The Campaign to Prepare an Opioid Response Hub in Peterborough

Light The Way Campaign – The Afterglow

In an amazing campaign that generated contributions from all across the community, the Light The Way to $160K campaign reached its target within two and a half months of its launch. The funds raised helped to renovate the Opioid Response Hub at 220 Simcoe Street (former Greyhound station) in downtown Peterborough.

Over a hundred donations from individuals, local businesses, professional associations, churches, a number of endowed funds held at the Community Foundation, and a grant from the City of Peterborough all combined to achieve the campaign’s goal. Fourcast, along with its community partners, extends its most heartfelt gratitude to those who supported this effort and who continue to be invested in a health centre that offers wraparound services and supports.

We Still Welcome Donations

While the official campaign reached its conclusion at the end of November, donations are still being accepted by the Community Foundation on behalf of Fourcast and the partners related with the Opioid Response Hub.

Any additional funds will go directly to continuing to prepare the site for opening. We’ve also established a fund geared towards providing the support some clients require to reduce the financial barriers that may prevent access to care (e.g. transportation costs).

Again, thanks so much for helping to Light The Way and get us to this point. In the face of a growing opioid crisis that is affecting communities across the country, our community needs this response hub more than ever.

Why 220 Simcoe Street?

The site of the former Greyhound bus station is the most practical location for an Opioid Response Hub. To have the greatest impact, it’s important to provide these services in close proximity to the population who need it most. The standalone building is accessible and, more significantly, is within a kilometre of every social service and support agency in the city of Peterborough.

This is a Health Issue

There is significant stigma attached to the issue of the opioid crisis. Some frame the matter purely as a ‘drug problem’ that affects only marginalized communities. In fact, it is better characterized as a ‘health issue’ that reaches far beyond the perceived demographic and is growing increasingly acute, as the data illustrate below.

The Need is Now

With addiction, a poisoned drug supply, overdoses and a number of opioid-related deaths in our community, the need for a dedicated site is more essential than ever. The Light the Way to $160K campaign will help prepare the site at 220 Simcoe Street to provide critical services now. It will also ready the location to accommodate a Consumption and Treatment Services Site in the event provincial funding is secured.

How You can Help

While a soft campaign has to date already helped raised over $25,000 for this effort, our Light the Way to $160K campaign is a more formal initiative. To donate online, please use the CanadaHelps form below.

Alternatively, cheques can be made out to Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. Please put, ‘CTS Fund’ in the memo and either mail to or drop off at:

Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough

261 George Street North, Suite 202, Peterborough, ON K9J 3G9

Thank you for your consideration and generosity. Please follow the campaign on the social channels (#LightTheWay #LTW160K).

Partner Organizations

In addition to Fourcast addiction counselling, this initiative is a collaborative effort that includes several frontline health-focused agencies: PARN – Your Community AIDS Resource Network, Peterborough 360 Degree Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC), The Mobile Support Overdoes Resource Team (MSORT), and Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS).

For this campaign, Fourcast is collaborating with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (CFGP). The strength of their reputation and capacity to help this effort reach a wider audience improves the likelihood that we achieve our goal with greater speed and certainty. We’re pleased to make the most of this opportunity.