From addict to entrepreneur, the owner of a soda company in North Vancouver, will be sharing his struggles and his successes to an audience in Maple Ridge.
Kirk Buxton, founder of Kirk's Probiotic Soda, will be the key speaker at this years Speaking Through The STORM event at the ACT Arts Centre – an evening hosted by Stop Overdose Ridge Meadows, or STORM, revolving around meaningful discussions about the toxic drug crisis.
Buxton spent years struggling with drug abuse until one day in 2017 when he decided he was going to end his life – he took off his seat belt while driving along the Sea to Sky Highway and then drove into a rock wall.
According to his website and an online article by Richard Forzley with Kitsbeach Magazine, he survived the crash and put his efforts, instead, into changing his life around.
Buxton entered into recovery and would eventually become a chef at the treatment centre.
He started learning about probiotics while trying to deal with bloating, low energy, and mood swings, and began experimenting with water kefir, a probiotic drink made from combining sugar water and water kefir grains, finally creating a soda that he turned into a successful business.
At the event he will focus around his personal lived experiences as an addict and his transition off of the streets into recovery.
"I will also offer a perspective on what it will take to bring an end to the crisis," noted Buxton.
Jerrica Hackett, with STORM, said this year, as well, they have been working with tow of their own peers, who work directly with their team in Maple Ridge.
"They will both be sharing their stories- discussing substance use, stigma and resilience," said Hackett.
Last year, the inaugural Speaking Through the STORM event, featured speaker and advocate Guy Felicella who shared his story.
STORM is a Community Action Team serving the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie and Kwantlen regions.
Community Action Teams are funded through the Community Action Initiative's Overdose Emergency Response Centre's funding stream, explained Hackett.
"We aim to provide a community-based response to the toxic drug crisis. Working on a local level, we bring together the organizations, supports and services that serve our area and work directly within this crisis," she explained.
Speaking Through the STORM takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at the ACT Arts Centre, 11944 Haney Place.
Tickets are free and available on Eventbrite.
A catering spread will be available from Kanaka Kitchen, and donations will be accepted for the STORM's outreach program, including: gift cards, winter apparel, hygiene items, and non-perishable snacks like granola bars, fruit snacks, or fruit pouches.
