The BC Coroners Service says well-known Kamloops homeless advocate Katherine McParland died of a fentanyl overdose.

The report says McParland, the founder and Executive Director of A Way Home Kamloops, was found unresponsive in bed by a friend in the morning of Dec. 5, 2020. It also says paramedics tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her.

“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Katherine,” A Way Home Kamloops, executive director, Tangie Genshorek said, in a statement.

“Her passion to end youth homelessness touched countless people in Kamloops and across the Province, and her drive to create change left many people inspired to help end youth homelessness.”

“The report on Katherine’s death made public by the B.C. Coroners Service today highlights the need for more to be done. We at AWHK will be working with the rest of our community and partners across the province to find solutions to the complex issues facing youth today.”

While they did not directly identify her, Kamloops RCMP said in Dec. 2020 that McParland’s death was not believed to be suspicious.

“There was no observable traumatic injury or evidence of foul play,” the coroners report read. “Paraphernalia commonly associated with illicit substance use was present near her.”

“In this case, an autopsy was not indicated as the cause of death was established through toxicology and was supported by the investigative findings.”

In her report, Coroner Kristen Evanski noted that McParland – who had a history with illicit substances – had been abstinent for a long period of time, though she had relapsed shortly before her death.

“At the time of her death, Ms. McParland was not followed by a physician, had not participated in any recovery programs and was not receiving opioid agonist treatment,” the report said.

It did note that she had received treatment in hospital for complications associated with substance use, about a week prior to her death.

In addition to fentanyl “within a lethal range”, toxicology analysis also detected the presence of etizolam – a benzodiazepine – in McParland’s system, but in a range typically associated with recreational use.

Tributes poured in over social media in the days after her death not just from Kamloops but also across B.C. and Canada.

A student bursary has been set up in McParland’s name, while a social housing project for homeless young adults – Katherine’s Place – has also been given the greenlight by Kamloops city council.

“We will be tireless in our efforts to ensure that no youth is left alone to navigate a system rife with barriers,” Genshorek added.

“We will continue to build housing and supports that address the needs of youth who have been in government care, on the streets, in precarious housing, and without supports they need to address the issues that youth face more and more each day.”

A graduate of the Masters of Social Work Leadership program at University of Calgary, McParland – who spent much of her teenage years in foster care – also graduated with a degree in Social Work from Thompson Rivers University in 2016.

She was homeless for a brief period of time after aging out of the foster care system, and often described it as the “superhighway to homelessness.”

“One of the largest barriers to accessing support is the stigma associated with substance use,” Genshorek added.

“We hope that understanding Katherine’s struggle will help people understand the need for more accessible supports and inspire many to take action in whatever way is available to them.”