6th Annual Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) National Conference
November 22-24th 2013
SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre
515 West Hastings
The Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy is excited to announce its 6th Annual National Conference, “Riding the Current Evidence”. This year’s conference will be focussed on moving towards an evidence-based and health oriented approach to drug policy reform. Held in the beautiful downtown Vancouver, the conference will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, interactive workshops, community tours and films exploring post-prohibitionist policies. Hosted by Simon Fraser University, the conference will bring together students, service providers, policy makers, educators and activists alike for an exciting and inspiring weekend!
In spite of overwhelming evidence supporting ending drug prohibition, policy makers in Canada continue to enforce harmful drug policies based on ideology. Our goal is to give youth and students access to information on the best practices and evidence regarding drug policy. We aim to provide support, opportunities for skill building and networking to effectively and meaningfully engage in political processes – whether on a local, provincial or federal level. Conference attendees will also learn about the impact drug policies have on communities across Canada and how these policies intersect with other social issues including housing, the environment, poverty, racism and colonization.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided on both days.
Sponsors:
Drug Policy Alliance
Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Canadian Harm Reduction Network
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Conference Schedule
Friday November 22nd
4pm-6pm Drug Policy Community Tours
Register Free Online: ridingthecurrent.eventbrite.ca
DTES Walking Tour with Donald MacPherson and Liz Evans
Meet at InterUrban 1 E. Hastings by Carrall
SensibleBC Bus Dispensary Tour with Dana Larsen SOLD OUT
The Medical Cannabis Dispensary (880 East Hastings Street)
Meet Downstairs by the SensibleBC Bus
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6pm Registration – SFU Harbour Centre
7pm Opening Keynotes:
Jessica Danforth, Native Youth Sexual Health Network
National Youth Coordinator, Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN)
When Drug Policy Reform Isn’t Enough:
Colonialism, Resistance, and Not Being ‘At Risk’ All By Ourselves
Donald MacPherson, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition
Building Alliances: Drug Policy Reform Across the Americas
8pm Social: Talented Tongues YouthCO @ 568 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Saturday November 23rd
9am Insite for Community Safety Tour 47 Cordova St W
9am-10am Registration and Breakfast
10am Morning Keynote:
Liz Evans, ED of PHS Community Services Society
Insite for Community Safety: 10 Years of Resistance
11:15am Break
11:30am Concurrent Sessions
1. Workshop: Media Activism and Drug Policy Reform
2. Panel: For Us, By Us: People Who Use Drugs Unite
3. Panel: Indigenizing Harm Reduction
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00pm – Keynote: Dana Larsen, Sensible BC
Moving from Decriminalization to Legalization
3:15pm Break
3:30pm Concurrent Sessions
1. Workshop: Using Art to Build Harm Reduction – Highlighting Our Relationships to Body, Land, Community and Family as Harm Reduction for Indigenous Youth
2. Panel: What’s next for Cannabis Policy in Canada
3. Panel: Nightlife Harm Reduction
3. Panel: Opiate Substitution Therapy & Human Rights
5pm Closing Reflections
5:30 CSSDP Annual General Meeting
Sunday November 24th
9am Registration
10:00am Opening Panel: What’s next for Drug Policy Reform in Canada?
11:15am Break
11:30am Concurrent Sessions:
1. Workshop: Crack is Back: Safer Inhalation 101
2. Panel: Psychedelics and Healing
3. Panel: Youth-led Peer Education
1pm Lunch
2pm Keynote: Missi Woodridge, Executive Director, DanceSafe
Evidence-based Nightlife Harm Reduction in North America
3:30pm Concurrent Sessions
1. Workshop: Pill Testing 101
2. Harm Reduction: from Research to Practice
3. Supervised Injection: Sanctioned and Unsanctioned
5pm Conference Closing Reflections
Transit Information:
The nearest SkyTrain station for SFU’s Vancouver campus is Waterfront Station, which is a brief walk from Harbour Centre, Wosk Centre, Segal Graduate School of Business and the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts.
Waterfront Station is also served daily by SeaBus from North Vancouver. The West Coast Express commuter train travels to downtown Vancouver from Mission, Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Central and Port Moody during peak hours, Monday through Friday. See www.westcoastexpress.com for a complete schedule. Current schedules, route maps and fares for bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express services are available at TransLink.