Gord Portman, left, is seen accepting a cheque from former Penticton mayor John Vassilaki in June 2022. Portman raised more than $8,300 for a memorial bench to commemorate victims of the opioid crisis.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Gord Portman
August 31, 2023 - 4:30 PM
A memorial bench has been unveiled in Penticton to commemorate the lives lost to the opioid crisis.
A ceremony was held Thursday, Aug. 31, International Overdose Awareness Day.
The idea for the bench came from Gord Portman who struggled with addiction and homelessness.
“When Gord Portman came to council and asked for the City of Penticton’s support to honour, recognize and remember those who have lost their lives to this deadly crisis it was such an easy decision to get behind,” Penticton Mayor, Julius Bloomfield said in a media release.
Through fundraising efforts, Portman raised more than $8,300 to cover the costs of making the bench, with the city paying for the rest.
“When I started this project, I had lost 104 friends to overdose and now it’s up to 127,” Portman said, recalling the pain of losing his best friend to an overdose. “Brad and I grew up together. He was number one on a waitlist to get into a treatment centre. He was eight months clean and relapsed in a Walmart bathroom and died.”
The bench has an interlocking design to represent the woven fabric of a community. There is an empty space in the middle which separates the seats, symbolizing the isolation and loneliness of those struggling with addiction.
The memorial is also symbolically located in an area of Penticton where Portman used to sleep rough.
“It’s a perfect location for people to come,” Portman said. “Sometimes you just need a moment of peace so you can remember the good times and help wash away some of the sadness.”
Mayor Bloomfield said the bench sends an important message to the community.
“The impact of the opioid crisis is far-reaching and strikes across all social and economic lines. It is a symbol of our shared responsibility to work together to build a stronger and more connected community,” Bloomfield said.
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