Victims of the fentanyl crisis were remembered Saturday at Deverill Park.
The Nob Hill Community Association hosted a barbecue, and as part of the event, a pair of memorial trees were unveiled with names of those who died due to overdose.
Dallas Forbes, from Courtenay, lost her partner Lamille Harder on Feb. 23 due to a fentanyl overdose and was in Nanaimo for the event. Forbes has two children, is pregnant with a third child and said it has been a struggle.
“He was found in a van in Cumberland … He’d been there for two days and I was devastated. I really didn’t know what to do. It’s been a struggle over the last four months, but we’re getting by,” said Forbes.
Forbes said she was glad to be at the event, meeting with other people in a similar situation. She is hoping more awareness is raised about the crisis.
Tanya Hiltz, association vice-president, said the event was put on for the homeless and low-income families.
“We did the memorial to help people ease through the pain of losing their loved ones,” Hiltz said.
Hiltz said the trees, as well as a plaque with the names of victims, will be installed at a food forest at Beaufort Park.