Arm should have one too.
“There’s really no place of sanctuary or safety that people can just mourn their losses and having remembrance,” she said. ” I really wanted to follow the lead on that and see if that’s something we could have here in town.”
According to Belcher, the City did not approve the installation of the bench, but the Shuswap Family Centre provided their support and wanted to make her dream come true.
Belcher added that she reached out to the family centre for support during her own recovery journey. The Executive Director of the Shuswap Family Centre, Patti Thurston fully supported the idea of the memorial bench, and has provided a space outside dedicated to the bench.
Belcher wants to spread the message that addiction affects everyone.
“At the end of the day, we are all human and together and communities need to be supporting other communities and we can’t leave anyone behind,” she said. “It’s okay to go through these feelings and honour the ones that have unfortunately lost their lives to devastation.”
Belcher has a gofundme for the memorial bench where she shares more of her story. She is also selling hand-made baby moccasins from a local artisit with proceeds going towards the bench.
The ceremony will take place Sunday, Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Shuswap Family Centre in Downtown Salmon Arm.
