Preventative medication will protect people at risk of HIV Effective Jan. 1, 2018, British Columbians at high risk of HIV infection will be able to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily oral antiretroviral medication that prevents new HIV infection, at no cost. “Our government is committed to helping fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and supporting people as they take action to protect themselves from this virus,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Making this medication free for people will prevent […]
Read more →Community Consensus Statement Download the Community Consensus Statement (including the full list of endorsers) The Community Consensus Statement outlines a shared critique of why Canada’s approach to HIV criminalization is wrong and calls for some specific actions that federal, provincial and territorial governments should take to end unjust criminal prosecutions against people living with HIV. It was developed by the CCHRC to be a common set of demands by those organizations who sign on to it. The Coalition is looking […]
Read more →VPWAS is proud to partner with Visual AIDS and Open Space to present ALTERNATE ENDINGS, RADICAL BEGINNINGS for the 28th annual Day With(out) Art on World AIDS Day on December 1 at 7:30 pm. Friday, December 1, 2017, 7:30 pm Doors 7:00 pm free film screening Open Space 510 Fort Street, 2nd floor Victoria, BC V8W 1E6 Curated by Erin Christovale and Vivian Crockett for Visual AIDS, the video program prioritizes Black narratives within the ongoing AIDS epidemic, commissioning seven new […]
Read more →Please join us for the Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS) Annual General Meeting and open house. 101-1139 Yates Street Coast Salish Territory Victoria, BC V8V3N2 Guest Speaker: Nathan Lachowsky, PHD Assistant Professor, School of Public Health and Social Policy The Annual General Meeting is open to all VPWAS members and community partners. PDF version of invite Membership with VPWAS is free for anyone living with HIV/AIDS and/ or co-infected with HCV and living on Vancouver Island (including […]
Read more →Join us for our Annual Yard Sale & Barbeque, now in it’s 5th year! We’ll have lots of gently used clothing, furniture, and household items for sale. We will also be cooking up hamburgers and hot dogs! David from Soma Active Health will be joining us to provide chair massages during the yard sale! Treatments will be available by donation. We are accepting donations (gently used clothing, furniture, and household items) this week for our fundraiser Yard Sale, please call […]
Read more →Paris Community Declaration We, Key Affected Populations living with or affected by HIV, proclaim that we are more than just numbers. We have essential needs that must be met equitably. It is time to put an end to our prosecution. We demand full commitment and respect from all the stakeholders we address in this Declaration. The definition of key populations may change across different contexts: based on epidemiological evidence and geographic, social, legal and political environments. People living with HIV, […]
Read more →This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS). For a quarter of a century, VPWAS has been advocating for and providing support and services to individuals on Vancouver Island living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. While we have participated in Victoria Pride for many years, this year, to mark 25 years of activism and resistance in the HIV/AIDS movements, we will not be walking in this year’s Pride Parade. We do so […]
Read more →Positivelite.com Thursday, 04 May 2017 Author // Michael Yoder I read an article online where the number of long-term survivors who choose to commit suicide is increasing. Besides the tragedy of this in and of itself, there is a deeper loss – the loss of the living library of people who remember the “dark days” of HIV. Living in a small city, I know that there are only a few of us left who remember the people and events of […]
Read more →Registration is now open http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2910366 for Canada’s only peer-led symposium and retreat for HIV and Hepatitis C positive youth! If you are between the ages of 18-32, living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C, then you’ll want to join us for an incredible week of knowledge sharing, storytelling, and relaxing on the shores of beautiful Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. Your registration includes 5 nights accommodation at the Cowichan Lake Outdoor Education and Conference Centre. The centre is located on […]
Read more →The Men’s Wellness Program (AVI) and Vancouver Island PWA (VPWAS) Present PREP TALK HIV Prevention Worth Talking About Join us for a FREE discussion including Q&A on Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (also know as PrEP) for HIV with Dr. Mark Hull from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Monday March 6 4 – 6PM CityStudio – Victoria (http://citystudiovictoria.com) 742 Johnson Street, Victoria. MORE INFO & RSVP CONTACT jonathan.degenhardt@avi.org 250.384.2366 ext 3115 craig.dales@vpwas.org 250.382.7927
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