Latest news
All Blood is Equal - Denying your identity shouldn’t be a requirement to save someone’s life. Every year, thousands of willing blood donors are turned away simply because of their sexuality. In Canada, men who have sex with men and trans women cannot donate blood unless they have been celibate for three months. It’s a damaging policy, especially now. Canada is facing a critical shortage of donated blood. Yet, rather than screening potential donors through a scientific lens, blood agencies continue to use outdated, prejudiced policies, which target two-spirit, gay, bisexual and queer men, trans women, and men who have sex with men (2SGBTQ/MSM). It’s… … Read More »
Canadian AIDS Society-led protocol of Canadian clinical practice guidelines for medical cannabis in the management of chronic pain published in the British Medical Journal - OTTAWA, June 11, 2020 - The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) is pleased to announce the publication of a CAS-led protocol of Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the use of plant-based cannabis and cannabinoid-based products in the management of chronic non-cancer pain and co-occurring conditions in the British Medical Journal (Open). The legalization of recreational marijuana in October 2018 has highlighted the fact that the Canadian medical community has long identified a need for relevant clinical guidelines and established best practices for authorizing cannabis and cannabinoid-based products to patients for the treatment of chronic pain. In order to remedy this knowledge… … Read More »
Black Lives Matter - George Floyd was one of the many Black people that have endured violence and death at the hands of police, who regularly abuse their power in the name of “law enforcement”. The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) condemns this anti-Black racism and fully supports those in Canada and around the world who are fighting against it. … Read More »
STBBI testing must be deemed an essential service - While some may think that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in less people having sex and therefore fewer new cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), some health care professionals and sexual health advocates, including CAS, think that it could be exactly the opposite. Many sexual health testing clinics have closed their doors entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic, while others are only offering appointments to those who have been diagnosed with an STBBI or who are experiencing symptoms. The majority of STBBI do not have any symptoms, and those who are asymptomatic are more likely to be unknowingly spreading… … Read More »
New section of COVID-19 resources - CAS has published a new list of resources for individuals (including specific populations such as people living with HIV, Indigenous communities, and people who use drugs) and non-profit organizations to use during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can view this section by clicking on the COVID-19 button on the menu or by clicking here. … Read More »
David Garmaise, 1947-2020 - One of our past Executive Directors has passed. It is with great sadness that we learned that David Garmaise passed away on April 19th in Pattaya, Thailand, with his devoted partner Wat Khantaraphan lovingly by his side. David’s activism is highlighted in downtown Ottawa where his silhouetted banner flies, naming him a Community Hero by Ottawa’s Village Legacy Project. David worked passionately as Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Society. Later work included being the managing editor for several years of the HIV/AIDS Policy & Law Review produced by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.… … Read More »
National HIV Testing Day 2019: Final Report - National HIV Testing Day was first launched in Canada on June 27, 2018, in order to highlight the importance of testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), dismantle the stigma surrounding HIV and encourage Canadians to take charge of their sexual health by getting tested. The first national HIV Testing Day proved to be successful, testing over 800 Canadians for HIV and other STBBI. Following an even more successful Testing Day in 2019, with testing numbers well exceeding the first year, CAS and the rest of the Testing Day steering committee are pleased to announce the… … Read More »
Canadian AIDS Society Updates - We truly hope that this communication finds you all well, and we hope that your organizations are finding ways to deal with this new reality. We wanted to give you an update on some of our continuing activities and some general information that may be of help to your organization. We have been following developments and we want to ensure that our sector stays strong so that no one is left behind. If ever there was a movement that knows of people being left behind, it is ours - let’s all ensure that we look at a future where the… … Read More »
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Update from the Canadian AIDS Society - The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) staff have been working from their homes, continuing our work while doing our part to flatten the spread of COVID-19. We will be following crucial developments as they unfold, and we are with you all in solidarity. We hope that your organizations, staff, volunteers and the people you serve stay healthy. As the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, one of our national partners, is monitoring ongoing human rights issues, we will be monitoring their feeds and sharing their findings. For information on the economic response from the government please visit this page from the Government of… … Read More »
Statement on coronavirus (COVID-19) - The Canadian AIDS Society is monitoring the ever-changing landscape during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We understand that these are trying times, so we are sharing the official COVID-19 response page from the Public Health Agency of Canada, as they are the experts with regards to COVID-19. We hope that you will all take the necessary measures for your own safety and please, if you can, lend a hand to those who are in need. Please follow us on our social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) as we will be reposting related posts from local organizations and our partner organizations. Be… … Read More »
Canada sees its fourth consecutive year of increasing HIV rates - PHAC reports 25.3% increase in the diagnostic rate since 2014; Canada far behind other G7 countries in eliminating new infections FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA, February 18th, 2020 – In December 2019, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) released its “HIV in Canada—Surveillance Report, 2018”, which revealed that the number of new HIV cases in Canada has jumped 25.3% over the past four years; from 2,040 in 2014 to 2,561 in 2018. Within this timeframe falls the implementation of PHAC’s funding cuts to community-based HIV organizations in Canada receiving funding from their HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund. 40%… … Read More »
Analysis of Canada’s 2018 HIV Surveillance Report - In December of 2019, researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada released the 2018 HIV Surveillance Report. In the Canadian Communicable Disease Report (CCDR) article, the researchers downplay the impact of rising HIV rates, and indeed even downplay the existence of such an increase. Canada’s HIV response needs to be strengthened to address these realities, and not be allowed to languish in an atmosphere of complacency. The fight against HIV is not over, and we cannot be complacent when an average of 7 new HIV diagnoses are given daily. Number of new infections Overall, there were 2,561 new… … Read More »
GoFundMe: Help us keep the memory alive of those we’ve lost to AIDS by supporting the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilts project! - The Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt serves as a living memory of the almost 25,000 Canadians who have died of AIDS-related causes. In the beginning of the AIDS crisis many people who died of AIDS-related causes did not receive funerals—due to both the social stigma of AIDS and the outright refusal by many funeral homes and cemeteries to handle the remains of the deceased. Lacking a memorial service or grave site, the Memorial Quilt was often the only opportunity survivors had to remember and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. In 2013 the collection was brought under the care of… … Read More »
CAS and the 2019 Election - In collaboration with the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN), the Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-sida), the Pacific AIDS Network (PAN), the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH), and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), CAS is happy to provide this guide to Canada’s HIV organizations and allies on how to engage Canadian political parties on their role in ending HIV in Canada. Please visit the link below for more information! https://www.cdnaids.ca/events/ … Read More »
Canadian AIDS Society’s response to Government of Canada’s STBBI Action Plan - On July 17, 2019, the Government of Canada published an action plan entitled, “Accelerating our response: Government of Canada five-year action plan on sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections”. While this Action Plan is a much needed step in the right direction toward addressing the drastically increasing rates of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) in Canada, there are some significant gaps of concern. Firstly, the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) would like to express support for the priorities and over-arching themes of the Action Plan. The seven broad Action Plan priorities are: Moving towards truth and reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit… … Read More »
Second annual national HIV Testing Day taking place this June in Canada - Second annual national HIV Testing Day taking place this June in Canada 2018 event resulted in 835 Canadians being tested for HIV OTTAWA, May 21, 2019 – The national HIV Testing Day event organized by the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS), community-based organizations and local health authorities across Canada will be returning this year on June 27th with testing events happening at various times at local testing sites in 70 communities across the country. ‘’Building on the success of last year, this event is truly about normalizing HIV testing, increasing Canadians’ capacity to make informed decisions regarding their own sexual health,… … Read More »
World AIDS Day 2018 - December 1, 2018 marks the 30th annual World AIDS Day. Community-based organizations across Canada will be holding events leading up to and on World AIDS Day. Check out if there is an event in your community below! More resources can be found here. World AIDS Day 2018: Local events Saskatchewan: Regina 1. Movie Night: Dallas Buyers Club (FREE) Regina Public Library, 2311 12th Avenue Thursday, November 22nd 6:30 pm CST 2. Journeys of Spirit & Hope: Women’s Body Mapping Exhibit Reception (FREE) (Body maps to be on display until December 6th) Regina Public Library, 2311 12th Avenue Tuesday, November 27th 6:30… … Read More »
Position Statement: Undetectable Equals Untransmittable - U = U (Undetectable Equals Untransmittable) Not since the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in 1996 has there been as significant a milestone as U=U (Undetectable Equals Untransmittable). Ever since Swiss HIV experts produced the first-ever consensus statement in 2008 to say that HIV-positive individuals on effective antiretroviral therapy are sexually non-infectious, CAS has been noting study after study re-iterating the facts surrounding U=U. Endorsed by CAS since with great pride since December 1st, we consider U=U to be a definite game changer because: Once viral suppression has been achieved and maintained for six months, the person living with HIV can… … Read More »
National HIV Testing Day: June 27th, 2019 - Thank you to everyone who participated in national HIV Testing Day in 2018. Stay tuned for more information about national HIV Testing Day 2019! … Read More »
Invitation & Information for People with Lived Experience of HIV and/or Hep C to Virtual Engagement Sessions - Hello members of our community that have living or lived experience with HIV and/or hepatitis C, Below is an amazing opportunity from the Public Health Agency of Canada to have your voice heard and to contribute to the movement. "The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is preparing for the planned launch, in Fall 2020 of open solicitations for the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF) and the Harm Reduction Fund (HRF). Through the CAF and the HRF, organisations can apply for federal grants and contributions that support time-limited community-based projects across Canada to reduce HIV, hepatitis C… … Read More »
