Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2023 - Reflections

Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) 2023

To our wonderful community who came together to support us during this past week... HÍSW̱ḴE (thank you.)

To Those Who Have Supported us During this EDAW 2023 -

1. the BPD Society of BC

2. City of Victoria

3. Jonathon Morris and CMHA BC

4. Adam Olsen, MLA - Saanich and the Gulf Islands as well as the BC Green caucus

5. Grace Lore, MLA Beacon Hill - Victoria

6. Those who shared and engaged with our posts and activities this week, including the many organizations across Canada that we were honoured to sit on the National EDAW 2023 Working Committee with

7. And those who stopped by yesterday - including Kevin Falcon of the BC Liberals - to have a conversation

To Those Who Have Donated Prizes for our Purple Friday & EDAW Bingo contests:

1. the BPD Society of BC

2. Victoria Bug Zoo

3. Ma Yoga

4. All The Feels Soy Candles

And the many individuals who have donated art, handmade jewelry, photography, and more!

Coming Together in Community is How We Create Real Change:

While we cannot guarantee change, we do believe in it, as well as our capacity. Capacity to undertake both reform work and to build outside of the current colonial and capitalistic systems (abolition is not a bad word!) We believe in collective imagination and collaboration.

It is not a matter of “us vs. them” or blaming one specific person, program, or point of contact with care. It is about community and coming together in the different ways we can, as co-collaborators. From policy makers, to politicians at the forefront of change, to persons with lived and living experience, as well professionals, and the public.

Moving Forward - Bction beyond EDAW 2023:

While it is the end of Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2023, we hope that you will join us through the year in continuing to take action where each of us can. The struggles of individuals, families, and communities facing eating disorders is connected to a much broader conversation occurring across this country.

Broader Conversations Around Social Justice, Healthcare Collapse, and Mental Healthcare Reform:

In a province (and country) facing numerous challenges - including the increasing cost of living, climate change, the ongoing impacts of colonialism, healthcare collapse. and the desperate need for mental healthcare reform and abolition - there is work to be done. Eating disorders, co-morbid mental illness, histories of trauma, food insecurity, etc. are social justice issues that intricately interconnect with all of the challenges our society is currently facing.

Let us continue to find ways to work together in creating change.

Shaely (she/they) - Co- founder of VIVED