BURSTNine years after losing his younger sister Jeni to the toxic drug crisis, Chadd Cawson is still finding ways to keep her memory alive.
On Aug. 31, Cawson will once again gather with members of the community for his annual memorial walk in Crofton, held on International Overdose Awareness Day.
The event began in Winnipeg in 2018, a year after Jeni died while living in Florida.
“She was great. Mother of two kids. She was a great mom. Great sister. Best friend, really,” Cawson said.
Jeni loved being near the water, something that has become a central part of the memorial walk. Even while living in Winnipeg, Cawson said the pair had many great memories being at the beach together.
Cawson was living in Winnipeg when he learned his sister had died, and said the first year of grieving nearly broke him.
“I actually tried to take my own life, and when it didn’t happen, I kind of took it as a sign that I needed to do something,” he said.
Eventually, Cawson moved to the Island and found himself drawn to the water again. While walking along the Crofton seawalk, he noticed that every bench had a memorial plaque except one.
That bench is now dedicated to Jeni.
The first year, the walk took place in Winnipeg and Cawson expected friends and family might come out to honour his sister. Instead, strangers showed up.
“The last thing that I was expecting or knew how to respond to and they were thanking me for creating this,” he said.
The memorial walk came with Cawson as he moved across Canada, continuing to be held near the water. Over the years, he said, the event has evolved from a larger call for action into more of a healing space for the many people impacted and connected to the toxic drug crisis.
This year’s event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the green space near the Crofton sign. Resources will be available, including naloxone kits and a demonstration on how to use them, along with purple ribbons, glow sticks and bracelets.
The evening will include performances by the Quwutsun Tzinquaw dancers, musical performances and remarks from North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas.
Cawson will also collect food and monetary donations for the Cowichan Valley Basket Society.
As the sun goes down, participants will walk along the seawalk towards the beach. A piece of driftwood painted purple will be available for people to write the names of loved ones they have lost to addiction. The group will carry the driftwood to the beach, where it will be placed in the water.
“It’s been nine years now. And it doesn’t get easier. And I don’t really expect it to,” he said.
Instead, he has made International Overdose Awareness Day a kind of annual tradition for remembering his sister.
“We don’t have any birthdays and Christmases and stuff anymore, but we have this day,” he said.
This year marks the 25th International Overdose Awareness Day. The theme for 2026 is “Still Needed” — a message Cawson said resonated with him after nearly a decade of organizing the event.
“Events like this are still needed,” he said.
For Cawson, that means continuing to say Jeni’s name, creating space for others to say the names of their loved ones and keeping the conversation going.
“If that awareness helps save a life, then even better,” he said.