In HSABC’s inaugural Instructor Roundtable, host Sarah Kift brings together an extraordinary panel of frontline leaders, clinicians, peers, and harm reduction advocates to talk candidly about the realities of homelessness, health, and overdose response work in 2025.

Calling in from across multiple Indigenous territories in BC and Alberta, the panel shares grounded introductions shaped by decades of experience in nursing, palliative outreach, substance use health, peer leadership, emergency medicine, and policy advocacy.

Together, they explore:

• The current harm reduction climate — what’s shifted, why so many workers feel exhausted, and how political backlash, under-resourcing, and misinformation are shaping front-line realities.
• Workforce challenges — high turnover, lack of training and mentorship, moral distress, and the impacts of long-term crisis response.
• Peer-led leadership and community wisdom — especially the unique strength and expertise of people with lived experience.
• Sustaining ourselves in the work — how seasoned practitioners recognize bias, regulate burnout, and stay grounded in compassion even in moments of frustration or grief.
• Why they’re still here — small victories, community, reframing, and a shared commitment to dignity and safety for people who use drugs.

This conversation is honest, nuanced, and deeply human—offering both validation and guidance for anyone working in homelessness services, harm reduction, or community health. Whether you’re new to the field or feeling the weight of long-term frontline work, this roundtable offers mentorship, solidarity, and hard-earned wisdom from those who continue to show up with courage, humour, and heart.

Guests:

Corey Ranger (he/him)

Clinical Director at AVI Health & Community Services, a board member of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition (CDPC), and a research and communications intern with the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Based in unceded Quw’utsun Territory, Corey is a registered nurse with extensive experience in street outreach, community, and public health nursing. 

https://www.hrna-aiirm.ca/our-team/

Shari-McKenzie Ramsey (she/her) Forensic Nurse Examiner at Island Health – Vancouver Island Health Authority, ER nurse, frontline staff trainer and early adoption Naloxone trainer

http://www.spiritustraining.com/our-story.html

Rachael Edwards (she/her) 

RN, MPH- Indigenous Peoples Health, Harm Reduction Nurse, Advocate, Educator, Community Health Nurse

https://www.mtroyal.ca/Summit/helping_the_homeless.htm

Rachel Plamondin-Assu (she/her)

 Empowering PWLLE Leadership and Employment Opportunities | Culturally Innovating Community-Driven Harm Reduction | Low-Barrier Employment & Peer Leadership | We Wai Kai Nation

https://www.parkerandassu.com/

Dr Heather Fulton

Registered Psychologist specializing in mental health, substance use, and severe concurrent disorders. She provides clinical care and oversees psychotherapy training at Royal Columbian Hospital, while supervising and mentoring trainees across multiple MHSU programs. With certifications in CBT, Seeking Safety, Motivational Interviewing, and Brief Action Planning, she also consults and trains providers in trauma-informed, evidence-based concurrent disorder care. Dr. Fulton frequently publishes and presents on innovative approaches in MHSU treatment. 

https://www.drheatherfulton.com/

Topics include handling vicarious trauma as frontline workers, supporting safe co