Harm Reduction

Tailgate Toolkit: Harm Reduction in the Construction Industry

In this workshop participants will learn about the Vancouver Island Construction Association’s (VICA) innovative and award-winning harm reduction initiative, the Tailgate Toolkit Project. Join Rory Kulmala, CEO of VICA, and Lorne Sobczyk, the Northern Coordinator of the Tailgate Toolkit as they discuss the impact of British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis on our industry. This workshop will also provide participants with insights into the lessons learned by the Tailgate Team over the past year and a half, including how to engage staff regarding drug toxicity and what tools are available to assist employers and industry leaders in stemming the tide of this deadly crisis.

About The Program

The Tailgate Toolkit Project is an innovative program aimed at increasing access to harm reduction services and ideas for those working in the construction industry. After successful partnerships with Island Health in 2017 & 2021, the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) is excited to expand their harm reduction program provincially, with the support of the Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions.

The precedent for this project comes from the 2018 BC Coroner’s Report “Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC: Findings of Coroners’ Investigations” which investigated demographic trends among those who had lost their lives to a drug poisoning event. The construction, trades, and transport industry are overrepresented – of the 44% of people who were employed at the time of their death 55% worked in our industry.

The Tailgate Toolkit Project consists of four components; on-site/virtual toolbox talks, supervisory training for site and company leaders, an industry support group, and extensive, region-specific resource guides for folks working in the construction/trades industry.

About Rory Kulmala, CD, MBA, AScT, PMP

Rory is the CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) and advocates on a variety of issues that affect the Vancouver Island construction industry particularly as it pertains to the commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-residential sectors. With a focus on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, he supports initiatives and strategies that contribute to the overall health, wellness, and success of not only VICA’s member companies and workers, but ultimately all those that work in the construction industry.

A long-time resident of Victoria, for nearly 30 years, Rory has also held several senior positions within both the private and public sectors focusing on engineering, construction, and large-scale development projects both regionally and nationally. He is also a retired naval officer having served over 28 years with Canada’s Naval Reserve.

About Lorne Sobczyk, BA, BSW

Lorne joined the VICA team as a social work practicum student in January 2022. After completing his final practicum with VICA and being awarded a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria he stayed on with VICA as a harm reduction coordinator.

In addition to Lorne having a social work degree he also holds a degree in psychology with a minor in women’s and gender studies from Mount Royal University. Lorne has spent 20 years working with children and youth living in shelters, group homes and treatment facilities in Calgary, Alberta.