Advocate to return ‘disingenuous’ award after mayor’s opposition to Vancouver overdose prevention site

published on May 6, 2026 by Simon Little in CBC News

A prominent harm reduction and recovery advocate says he’s returning an honour bestowed upon him by Vancouver’s mayor amid a political battle over a proposed overdose prevention site (OPS) in the city’s downtown core.

Two years ago, Mayor Ken Sim proclaimed May 29, 2024, as “Guy Felicella Day,” citing Felicella’s education and advocacy work on harm reduction and recovery amid the toxic drug crisis.

But after Sim announced his intention to try and block Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) from reopening the Thomus Donaghy OPS at a new downtown site, Felicella says the mayor’s words and actions don’t match up and that he’s giving the proclamation back.

“This award is disingenuous and doesn’t mean anything any more,” Felicella told CBC News on Wednesday.

“I don’t like being made a prop.”…