Seemingly endless misery continues for fentanyl-awareness activist who lost son to powerful drug

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This article was published 08/04/2025 (201 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After dedicating himself to helping others fight addiction in the wake of his son’s 2023 fentanyl overdose, Joseph Fourre now finds himself in need of help.

Last week, Fourre was struck by an SUV while crossing a downtown Winnipeg intersection. The crash left him with a shattered hip and a long recovery ahead; he will need to relearn how to walk.

The collision comes just weeks after his 83-year-old mother, who uses a walker, was badly injured in a vicious, random attack in the Centennial neighbourhood, an incident he believes was drug-fuelled.

Fourre’s 31-year-old son Harlan, who was working as a roofer in The Pas, died after overdosing on a drug that, unbeknownst to him, was laced with the deadly opioid fentanyl.

“It’s been tough,” Fourre said. “From Harlan passing to my mom being brutally attacked. I was there for her, going to see her (at the hospital) every day. We’ve been FaceTiming.”

Fourre was attending Prime Minister Mark Carney’s rally last Tuesday at the RBC Convention Centre, and spoke with federal Liberal candidates about his “No Thanks, I’m Good” fentanyl awareness and prevention campaign born out of the tragedy of his son’s death.

“The election is on, and I was out lobbying,” Fourre said. “I was on the podium behind Carney and next to his wife, so I got to talking with her, gave her a T-shirt and some of our information.

“I was feeling pretty good, that was two major parties (Fourre had attended Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s campaign stop the week before).”

But shortly after leaving the event, while crossing Carlton Street at York Avenue, Fourre says he was hit by a vehicle and thrown several metres.

“I had no idea what hit me,” he said. “Next thing I know, I’m laying on my side. I can’t move my legs. I can’t get up. There’s something really wrong there.”

The impact severed the joint connecting his femur to his hip. A four-hour surgery was required to reattach it using rods and pins.

“I’ve got to learn how to walk again,” he said. “I’ll be out anywhere from four to six weeks before I’m back doing anything.”

A Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson said the driver remained on the scene and no charges have been laid.

Fourre, who said he had a green light and walk sign at the intersection, is recovering at Health Sciences Centre.

“We were told it was an accident,” he said. “How did he not see me?”

In the meantime, a friend has launched a GoFundMe to support him while he’s off work. Fourre, who also works in the local film industry, said he’s missing out on acting gigs just as the end of winter means things pick up in the local industry.

His line of work doesn’t come with extended health insurance.

“The work he does with the ‘No Thanks, I’m Good’ campaign is tremendously important,” said Ciji Khan, who set up the fundraiser. “He’s very passionate, very determined in his beliefs… and resilient.

He overcame his struggles in life and is now rebuilding himself… with his family and his community.”

Fourre said he’s deeply grateful — and determined to keep going.

“I didn’t expect (the fundraiser), so whatever comes of it comes of it,” he said. “I need to modify the house a little bit. I need some equipment to help me be a little more mobile.”

Fourre’s wife has brought more T-shirts and postcards to the hospital, and he says he’s been handing them out to nurses to spread the message.

“I will not give up,” he said. “I will keep moving forward, and I make sure that ‘No Thanks, I’m Good’ is a campaign that will continue to save lives and bring awareness and, hopefully, prevent more deaths from fentanyl poisoning.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca