Yukon Government suspects overdose as cause of death of individual who died while visiting the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.

Thursday, 10 October 2024 15:42

Whitehore Emergency Shelter (Photo by Panebi Wilson)

The deceased individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, succumbed in one of the Housing First units at the downtown facility

According to territorial health officials, a suspected overdose was the cause of death for an individual who passed away last week while visiting a permanent supportive housing unit at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.

The Department of Health and Social Services confirmed notification of the incident, which occurred on Monday September 30, through an email statement from spokesperson Thibaut Rondel.

The deceased individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, succumbed in one of the Housing First units at the downtown facility.

Authorities, including the RCMP and Yukon coroner, have been notified and are conducting an investigation. In response, Health and Social Services is collaborating with Connective, the shelter's operator, to enhance harm reduction measures and safety protocols.

A request for comment from Yukon RCMP was redirected to the Yukon coroner's service, which declined to provide information at this time.

This incident follows a coroner's inquest into the deaths of four Indigenous women at the shelter between 2022 and 2023, which yielded eight recommendations aimed at improving policies, staff training, and independent review of future incidents.

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