Sudbury opioid memorial creator ‘disturbed’ by far-right group’s promotional video

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre & memorial founder Denise Sandul condemn a white nationalist group for exploiting the crosses erected for those lost to opioids.

Greater Sudbury Mayor, Paul Lefebvre, and others have condemned a recent visit from a white nationalist group that used a local opioid memorial for a promotional video.

Crosses for Change at the Brady and Paris Street location was used May 31 by Second Sons Canada (SSC) to shoot part of the video.

Second Sons Canada is a far-right, white supremacist group for men that encourages members to focus on political activism and fitness training, according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.

The use of the opioid memorial site has disturbed its founder and creator, Denise Sandul.

“The site is not about anything other than love. I started the crosses to bring awareness to the opioid crisis because people were dying including my own son,” she said.

Sandul began Cross for Change site in the fall of 2020, shortly after her son Myles Keaney died of an overdose. It’s steps away from where the memorial eventually became established on a municipal piece of property.

Each cross represents someone claimed by the opioid crisis. There are now more than 260 crosses, although Sandul said there could be as many as 500 with the requests she’s been receiving.

She admits to be disturbed the memorial was exploited by the group known to spread racism, adding that addiction doesn’t discriminate.

“Addiction can happen to anyone, no matter your race, your colour, your income level, your political beliefs. So, I don’t believe there’s any place here for any kind of hate,” Sandul told CTV News in an interview Monday.

Mayor Paul Lefebvre agrees. He issued a statement on social media over the weekend.

“Using that tragedy to spread division, fear and intolerance dishonours those we have lost and does nothing to help those who continue to struggle,” he said.

“Addiction affects everybody, regardless of ‘where you’re from’ or ‘who you are,” he told CTV News in an interview Monday.

“It affects all families and all people. So, I thought it was important that we reiterate that in Greater Sudbury we’re certainly supportive of each other.”

Lefebvre emphasized that Greater Sudbury is and will remain a welcoming community.

When the SSC used Crosses for Change site, the group erected a large white cross with the words ‘Silent Slaughter.’

Sandul said she tried to remove the large cross from the memorial site shortly after it was left there but said it was too heavy for her to lift on her own. She used white spray paint to cover the words. The cross had been removed by the time CTV cameras were there Monday.

“I don’t believe there’s any place here for any kind of hate. Not all of these people are white,” Sandul said, referring to those who are represented by the white crosses.

“We have many different nationalities here of people that have passed away to toxic drugs that kill.”

Because the Crosses for Change site is on municipal property anyone who wants to use it, including Sandul, must fill out an application with the city for permission to use it.