10 Fun Things to Do During this Weekend in Toronto

What to do in Toronto this weekend

City of Toronto Festival and Events Calendar

THN is seeking a part-time Peer Associate

The THN is seeking a part-time Peer Coordinator to support organizational priorities and activities.

The position is 14 hours/week (0.35 full-time equivalency) and requires some flexibility for occasional evening or weekend meetings. Specific schedules will be set in discussion with the THN Director.

For this position “Peer” refers to people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) as the positions will be engaged in issues, trainings and events directly affecting PHAs and their duties and contribution to the work will be informed by personal lived experience.

Deadline for submissions is 5pm, Friday, December 1, 2023

Murray Jose-Boerbridge, THN Director

Email: murray@torontohivaidsnetwork.org

What is the Status Neutral Approach to Testing?

Spot Light Campaign - Ontario’s Updated HIV Testing Guidelines

THN has relocated to a larger and modern space at

163 Queen Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto M5A1S1.

Please update our new address in your records but note that our contact information will remain the same.

Let Communities Lead

World AIDS Day 2023. The world can end AIDS, with communities leading the way. Organisations of communities living with, at risk of, or affected by HIV are the frontline of progress in the HIV response.

Voices for World AIDS Day

Voices for World AIDS Day is an annual fundraising event and demonstration of support for people living with HIV/AIDS, which enables compassionate, judgement-free and socially-just health care at Casey House

World AIDS Day 2023: An Evening of Storytelling

Friday December 1st, 2023
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Bram and Bluma Appel Salon (Toronto Reference Library)
789 Yonge St., Toronto

Voices for World AIDS Day 2023 is presented by Gilead Sciences. Stay tuned for more details and our featured storytellers.

It's Time to Listen and Let Communities Lead

World AIDS Day (December 1, 2023) is when citizens around the world unite to show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses over the last four decades. The theme this year, as declared by UNAIDS, is ‘Let Communities Lead’. This is a principle that underlies all our work at Realize – on HIV and aging, and optimal health and well-being for people living with HIV.
 
This year, in the lead up to December 1st, we have joined with our partners at CANFAR, CATIE, Gilead Sciences (and many others) to say IT ENDS WITH US. Listening to community voices, working together across the HIV community on shared goals, and letting the community lead the HIV response across Canada and beyond, is the only way WE can stop the devastating impact of HIV.

OHESI releases blog post on the trends in HIV testing, diagnoses and the care cascade in Ontario in 2022

In recognition of World AIDS Day 2023, the Ontario HIV Epidemiology Surveillance Initiative   (OHESI) announces the release of a new blogpost titled “Trends in HIV tests, diagnoses and care cascade in Ontario in 2022”. This year, the theme for the day is “Let Communities Lead”. We acknowledge the role of community in OHESI’s efforts, especially the OHESI Champions Committee. As we enter the post-COVID19-pandemic world, it is critical to monitor the epidemic with community guidance, in order to best understand HIV transmission and the HIV care cascade in Ontario. 

Introducing ABRPO's new Director, Mohammad "Moe" Al Akel, a MasterCard Foundation alumnus and 30 under 30 award recipient. He's been a vocal advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights since his time in Beirut, and has worked in various organizations in Canada, including the AIDS Committee of Durham Region and Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services. Moe is now the Director at Fife House for AIDS Bereavement and Resiliency Program of Ontario, where he's passionate about mitigating the impact of AIDS grief and loss. He's also won the Sher Vancouver LGBT leadership award and delivers DEIB workshops with Impact Resolutions.

Pride Toronto.

This year's Pride will run from June 28th to June 30th.

Deadline for entry for the street fair is May 3rd

City Budget Watch

 A Deeper Dive into Revenue Tools. Date: Thursday, November 9, 2023, Time: 12:00 - 1:30PM

Toronto City Council has passed a new long term financial plan, which includes the adoption of, or commitment to review, a host of new revenue tools. With a focus on equity for communities in need, this panel will do a deeper dive into revenue tools and progressive tax options for municipalities. What are some benefits and disadvantages to using these tools? Which tools are the most viable options now, particularly for low-income communities? What challenges do municipalities face in introducing them? How can we work with other levels of government for new revenue tools to be supported?

Register Now

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Toronto for All - Anti-East Asian Racism

Anti-East Asian racism is not new. It is woven through our shared history and entrenched in our systems. Racial harassment and discrimination against East Asians can take shape through stereotyping and overt prejudice, or in more subconscious, subtle ways. Throughout their long history in Toronto and Canada, systemic racism has manifested through discriminatory voting and immigration policies and legislation, as well as forced relocation and internment. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in racist incidents  targeting these communities.  

Upcoming Programs and Events at ACT

ACT can offer a wide range of group support for people living with and affected by HIV in Toronto. Below is a list of some group programs and events that we are hosting this month. Click below for more information:

Take our newest courses for FREE!

To celebrate this year's launch of Fondements 2SLGBTQ and 2SLGBTQ Older Adults and Inclusive Care, both online, self-directed courses will be offered at no cost until November 30. 

Fondements 2SLGBTQ is the French version of our popular flagship course 2SLGBTQ Foundations. Offering 3.5 Mainpro+ credits, this course is designed to give the same skills and knowledge to French-speaking health care and social service providers as we offer in the English version. 

2SLGBTQ Older Adults and Inclusive Care is an introduction to providing clinically and culturally competent care to 2SLGBTQ seniors, elders, and older adults. The course is comprised of four modules, is self-paced and generally takes about two hours to complete. Please note that 2SLGBTQ Foundations or Fondements 2SLGBTQ is a required pre-requisite for all RHO courses. 

Registration is set to no charge on these courses in our learning management system, so simply register before November 30 to access either or both of these courses for free. 

Anecdotes and analysis in providing remote psychotherapy services. HIV Mental Health Network Quarterly Meeting

When: December 13, 2023, at 10:30a.m. – 12p.m. EST

Glenn Walsh (they/them), a registered psychotherapist and a member of NunatuKavut (Southern Labrador) with Inuit and European ancestry will share some of their experience providing remote psychotherapy services to members of NunatuKavut, wherever they reside, often in remote and isolated communities.

Some of the challenges Glenn has experienced include:

· Unreliable technical connections

· Lack of first responder services or services that were not immediately available

· Lack of specialized services to which they could refer complex cases

· Reliance on funding for continuation of services (as it relates to appropriately closing with clients)

· Client fear of confidentiality breaches in small communities

· Dual relationships

· This event will be an interactive conversation that allows participants to bring their lived experience and identities into the space.

Audience

This virtual session is intended for clinical and non-clinical workers supporting people living with HIV. This includes HIV Mental Health workers in ASOs and clinical environments, front line support workers, and private practitioners serving HIV positive clients

Attendees do not need to be members of the HIV Mental Health Network.

Realize is hiring!

• Training Officer

• Research Coordinator

• Podcast and Communications Officer

• National Youth Episodic Disabilities Initiatives Coordinator

• Finance Officer

• Program Assistant (Executive Office)

• Program Assistant

• Program Assistant (Outreach)

Registered Psychotherapist / Registered Social Worker

Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention is seeking a Registered Psychotherapist / Registered Social Worker. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

Harm Reduction Outreach Worker

AIDS Committee of Durham Region is seeking a Harm Reduction Outreach Worker. Applications must be submitted by January 7, 2024

Project Coordinator

Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples (CSSP) is seeking a Project Coordinator. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

HALCO Annual General Meeting

Join Halco on Tuesday November 28, 2023, at 6:00pm

Submit Your Application to Join
the OAN Board of Directors

The Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) is a coalition AIDS Service Organizations and AIDS Service Programs who work collectively to provide a just, effective response to HIV and AIDS, improve life for people infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS, and prevent the spread of the virus. We are seeking committed Board members to strategically lead the organization and help us meet this mandate. Serving on the Board is an extraordinary opportunity for someone who is passionate about Ontario’s HIV sector.

OAN General Meeting

OAN Member organizations are reminded to register to attend our upcoming annual meeting. The meeting is open to OAN members and affiliate members only. 

The OAN Annual Member Meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2023, from 3:00-5:00pm. The annual meeting of people living with HIV (also known as the PHA delegates meeting) is scheduled for November 14, 2023, from 5:30-7:30pm. 

Both meetings will take place virtually via Zoom.

Please message afan@ontarioaidsnetowrk.ca to receive a registration link.

Pride Toronto is seeking a maximum of seven (7) individuals for its Board of Directors

 The Director role is an unpaid volunteer position and requires an average of 10-15-hour commitment per month (higher in May and June). Individuals will be elected at Pride Toronto’s Annual General Meeting in January 2024. The following are vacant board seats and their terms:

• Five  (5) vacant seats that serves a three (3) year term

• One  (1) vacant seat that serves a two (2) year term

• One  (1) vacant seat that serves a one  (1) year term

We are recruiting people who support the mission, vision, and values of the organization and are passionate about serving the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Toronto and beyond. Pride Toronto supports our communities in the pursuit of our unequivocal rights to be known, be heard, be understood, be accepted, be respected, and to celebrate the beauty of who we are.

Our team (Carrie Martin, PhD Candidate under the supervision of Dr. Mark Watson, and Jasmine Cotnam, Community Research Coordinator) have been working on a new research study and we need your help. 

 Our goal of this new study is to understand if and how we can adapt and operationalize a Women-Centered HIV Care Model to better fit the needs of Indigenous women living with HIV in Canada. 

 We hope that by making changes to this Model that are aligned with the identified needs and concerns of Indigenous women living with HIV, that we can help to improve HIV care experiences and health outcomes.  

Adapting and operationalizing the Women-Centered HIV Care Model for Indigenous Women Living with HIV in Canada

Who Can Participate? 

• You self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and/or Metis) 

• You self-identify as a woman (inclusive of cis women, trans women, two-spirit, femme/feminine-identifying genderqueer, and non-binary 

• You have been diagnosed with HIV 

• You are 18 years of age or older 

• You live in British Columbia, Ontario, or Quebec 

• You can communicate in English (or French for Quebec site)

How to Participate
If you meet these requirements and are interested in helping, sign up for the study by contacting either Carrie Martin at carri_ma@live.concordia.ca or Jasmine Cotnam at Jasminecotnam@mail.com.