ManitobaThe Manitoba government says it hopes a new memorial outside the provincial legislature will help preserve the memory of people who have died from drug overdoses.570 substance-related deaths reported in Manitoba in 2024Arturo Chang · CBC News · Posted: Aug 29, 2025 6:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoAttendees placed tobacco offerings around a newly unveiled memorial stone at the Manitoba Legislature, honouring lives lost to drug overdoses in the province, at a ceremony on Friday. (Ron Dhaliwal/CBC)The Manitoba government says it hopes a new memorial outside the provincial legislature will help preserve the memory of people who have died of drug overdoses.Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith unveiled the memorial stone at a ceremony Friday afternoon.Text inscribed on the small monument in French and English says the stone is “in memory of Manitobans lost too soon to drug overdose. May their stories and spirits live on through those who grieve.”The memorial is northwest of the legislative building, in front of a showy ash tree the province planted last August for International Overdose Awareness Day.”Grandfather memorial stones are a way to honour the lives of loved ones,” Smith said at the ceremony.”This memorial stone has been placed to commemorate the lives of our friends, families and loved ones whose lives have been tragically lost to the overdose and toxic drug supply, toxic drug crisis.”Text inscribed on the small monument in French and English reads: ‘In memory of Manitobans lost too soon to drug overdose. May their stories and spirits live on through those who grieve.’ (Ron Dhaliwal/CBC)Last year, 570 people died substance-related deaths in Manitoba, according to provincial data. The province says 1,678 such deaths have been reported between January 2022 and February of this year.”Each life represents someone whose loved one is missed. They may be gone, but they’re not forgotten,” Smith said.Michael Pierre, executive director of Indigenous services with Manitoba Justice, led a prayer song as people placed tobacco offerings around the stone.”I, too, have been touched by overdoses and loss of life for my relatives,” he said. “That loss and that pain is real.”Pierre said he hopes people continue bringing offerings for years to come.With files from Ron Dhaliwal
Province unveils memorial honouring lives ‘lost too soon’ to drug overdoses
