Bob Mills, Prairie Regional Director of the Canadian AIDS Society’s Board of Directors, passed away from complications related to HIV/AIDS on October 8, 2003. Bob was active in the HIV/AIDS movement, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Bob was in his third term as a Board member with HIV Edmonton and was the Board representative to Living Positive. Regionally, Bob was an executive Board member with the Alberta Community Council on HIV/AIDS as Member-at-large. He was also recently appointed to the Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS.
Nationally, Bob was the Alberta Representative to the Canadian Treatment Action Council and former Board member. He sat on the Project Review Committee for the Canadian Working Group on HIV/AIDS and Rehabilitation.
His work internationally included: Prairie Regional Representative for the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS and NGO representative of the Canadian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. He continued to work on the implementation of HIV/AIDS programs with the United Nations and its partners.
Up until his death, Bob’s work focused on access to treatment and diagnostic testing for those living with HIV/AIDS in Canada and globally. His commitment to issues related to stigma and discrimination, microbicides, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria remained strong.
A true defender of human rights for people living with HIV/AIDS, Bob will be sadly missed for his work, passion and commitment. “His passing is a great loss to the HIV/AIDS community,” said Gail Flintoft, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian AIDS Society. “On behalf of the Board, staff and members of the Canadian AIDS Society, I would like to extend our condolences to Bob’s partner, Don McParlan, his family and numerous friends.”