Save the Date: Celebration of Life
By Canton Citizen
Event organizer Harriet Burak addresses the audience at last year’s celebration. (Jay Turner photo)
The Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) invites the public to its ninth annual Celebration of Life on Thursday, August 28, from 7-9 p.m. on the grounds of the William Armando Center at 92 Pleasant Street.
Also located on this site is the newly installed Serenity Garden honoring loved ones lost who remain with us in memory. This fundraising project and installation was initiated by the Community Club of Canton and features newly planted trees, benches, and a brick walkway and patio inscribed with the names of loved ones and supportive friends and family.
Held in conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day, the annual Celebration of Life remembers those lost to overdose and those in recovery. It also acknowledges the challenges felt by family and friends while reminding them that they are not alone.
This year, for the first time, there will be prevention material, grief support, and recovery service information available at the event, as well as Narcan (for emergency treatment of opioid overdose) available at no cost by the Canton Board of Health. An ongoing slide presentation will be shown with photos of those lost to overdose. To include your loved one in the slideshow, please email a photo (if you have not already done so in prior years), along with the individual’s name, date of birth, and date of passing to dtynan@town.canton.ma.us by August 21.
To further promote awareness of drug-related illness and death and support a message of recovery, purple ribbons will be attached to the light posts in downtown Canton during the month of August. Signs bearing the International Overdose Awareness Day message will be placed throughout the town as well as signs promoting the Celebration of Life.
This is a community event open to all. Mark your calendars to participate in this worthwhile event. Look for future articles and advertisements in upcoming issues of the Citizen.
Harriet Burak, a longtime Canton resident, lost her youngest child, Michael, to an overdose in 2004. In 2016, three years after the formation of CAASA, Burak initiated the first Celebration of Life as a tribute to her son and to all others who had lost loved ones to similar circumstances. This is a passion project for Burak, and each year she hopes to include more programing that can help others. But all the planning in the world means nothing unless people support the event by their presence.
“If you are fortunate enough to not have been directly affected by the disease of substance use disorder (SUD), please attend to support others who have — numbers count,” said Burak. “May this year’s event be the most meaningful ever.”
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Posted by Canton Citizen
on Jul 24 2025. Filed under Featured Content.
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