For six years of my late-youth, from age 19-25, I struggled with severe intravenous addiction - bred from feeling not good enough and trying to find acceptance in a subcommunity.

Other substance users around the shelters had no problem welcoming me to their scene - I quickly became involved on the streets where I hung out every day and night.

During that time I accessed daily supports at Operation Come Home + Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa + Ottawa Innercity Ministries - their programming save my life.

I found myself living at the Shepherds of Good Hope on King Edward, accessing St. Joe's Supper Table as well as Ottawa Food Bank, and various Narcotics Anonymous groups - these services saved my life.

And a big shout out to Ottawa Public Health's Site Needle and Syringe Program, which would deliver clean needles and safer use training - this may have been the most essential service in saving my life.

Stayed at the Ottawa Withdrawl Management Centre detox multiple times to try and get clear if the substances. So many years of trying and relapsing - this facility saved my life.

I ended up getting referred to CAMH in Toronto for their progressive harm reduction in-patient program, as abstinence is not what I needed to recover - their open minded views helped me love myself more and saved my life.

I ended up moving to Toronto where I went for ongoing weekly support for my eating disorder Stella's Place, and found an amazing hub for at-risk youth called SKETCH Working Arts where I had my my first Toronto art show at the Toronto Media Arts Centre - these safe places saved my life.

It has been a wild ride filled with soooooooooo many ups and downs - I mega proud of myself - I couldn't have done it without the community.

Thank you to everybody who has believed in me over the years, and has supported me in bringing more rainbows, hope, and joy into the world 🌈🩷✨