Kaela Pelland (she/they) is a creative and adventurous person. She enjoys hiking, travelling (Kaela has visited Alberta, multiple Southeast Asian countries, New Zealand, and Colombia!), and spending time at various cultural festivities. Kaela is currently a Member Board of Directors with the Myths and Mirrors Community Arts and began working at the Benoit Lab as a research assistant, supporting the Walking for Harm Reduction through Street Engagement (WHiSE 2.0) project. Using her innovative and interpersonal skills, she disseminates infographics and engages with community members. Kaela has rich academic, professional, and lived experiences which led to her growth toward harm reduction activism.
Kaela graduated with a Social Services Diploma from Cambrian College and has over 10 years of working in many social and community settings. Kaela notes, “I worked at a youth shelter and as a homelessness Outreach Worker for over 2 years. During my time at the shelter, I can remember taking issue with the policies that meant a teenager [who’s] 16-19 would be kicked out of the shelter for the night if they seemed intoxicated, even if it was cannabis. This is where my desire to improve drug use policies started”. In 2015, Kaela transitioned as a Hepatitis C Outreach Worker. This position helped her understand and learn more about harm reduction, sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBIs), overdose recognition and response, and naloxone training.
Feeling curious about learning more about drug policies, Kaela broadened her horizons and spent six months visiting Banff, Alberta, where they have an open drug culture. This exposure, coupled with her harm reduction knowledge, allowed her to educate others as well as herself about safe substance use practices. She also stayed in Southeast Asia to teach English which led to navigating a vastly different legal landscape regarding substance use.
Returning to Ontario in 2018, Kaela faced challenges and began escalating her substance use. Eventually, she began working as a Harm Reduction Outreach Worker and a Peer Engagement Coordinator. These roles provided the tools, education, and community support necessary to address her substance use and advocate for appropriate medical care. In 2022, Kaela was promoted to Director of Peer Engagement, overseeing a two-year pilot program focused on harm reduction peer engagement.
“This position allowed me to hone my leadership skills and build a team of harm reductionists who were dedicated to engaging and training people who use drugs in harm reduction and overdose recognition and response. The ability to connect with the entire community to provide education about substances, overdose risks, drug toxicity and drug policies…[this] was incredibly fulfilling and successful”.
Unfortunately, funding for these critical harm reduction programs in Sudbury ended in March 2024. Kaela now sits on advisory boards to advocate for drug messaging, programming, and policies.
As Kaela continues her professional journey, she provides thoughtful advice:
“…take good care before, during, and after the project and [ensure your] values align with the project. I have experienced burnout twice in my career, the biggest lesson that has taught me is to only say yes if I truly have [the] capacity… no amount of guilt or expectations will protect me from the consequences of overworking”.
We thank Kaela for her hard work and her amazing insights. We wish her the best and welcome her to the Benoit Lab!
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