Harlan Fourre had finished work, he was out with friends, in a small NO THANKS... town bar about 35km from the Saskatchewan border. Harlan II’’MM GGOOOODD would have no idea that evening By Kelly Fredrick - Tri-Fund Field Coordinator and one decision would become the catalyst; turning his father into a lobbyist and educator; causing the Singing Red Bear organization to be created; and media across Canada reporting his story. Devastatingly, the wheels being set in motion that evening, would result in Harlan’s death days later. Harlan had worked his way up the ranks to become a master shingler, working a decade with the same roofing company. He was a hard worker, personable and well liked. Sadly, it only took that one social gathering with friends and an uninformed decision to take ecstasy that would cause things to change indefinitely. Harlan thought he had ingested ecstasy at the bar that night, but it was laced with fentanyl. A drug poisoning that caused irreparable brain damage. His father made the heartbreaking decision to take him off of life support days later. “The reason we went public is because I received calls, and the community had reached out to me; “We didn’t realize that Harlan was an addict,” stated Harlan’s father Joseph. Harlan wasn’t an addict, in fact, he was known by his boss and coworkers for notoriously turning down drugs, stating: “No, thanks, I’m good.” “There is a drug culture in Canada that has made people, especially young people feel a false sense of security, if they are taking recreational drugs, if it’s not heroin and they aren’t living on the street, they think they are safe. They think that death caused by drugs is outside of recreational use, that they are immune to death. In this country, with the exposure to drugs and fentanyl, there is no immunity. Recreational drugs can kill you,” stated Joseph. He continues, “I think about that night that Harlan was at that bar and wonder if Harlan had known the risk, had been made aware of the thousands of people dying from drug poisonings, if he would have stuck to his ‘No thanks, I’m good.’ This is drug poisoning, if you take something thinking it’s marijuana or ecstasy and it’s laced with fentanyl, that is drug poisoning.” “My son’s death should teach people, when it comes to drugs, nobody is safe. Harlan’s father (Joseph Fourre A lot of people will say that they know their dealer, but do you know your pictured above right) recently 29 announced the creation of the dealer’s dealer and their dealer and their dealer? Drugs are about greed and Singing Red Bear Foundation to 2 all they want is money, drug dealers aren’t your friend, ” Joseph explains. 0 further the work of awareness E U and change. To support the S Just like Harlan loved his job as a master roofer, Joseph explains, “This is S I campaign and join their annual | now my labour of love. That one decision that resulted in his death is now 4 walk - check out the Facebook his legacy and no matter how painful it is for me, I know that the end 2 0 page. 2 justifies the means. His life mattered and hopefully, it will save other lives.” R E B His legacy is making people aware, especially young Follow and support M E the “No Thanks, I’m T people, that it is o.k. to say “No thanks, I’m good,” P Good” Campaign on E it might just save your life. Facebook S