Supervised Consumption
A safe, supportive space for people to use substances in a monitored environment. We provide clean harm reduction supplies, a sterile room, and trained staff for supervision of intravenous and nasal consumption. Inhalation supervision is available outside our building. Available in Nelson, Cranbrook, and Grand Forks.
Harm Reduction Supplies
We offer a wide range of harm reduction supplies free of charge, with no prescription required: needles of various sizes (IV, IM, and SubQ), pipes, foil kits, safer snorting kits, naloxone kits, disinfectant wipes, sharps containers, and more. Available at all three offices and through our mobile outreach service. We also provide lock boxes to Kootenay businesses and community spaces for safe disposal of used supplies.
Mobile Outreach
Our mobile outreach service delivers harm reduction supplies on a regular monthly schedule across the West Kootenays, including Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Salmo, Ymir, Fruitvale, Grand Forks, the Boundary area, Kaslo, Meadow Creek, Slocan Valley, New Denver, and Nakusp. In the East Kootenays, our Peer Health Navigators provide outreach in Moyie, Cranbrook, and Kimberley, with regular trips to Creston.
Contact Robert at 250-777-0733 or ankorsmobile@gmail.com to arrange a meeting place or find out when we’ll be in your area.
Drug Checking
Fast, free, anonymous drug checking using FTIR spectrometry and fentanyl test strips. In Nelson, drug checking is available Monday and Thursday at the office, with Tuesday and Wednesday travel days to Castlegar, Trail, and Grand Forks. In Cranbrook, drug checking is available five days a week during office hours.
Nelson: Jen, 236-972-7080, drugcheckankors@gmail.com
Cranbrook: 250-426-3383
Peer Health Navigation
Problem solving with people who’ve been there. Our peer health navigators are people with personal experience with substance use, addiction, HIV, homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We offer flexible, real-time support, post-overdose care, accompaniment to appointments, court appearances, or the emergency room, and access to harm reduction supplies and referrals.
Contact: 250-505-9690 (call/text), coordinator.redun@gmail.com
Support & Outreach
Confidential one-on-one support for people at risk for, or living with, blood-borne infections. Our social worker provides accompaniment to appointments, referrals to services, and individualized support to meet you where you’re at.
Contact: 250-505-2426 (call/text), ankorsoutreach@gmail.com
OAT Support
ANKORS hosts an opioid agonist therapy social worker to help coordinate care between ANKORS and the Rise Clinic. Available Wednesday and Thursday during office hours.
Contact: 250-505-2426 (call/text), ankorsoutreach@gmail.com
Trans Connect
A health and community program supporting transgender, Two Spirit, intersex, and gender diverse people in the East and West Kootenay regions. Trans Connect offers community education and workshops, support groups for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and gender diverse community members, and one-on-one peer support for healthcare navigation, ID changes, coming out, and achieving wellness goals. Trans Connect also administers the Christopher Moore Community Fund, supporting trans and gender diverse community members with transition-related expenses.
Visit ankorstransconnect.com or contact Nicola Hare at ankorstransconnect@proton.me
REDUN (Rural Empowered Drug Users Network)
A program for current and former drug users, their friends, family, and supporters. REDUN runs peer support groups in Nelson, Trail, and Grand Forks, social events, conference presentations, harm reduction training, and advocacy. We believe drug users know best what their challenges are and are capable of participating in service delivery design and policy development.
Visit redun.ca for more information.
Kootenay Boundary Adult Supported Recovery Program
A residential program in Nelson for individuals 19+ seeking to change their relationship with substances. KBSRP offers up to six months of accommodation in a substance-free environment, with daily therapeutic groups, weekly one-on-one counselling, life skills sessions, and optional recreational activities. The program takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach and supports individuals who experience relapse to re-engage with their recovery.
General inquiries: ankors.recovery@gmail.com
Intakes: Fiona.Job@InteriorHealth.ca
Social Spaces
At each of our locations, ANKORS has a non-judgmental, safe space for community members to come in, connect, and access services. Wi-fi, snacks, hot beverages, and water are available at each location.