Bass Coast Festival is constantly developing and refining its approach to harm reduction and festival well-being. We take a progressive approach to harm reduction and aim to keep attendees safe on site and empower our peers to positively influence their health and safety year round.
In 2018 we started offering drug checking on site with support from the non-profit harm reduction organization, ANKORS. And this year we expanded these services by bringing on board British Columbia Centre on Substance Use and BC interior-based ASK Wellness Society Bass Coast Festival's harm reduction team added 30 more volunteers this year, increasing coverage and capacity.
The numbers are in and we feel this is the most successful year for Bass Coast Festival harm reduction yet. 2019 saw:
- 110 harm reduction volunteers keeping people safer on site, including in the car lineups, at stages and in camping areas
- 198 people checked into the sanctuary space for support
- 680 drug samples tested
- 2000 earplugs distributed
- 3 workshops presented on topics including partying sober, harm reduction tips and consent at music festivals
- 1756 condoms distributed
- 1250 packs of lube distributed
- 2856 visits to the resource area for information and safer partying supplies
- 4 partnerships with harm reduction organizations: ANKORS, ASK Wellness, BC Centre on Substance Use & Good Night Out
"I want to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work and commitment to keeping people safe on site, especially my co-manager Farrah and our amazing community partners," says Stacey Forrester, Bass Coast's Harm Reduction manager. "And thank you to the Bass Coasters for looking out for one another and bringing people to the sanctuary who were in distress. You all contributed to our most successful year yet."
Do you have feedback regarding your experiences with Bass Coast harm reduction? Watch for a survey being emailed out to ticket holders this week and give us your feedback.
And remember to keep an eye on Bass Coast's website and our social media channels for more harm reduction tips and information throughout the year.
