ABOUT VPWAS
The Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/AIDS Society (VPWAS) is the only peer based HIV/AIDS organization on Vancouver Island, and has been providing peer support, Peer Navigation, education and treatment information to persons living with HIV/AIDS since 1991.
We are a for Social-profit (non-profit), member based organization made up of HIV+ and HepC co-infected people. A volunteer Board of Directors, all of whom are living with HIV/AIDS, governs our Society. This is to ensure the stability of our grassroots philosophy of ‘By PLHIV for PLHIV’, in keeping with our person-centred support model of service.
The mission of the Vancouver Island Persons Living with HIV/ AIDS Society is to offer compassionate peer support and treatment information to all persons living with HIV/AIDS.
In addtion to supporting our mission, we also offer life enhancement activities and a number of programs and services to our membership. Many of these programs and services are prepared and operated by HIV+ member volunteers themselves. With staff support we encourage this as we feel it enables self-empowerment for our members and promotes self-improvement through a healthy lifestyle and outlook on the future. All proceeds and donations go to support these programs and services directly. With one staff person we ensure the larger percentage of funding goes to support these important services.
Our programs and services are available to all people living with HIV/AIDS on Vancouver Island.
(Some services may require proof of HIV status)
VPWAS is registered under the Societies Act of British Columbia as a non-profit agency (number S-31617), and as a registered charity with the Federal Government. Our charitable tax # is 88907 1999 RR0001.
Board of Directors 2023/2024
As at VPWAS AGM, October 24, 2023
- Robert Birch, Chair
- Charlene Anderson,
- Daniel Sands,
- Anne Bonner,
- Piotr Burek,
- Jon Degenhardt
For more information on the Board of Directors, click here.
- Canadian AIDS Society (CAS)
- Pacific AIDS Network (PAN)
- Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
- Action Hepatitis Canada (AHC)
Vancouver Island PWA Society acknowledges the territory of Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (their ancestral families consisting of the Teechamitsa, Kosampson, Swangwhung, Chilcowitch, Whyomilth, Chakonein, Kakyaakan, and Chewhaytsum). It is these families who had established villages and used the territory for hunting, fishing, berry picking, and ritual and cleansing sites prior to Captain Vancouvers arrival in June of 1792 and later James Douglas establishing a colony in 1849. As Victoria is a large urban centre VPWAS also recognizes families with Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Metis Ancestry.