Gord Garner is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Community Addictions Peer Support Association (CAPSA) and the Chair of Recovery Day Ottawa, an annual event aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding addiction and raising awareness about recovery.

Informed by his own 38 years of active addiction and influenced by those who helped him, he is now a national public speaker and trainer with expertise in Person-First Language and addressing stigma. Since 2016, he has presented at roundtables, conferences and meetings across Canada. His work has helped to shape many policies, practices, and educational materials on the harms associated with stigma.

For three years in a row (2018-2020) Gord has presented at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, a policy-making body of the United Nation system with prime responsibility for drug-related matters.

Gord is dedicated to removing barriers to enable policy writers, academics, researchers, and people with lived and living experience of substance use disorders to take evidence-based actions to improve the lives of people impacted by substance use in Canada.