Parents of 13-year-old who died in B.C. homeless camp share their story in Ottawa
The parents of a 13-year-old girl who died of a suspected drug overdose in an Abbotsford homeless camp have shared their heartbreaking story in Ottawa, as they call on the government to improve addiction and mental health care for children and teens.
Sarah MacDonald and Lance Charles arrived back at Vancouver International Airport Wednesday morning, believing their time in Ottawa had made a difference.
“I believe that we took the committee by shock. Our statement, our testimony was very, very powerful,” said Charles.
The couple had been visiting Ottawa to speak to the federal Standing Committee on Health about the loss of their daughter, Brianna MacDonald.
“Brianna had…over twenty recorded suicide attempts. She tried to overdose on prescription drugs that she would steal. Over time, you could see she started going down a very dark path,” Charles, who was Brianna’s stepdad, told members of the committee.
Tragically, Brianna would not find her way off that dark path of spiralling mental health and drug use. The services she needed to get better hadn't been available, said her parents.
“Brianna’s father and I would beg doctors to keep her in hospitals. The doctors would overlook what we said and release her, sending us home with Narcan kits,” Charles said.
Brianna MacDonald died in late August, alone in a tent in a homeless camp.
In September, her close friend, 13-year-old Mission resident Chayton Point, would also die of a drug overdose.
“He had a very hard time dealing with the fact that Brianna was gone,” Charles told MP’s during his presentation.
Point’s parents previously told CTV News that despite ongoing efforts, they could not find the help they needed to save their son.
Brad Vis, the Conservative MP for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon, was one of those in attendance when Brianna’s parents spoke to the committee.
“The Government of British Columbia and Canada signed a special agreement for decriminalization of hard drugs in British Columbia,” Vis said.
“Is it your experience that it became easier for children to get drugs since decrim began? And how did Brianna generally get her drugs?,” he asked Charles.
Charles said his step-daughter received drugs from other teens and that the decriminalization of drug use and possession of drugs had increased the drugs coming to the province. "It lowered the prices. It made it easier to acquire," he said.
Mission’s mayor, Paul Horn, said it’s sad that young lives have to be lost for the conversation over mental health and addiction to move front and centre.
“I know how difficult it is to access services, support services, for our young people. I learned that first-hand as a parent myself,” he said.
Horn said his community was twice turned down for funding for a centre that would provide all-encompassing services for youth, so now Mission is trying to take action on its own.
“We set aside a million dollars now to do our own, locally developed youth mental health centre,” he said.
Meanwhile, Charles told the committee that, “It hurts every day thinking about this situation because I think if Brianna had access to the proper mental health, she’d still be here today.”
Brianna MacDonald’s parents are optimistic that their time in Ottawa will help raise awareness and bring about change.
“No treatment for mental health and you end up getting issues with drugs because they (teens) don’t have any way of battling these demons and voices in them,” Charles said.
Brianna’s parents believe she would want her story told as a means to help others.
“We miss her, very much. And we apologize that we couldn’t fight harder,” said an emotional Charles.
“I hope she’s proud of us for what we’re doing,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
As Hurricane Milton makes landfall, more than 1.6 million customers are left without power in Florida
The Category 2 storm has left 1.6 million homes and businesses without power in Florida as Milton pummels through the state.
Company must refund $1-million deposit after failing to complete West Vancouver home on time, court rules
A West Vancouver company has been ordered to repay a homebuyer's $1-million deposit after it failed to complete construction on the property in time.
Did John Rustad witness an overdose death on his way to the B.C. leaders' debate?
During the campaign, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad has repeatedly said people are "dying on the streets" in the province – and on Tuesday he claimed to have witnessed that very thing in downtown Vancouver while he was on his way to the leaders' debate.
Washington state woman calls 911 after being hounded by up to 100 raccoons
Sheriff's deputies in Washington's Kitsap County frequently get calls about animals -- loose livestock, problem dogs. But the 911 call they received recently from a woman being hounded by dozens of raccoons swarming her home near Poulsbo stood out.
video Why are there cars in the Detroit River?
Dozens of cars were pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor on Tuesday, causing many questions for Windsorites.
Biden, Harris condemn storm misinformation ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
President Joe Biden warned on Wednesday that Hurricane Milton carried incredible destructiveness and urged people to take safe shelter while condemning misinformation about the storm as un-American.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
'We want things to go forward': Bloc leader hints his party 'might' help end House impasse
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois says his party 'might play a role' in helping the Liberals get House of Commons business rolling again — after days of Conservative-led debate on a privilege matter — but that his assistance would come at a cost.
Pilot dies aboard Turkish Airlines flight, forcing emergency landing in New York
A Turkish Airlines jetliner headed from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after the captain died on board, an airline official said.