‘I can’t imagine doing this job without naloxone’: Recovery, outreach and harm reduction
Originally published on January 1, 2025. All data in this article may have been updated since the time of writing. "If I was ever at a risk of harming myself. That was it." Brandon Shaw thought he knew what to expect. He had detoxed from heroin and methadone a number of times, but this detox was different. Shaw spent 14 years on the streets, mainly in Edmonton. During his detox, he couldn’t swallow food and lost the ability to communicate. “I literally thought to myself, am I going to be like this for the rest of my life?” says Shaw. Shaw's mother, Angie Staines, exhausted every avenue and every resource available to ensure her son survived. She recalled staying by his side as he went through the turmoil, “And I remember...
The Latest
Final thoughts: online school work is more school work
I am lucky enough to have been able to do the entire fall semester from the comfort of my home. A typical school day for me meant waking up at whatever time sans alarm, brewing a whole pot of...
A spectre is haunting Edmonton
On the cold, snowy evening of Nov. 11, Sarah Spisak made the understandable decision not to brave the weather and the pandemic to get groceries for supper. “I was feeling lazy and decided to...
Second-hand shop – or swap – for the sake of the planet and your style
Employees are swapping out their suits for sweats and shoes for slippers as companies adopt work from home models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With few places to go and even fewer people...
Mental health during COVID
With the world turned upside down, it is no surprise that people worldwide are struggling to hold it all together. It has been almost a year since COVID-19 began spreading worldwide, and...
Final thoughts: can we “fix” Jasper Ave?
The car has always won on Jasper Avenue. Especially since its historic victory in 1951 when the streetcar system was dismantled, the car has enjoyed seven lanes (for most of its length) worth of...
Local holiday gift guide 2020
Edmonton is home to many creators and entrepreneurs, and now more than ever many are in need of support. We’d like to help you, help them! We’ve rounded up some of our favourite local brands and...
Shop local, stay safe
This year, the holidays are going to look a little different. With COVID-19 cases on the rise, we are doing more online shopping and visiting fewer malls. For those of us who still want to get...
The best warm holiday drinks
Let's face it, this year the holidays may end up looking a little different. Now that the current outdoor gathering limit for family functions is 15, what better way to celebrate and unwind over...
Holiday movie 2020 must-watch list
Holiday movies have expanded since the era of A Charlie Brown Christmas and the stop-motion version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Though some classics remain must-watches every...
End your day with a glass of wine, naturally
“Natural” is a buzzword used by healthy eaters and fitness fanatics alike, and it goes hand in hand with terms like “organic” and “pesticide-free”. These terms are intended to assure us that...
Jan 2024
CORRECTION: Varun Chandrasekar’s name was mispelled in the article “Is Alberta micromanaging its universities?” We regret the error.
CORRECTION: The photo of Simar Nayar’s BMW 335is is misattributed. The photo is by Leo, or @flickz.lp on Instagram. We apologize for the error.
Newsletter
Updates
