WILD Collaborative Harm Reduction Services is looking for volunteers and is hosting an information session on Feb. 24.
The organization is based in B.C. and is a non-profit society aiming to shift how communities talk and engage in harm reduction measures.
"We are a peer-led and peer-run organization that looks to support folks across the spectrum of substance use, meaning folks don't have to identify with or see themselves as active/dependent users to engage in harm reduction measures," says Kaitlyn Nohr, the founder and co-owner of WILD. "We support individuals to feel and use safely while engaging in community events and music festivals and to increase their own understandings of safe practices. We also support organizers and attendees to address violence prevention and response as well as collaborative practices amongst and between safety teams."
The information meeting will be online, as the organization is regional, with people joining from across the Island.
WILD has a low-barrier volunteer recruitment process, and Nohr says they are always looking for and accepting new and returning volunteers.
"On average, we require about four to six volunteers at our smaller events and upwards of 40 plus at our larger events," she said.
The organization provides education and training organizations in Campbell River. They also attend local events such as North Island Pride and Community Conversations.
"We offer subsidized training options to any members of Campbell River regardless of their profession or background," Nohr said. "Our founder and executive director was raised in and currently resides in Campbell River, and two team leads for the organization are working professionals in the Campbell River region as well."
Anyone is welcome to attend the information session without any obligation to sign up.
"Of course, we encourage folks to register to volunteer with us, however, if individuals are just wanting to learn a little bit more about who we are and what we do, they are also welcome to attend," said Nohr.
The information session will include introductions to the team, the organization and community partners. The meeting will also go over what the 2025 event season will be like for WILD, its new and structured volunteer onboarding process and options for team lead and honorarium-based roles.
"We will wrap up with team expectations and 2025 event season sign-up," said Nohr.
The meeting will be on Zoom at 7 p.m. People can join by getting a link by emailing wildchrs@gmail.com.
