An actor, a hockey reporter, a 12-year-old: These are some victims of B.C.'s toxic drug crisis

Six years ago, Dr. Perry Kendall — then B.C.'s chief public health officer — declared a public health emergency due to the escalating number of overdose deaths in the province.

Talking recently about the announcement, Kendall said it was "meant to bring public and political attention to the emerging crisis." 

But while he says he has seen some progress on the issue, it has not been enough to save thousands of lives from toxic drugs.

"We have seen a shocking, unacceptable and unconscionable increase in the number of deaths," Kendall said.

According to the B.C. Coroners Service, more than 9,400 people across the province have now died from ingesting toxic, illicit drugs over the past six years.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says while there are some patterns — such as people using alone, and a higher number of deaths among men aged 30 to 59 years old — victims of the crisis come from all walks of life.

Lapointe says there is a misconception that the only people at risk are regular drug users. In fact, she says, many are first-time or casual users who think they are purchasing a certain drug only to get something contaminated with fentanyl or other, even more lethal, substances.

"The drugs are indiscriminate," she said. 

"We are just seeing lives being lost month after month, year after year. It is heartbreaking."

The victims of the crisis range from teenagers to seniors, and include athletes, musicians and academics. 

On the sixth anniversary of the public health crisis being declared, here are the stories of six victims of B.C.'s toxic drug crisis.

Katherine McParland was homeless at age 19. A foster child, she had lived in 28 different homes before aging out of the system. Despite her difficult start, she went on to earn a master's degree in social work leadership.

She then founded A Way Home Kamloops, a program aimed at ending youth homelessness, and served on numerous boards and advisory committees that sought to help children dealing with the same problems she had growing up.

"She had this enduring positivity that always struck me as something I wish I had more of," said her friend Amy Peterson. "Watching her grow and blossom was honestly my pleasure."