This picture was taken on March 3rd, 2003, when our group did a 'showing' of our documentary, and participated in a Question and Answer session with members of the BC Parliamentary Caucus in Victoria, BC.  The picture includes most of the participants of the film plus the director, and includes the BC Parliament buildings in the background.  This picture shows the Director, all four mothers, one father, and two of the young people from the documentary.
 

One of the causes I champion led me to a great group. It also led me to participate in a very powerful documentary that was televised nationally, and which has already won an award (phenomenal and awesome response).

One bio of mine says:
"Semi-retired mother of five, grandmother of seven, worked previously in the Media (CBC), and more recently as a legal secretary. Youngest son became a drug addict. Son has now been on the methadone program for several years, since his best friend (since early childhood) died at the age of 19 from a drug overdose. This death, and the struggles and horrors of trying to learn  about and cope with a child with a drug addiction and with so few resources, led me to "From Grief To Action" (family and friends of drug users)."

I think wherever life takes me, I will always be "an activist for drug law and policy reform."

First aired on CBC Newsworld:  Passionate Eye on November 17th, 2002  (Click here for more...)
Rebroadcast on CBC Newsworld:  Passionate Eye on May 18th, 2003   (Click here for more...)
Rebroadcast on CBC Newsworld:  Passionate Eye on November 24, 2003
Aired locally (edited version) on CBC - Docs on the Coast (Channel 3) on July 31st, 2003   (Click here for more...)

Directed by Vancouver filmmaker Nijole Kuzmickas.
Produced by Force Four Entertainment in association with CBC Newsworld.
Commissioned by Catherine Olsen,  the series producer for CBC Newsworld's The Passionate Eye.

Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund created by the Government of Canada and the Canadian cable industry, Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program, CTF: Licence Fee Program, British Columbia Film Television and Film Financing Program, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, CanWest Western Independent Producers Fund.
Produced with the financial participation of RDI (Le Réseau de l'information) and CBC British Columbia.
Produced by Force Four Entertainment Inc. in association with CBC NEWSWORLD www.newsworld.cbc.ca © Force Four Entertainment Inc, 2002.

Awarded the "Golden Sheaf Award" from Yorkton Film Festival for "Best Social Documentary" in May 2003.
It's on the Yorkton Film Festival web site at:   http://www.yorktonshortfilm.org/winners.htm

Copies for institutional use (schools, treatment centres, addictions service agencies, libraries, etc) should be ordered from:
George Christoff at Filmwest,
2399 Hayman Road, Kelowna, B.C. V1Z 1Z7
Telephone:   250-769-3399
Cost: $80.00

From Grief to Action is a story about courage.  The courage comes from the drug users and families who lay bare their encounters with drugs and bring us with them through the many trials and the infrequent tribulations that follow.  From Grief to Action will splash cold water on the faces of middle class parents who think “it can’t happen” in their families.

It is also a story about people, though deeply bruised by the drug problems confronting family members, muster the strength to push for reform of a seriously dysfunctional system of laws and policies built around drugs.  Rather than remaining victims of a system that criminalizes their family members, they are pressing for the drug problems they encounter to be viewed from a health and social perspective.  As they do, they are bringing enlightened politicians with them.

This documentary addresses a serious gap in our thinking about drugs.  It shows users as human beings with problems, not as deviant criminals.  It will make viewers question whether our current criminal justice approach to drugs serves any useful purpose.

Bio:
Eugene Oscapella, Barrister and Solicitor, Ottawa, Canada.   Mr. Oscapella completed undergraduate studies in economics at the University of Toronto in 1974 and received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa in 1977.  He obtained his Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1979.  He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1980.

From 1980 to 81, Mr. Oscapella served as a commission counsel with the McDonald Commission of Inquiry into the RCMP.  From 1982 to 85, he was Director of Legislation and Law Reform for the Canadian Bar Association.  Since 1985, Mr. Oscapella has been an independent adviser to government and private sector interests on Canadian legislative and public policy issues.

Mr. Oscapella was associated with the Law Reform Commission of Canada over a 14 year period, and was the first chairman of that body's Drug Policy Group.   Mr. Oscapella is a founding member of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, an independent organization created to examine Canada’s drug laws and policies.   For several years he sat on the policy committee of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association.  He lectures on drug policy issues in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa and has lectured and been published widely in Canada and abroad on drug policy issues.

Vancouver Election November/2002 (coverage on "As It Happens" by Alan Garr)...
To the surprise of many, drugs have hijacked Vancouver's civic election campaign. Mayor Philip Owen's plan--which includes safe injection sites for addicts--is all the candidates are talking about. Alan Garr is covering the election for the Vancouver Courier. He's in his office.  (Listen here...)
Excerpt - Alan Garr:  " The majority of people in Vancouver support Phillip Owen's four pillar approach, there's no question about that.  And increasingly they support safe shooting sights. What really turned it around though there, is this incredible group called From Grief To Action.  It's a group of West-Side, which would mean upper middle class, parents of children who are addicted.  Amongst those people you have crown counsels, university professors. These people stood up and said "Look, this is not just a downtown eastside issue.  Our kids are addicts too.  I'd rather have my kid shooting up in a safe injection sight than shooting up in a dirty alley."  And that has really turned this city around.  I think it's given Owen some backbone, Phillip Owen, our mayor, some backbone in his crusade, and it certainly pushed the opinion polls way over in favour of this policy."

Speaks for itself.  One of FGTA's initiatives and early projects, completed and now available, thanks to several contributors and many hard-working volunteers.  A resource to assist family and friends to learn more about drug addiction.

Written especially for parents, families, and friends who are struggling with drug addiction, this kit suggests ideas and strategies for helping with the day-to-day issues.  Also includes factual descriptions of various drugs and their effects, and a list of local contact numbers for possible resources.  This kit can also be used by teachers and health care workers.

powered by  bravenet.com