Turning Point
4611-50th Avenue T4N 3Z9 Red Deer, AB, Canada

Wishing everyone safety and warmth this weekend. However you end up spending your time, remember, you are loved.

This has been a year of incredible loss for our community. From family to friends, we've had to say goodbye to several special individuals whose passings are still difficult to grasp. While we're unable to pay tribute to each individual we've lost, we want to share this song with you, as the lyrics help articulate the sense of grief and confusion felt by many, while offering a sense of peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4dci4Z7p6A

What a superhero! With only two days to Christmas, Torren dropped by with a carload FULL of donation items for our community! Over the last few years, Torren and his family have supported local agencies across the province through their project, We Care Packages - Central Alberta. With the aid of local supporters, Torren was able to donate warm clothing items and individualized care packages containing hand-written notes showing just how much he cares . We're so touched by this act of kindness and see a bright future ahead!. Check out their Facebook page and show them some support .

Giving Tuesday is fast approaching and we're excited to be partnering with Volunteer Central, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce and Red Deer & District Community Foundation to celebrate this global movement on December 1, 2020! Be sure to check our social platforms in the days/weeks to come as we provide more on how you can get involved. #givingtuesday2020

A reminder that Giving Tuesday is just around the corner! On Tuesday, December 1, the donation items listed on the poster will be collected by community volunteers, with donations going to several charities within our Red Deer community - including us! Can't wait until December 1 to give your donations? Our friends over at Breathing Room Yoga Studio + Café are serving as a collection point and have a bin placed outside for collecting! Their Dates + Times of drop-off are as ...follows: Monday - Friday until December 1 from 8:30am - 12:00pm Our community partners: Red Deer & District Community Foundation, Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Central, & Breathing Room Yoga Studio + Café

Interview with Dr. Ellaine Hyska and MSTH co-founder Petra Schulz on the newly released data system to track overdose deaths.

A reminder that Naloxone freezes, so make sure to store your naloxone in a warm place. In need of Naloxone? let us know. Need training or a refresher on how to properly administer Naloxone? Training is free and available to everyone.

Special thank you to One Good Deed and the Village of Delburne for once again showing us how much you care for the vulnerable communities throughout Central Alberta. These care packages go quick!

We're speechless. This morning we received another incredible gift from Jaydas annual cupcake fundraiser, and words can't express our gratitude for her and ALL of those who've supported her along the way. Not only was an incredible $1,000 cheque collected by Jayda for Turning Point, but numerous blankets from ZuBizu Designs and other essential items were also collected and brought to our office. The opioid crisis, COVID-19, freezing temperatures, and societal stigma are just ...a few of the extreme obstacles currently facing our community, and selfless acts such as these go a long way in making a positive impact in someone's life. Thank you for showing us what the true meaning of Christmas is and for supporting our mission towards a healthier, safer community for all. Wishing a VERY Merry Christmas to you .

"This is a national public health emergency". Good for the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) for recognizing that barriers to Harm Reduction services and Safe Consumption Sites only escalate the ongoing opioid crisis. Harm Reduction Is just that... It reduces harm to you, us, and everyone else.

Because it's National HIV Testing Week, we want to highlight a couple of the clinics in our community that are still accepting HIV and other STBBI testing appointments. Please remember to call in and book your appointments before visiting.

Following the Province's latest COVID-19 update, our Turning Point team will be moving into cohorts until November 27, 2020 (or further notice). ? While we are maintaining our regular hours of operation (Monday-Friday | 9:15 am-12 pm, 1 pm-4:30 pm), you may experience longer wait-times and delays to regular programming, supports, & services. This also means a temporary pause on all in-house volunteers. This is all done in an effort to keep you, our staff, and our communities safe. We appreciate your continued understanding and flexibility at this time.

At Turning Point, we know addiction as many different names and faces. We recognize that addiction is unique to each individual, just as we've all had unique life experiences that have led us to where we are today. We're also aware of the stigma associated with addiction. Stigma has a major impact on the quality of life of people living with addiction - especially those with substance addiction. We see the impacts of stigma every day, creating barriers to those seeking heal...th and social services. While we don’t have the power to change one’s past life experiences, we can work to reduce the negative impacts of stigma by changing the language we use when talking about substance use. #ChangeBeginsWithMe

A huge round of applause for the Gord's Smoke Shop community! Not only did they deliver a load of snacks, blankets, and warm clothing items for our clients, they also donated the $315 raised through their Fall raffle. Huge thank-you to your crew and your customers for supporting our community.

Unsure of your HIV status? HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are more common than you might think. Don't risk your health or the health of a partner. Get tested at your local clinic.

We want to take a moment to honour in memory the transgender individuals in our community and around the globe who've lost their lives to acts of anti-transgender violence. We also want to support our trans friends and family, calling for an end to on-going violence and advocating greater community awareness and education. Looking for more information, educational resources, and/or supports? In addition to confidential Harm Reduction services, Turning Point offers Gender & Se...xuality information sessions to the public upon request. We also recommend the following local agencies: - Trans and Non-Binary Aid Society - TANAS - Youth HQ | Qmunity - Trans Equality Society of Alberta - Trans Wellness Initiative (TWI)