‘Desperately missed’ victims honoured as B.C. marks 10 years of toxic drug emergency

By Wolfgang Depner Supporters gather for the Sadness and Rage rally to mark the 10th anniversary of the declaration of the public health emergency for the overdose crisis in the province at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito Paula Beardy said her grandson Sheldon Beardy was a good kid. He would have turned 28 on Monday. But his mother died last year, and after attending her memorial service in August, Sheldon also died of a drug overdose. Paula Beardy said Sheldon used to stay with her a lot and she misses his happy smile. “He was always very helpful,” she said. “He helped me around the house or go shopping. He was a good kid, but he did take fentanyl once in…

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