The BC Coroners Service has announced that a public inquest will be held into the death of Brandon Juhani Jansen.

The inquest will take place beginning Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at the Coroners courtroom in Burnaby.

Mr. Jansen, aged 20, of Coquitlam, died while a resident at a substance-abuse treatment centre in Powell River in the early morning hours of March 7, 2016.

“Along with our health, community and law enforcement partners, the BC Coroners Service has been deeply concerned about the rising number of illicit drug deaths in our province,” said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe. “A public inquest will provide another avenue to explore some of the issues we have found arising in these deaths and, it is hoped, for a well-informed jury to make practical and useful recommendations to help prevent similar deaths in the future.”

At the same time Lapointe announced that a specialized Coroners Service Drug Death Investigation Team has been formed. The goal of this team will be to provide enhanced investigations into accidental illicit drug deaths in the province, through a detailed investigative protocol to identify trends and patterns to inform prevention efforts. The team’s work will be funded as part of the $10 million announced by Premier Christy Clark last month to support efforts to combat the growing number of illicit drug deaths.

At the inquest, presiding coroner Michael Egilson and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death. In 2015, Egilson presided over a BC Coroners Death Review Panel that looked into drug overdose deaths among youths and young adults in BC. The panel’s report may be found here: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/death-investigation/child-death-review-unit/reports-publications/overdose-death-youth-young-adult.pdf

Event Date: Beginning Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Location:

Burnaby Coroners Court

20th floor, MetroTower II, Metrotown

4720 Kingsway

Burnaby