THN’s Volunteer Core HIV Training Program

This Training Program is open to Volunteers, New Staff, and Peer to Peer workers. Please see your agency's Engagement Coordinator to register.

Volunteer Training Program Starts on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 to June 21, 2023. 6:00p to 9:00p

Fife House - Sherbourne Street.

• Introduction to THN Volunteer Training (Presented By THN)

• Concepts in Communications, Empathy, and Feedback (Presented By PWA & THN)

• HIV Basics and Health Promotion - (Presented by CATIE)

• Confidentiality & Boundaries - (Presented by OODP)

• The Greater Involvement and Meaningful Engagement of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA/MEPA) - (Presented by OODP)

• Harm Reduction Social Determinants (Community, THN)

• Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Framework (Presented By Black CAP and THN)

• Steering the Course – You and the Agency- Volunteering as a PHA or affected by HIV​​​​​​​ (Presented Community, THN)

For further information Contact Brian at THN

We encourage participants to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19:. Do not attend if you are ill, wear masks when at the event and practice hand hygiene. For information about COVID-19 in Toronto, visit Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Information.

2023 By-Election for Mayor

The Mayoral By-election Dates

• Nominations will close Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m.

• Advance voting will take place Thursday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 13

• By-election will be held Monday, June 26

Giving voice to people living with HIV by sharing their diverse and compelling stories. Positively Speaking podcast comes from Casey House, a specialty hospital in Toronto providing care for people living with and at risk of HIV. Each episode is grounded in a central theme, and engages clients, peers, and community members who speak about their experiences. Season 2 has begun, with new episodes available on Wednesdays across all major streaming podcast platforms. Visit CaseyHouse.ca/Positively-Speaking for more details.

HALCO (HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario) Spring 2023 Newsletter,

We’re interested in hearing your perspective on priorities for action that you’d like the Government of Canada to consider. If you are available to join us, please register using the Zoom link below for the session that best speaks to you. Please only register for a session for which you have a personal lived experience. An honorarium is available to those with a personal lived experience who participate in a session. We would appreciate your registration by April 12.

Please note that two sessions will be facilitated in French. The remaining roundtables will be conducted in English, with the option to speak in the official language of your choice. We may organize additional French roundtables should we have enough interested participants. Please select your language preference when registering.

April 19 5:00 – 7:00pm - People living with HIV (English)

April 20 5:00 – 7:00pm - People living with HIV (French)

April 24 5:00 – 7:00pm - People who are newcomers to Canada (English)

May 1 1:00-3:00pm - Discussion regarding a Status Neutral Approach (English)

May 1 5:00 – 7:00pm - People with experience in the prison environment (English)

May 2 1:00-3:00pm - Harm reduction Advocates (English)

May 3 5:00 – 7:00pm - People who use drugs (English)

May 4 5:00 – 7:00pm - People with lived and living experience of Hepatitis (English)

May 8 5:00 – 7:00pm - People engaged in the sale or purchase of sex (English)

Please feel free to share this email with those you think would benefit from attending.

We look forward to hearing from you as we develop a renewed Action Plan.

We are committed to creating a safe, trauma-informed space where participants feel comfortable sharing their views. If there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to contact us: action.plan.daction@phac-aspc.gc.ca

The CAHR 2023 Scientific Committee is pleased to announce the Dr Mark Wainberg Lecturer and Track Plenary Keynote Speakers:

Dr Mark Wainberg Lecturer
Dr Eric Cohen, PhD, Head of the laboratory of Human Retrovirology, Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and Professor of Virology, Université de Montréal.
Thursday, April 27, 6:00-7:00pm

Basic Sciences
Dr Susan Moir, PhD, Senior Investigator and Chief of the B-Cell Immunology Section in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR), National Institutes of Health.
Friday, April 28, 9:00-9:45am

Basic Sciences
Dr Susan Moir, PhD, Senior Investigator and Chief of the B-Cell Immunology Section in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR), National Institutes of Health.
Friday, April 28, 9:00-9:45am

Epidemiology and Public Heath Sciences
Dr Cecile Tremblay, Infectious Disease Specialist, Centre Hospitalier de l'universite de Montreal, and Director, Pfizer/Université de Montréal Chair on HIV Translational Research.
Friday, April 28, 9:45-10:30am

Clinical Sciences
Dr Jean-Pierre Routy, MD, Physician in the Division of Hematology and Director of Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.
Saturday, April 29, 9:00-9:45am

Social Sciences
Dr Adam Bourne, Professor of Public Health and Acting Director, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne
Saturday, April 29, 9:45-10:30am

The Deaf Outreach Program (DOP)

Created a short film about HIV testing, all in sign language and all deaf actors. Thank you ViiV Canada health Network for their funds supported. Called "Misconceptions " directed by, Juan Jaramillo.

We are hoping to showing this summer, we are still searching for the right place, theatre screen size, and accessible before confirming

A Taste for Life (ATFL) in Toronto

You’re invited! On May 17, 2023, participating restaurants in Toronto will donate a percentage of revenue from the sale of food and drinks to Fife House. Make a date with your family, friends, and colleagues to dine out at any one of the many participating restaurants in Toronto that evening. You will you be enjoying a delicious meal. You will also be supporting Fife House and its programs and services in support of people and families living with HIV/AIDS. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.ATasteForLife.org/Toronto, or visit https://www.FifeHouse.org/events/a-taste-for-life/

How you can help make a difference:

• Make dinner plans: Reach out to your community and networks, and invite them to dinner with you at a participating restaurant. Make reservations ahead of time directly with the restaurant. After 2+ years of COVID19, A Taste for Life is a great reason to reconnect with friends, family, and colleagues over a meal!

• Unable to dine out on May 17th? You can still help make a difference by making a donation directly to Fife House, and by spreading the word among your networks.

Have any questions?  ask@fifehouse.org

CATIE Safer Substance use Fact Sheets

Fact sheet series with tips for safer substance use. These eight resources cover key messages on safer injecting, smoking and snorting practices for different drugs.

The safer substance use fact sheets are adapted from CATIE’s safer substance use video series and were developed to help service providers support people who use drugs to prepare and use their drugs as safely as possible.

The fact sheets outline steps for the safer preparation and use of a variety of drugs. Including powder and crack cocaine, crystal meth, fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioids.

Totally outRIGHT.

Sexual health leadership program for Queer, Trans and Non-binary male-identified youth (19-29). Focused on making friendships and connections during a time when youth are facing the transforming landscape of anew post-COVID world. Designed to be inclusive of trans men, racialized men and men living with HIV. It is a program that recognizes the diversity of Toronto’s youth in its faculty, sexual health info and panel discussions.

Registration will close on April 24th at 12pm

ABRPO

2 new learning opportunities coming up in May: Vikki Reynolds Solidarity Teams for Workers and another cohort of the Grief Basics Facilitated Workshop. These are opportunities to come together for learning, sharing, and resisting the multiple losses that can lead to burnout and moral injury.

Upcoming Programs and Events

ACT offers a wide range of group supports for people living with and affected by HIV in Toronto.  Click below for more information:

Good Company Lunch - Thursday April 6, 13, 20, 27

Michael for more info at mstoyles@actoronto.org or by calling 416 340 8484 ext 296.

Meet N Eat - Friday April 7, 14, 21, 28

Michael for more info at mstoyles@actoronto.org or by calling 416 340 8484 ext 296.

Financial Freedom Series: Budgeting and Finances 101 - April 6

Financial Freedom Series: Accessing & Maximizing OW/ODSP - April 14

National Volunteer Week - April 16- 22

Let's Talk about Sex Baby - A Women's Forum on Intimacy- April 19

Asian Night at Spa Excess!

Cum to relax, meet new guys and have some fun. Our volunteer team will be there to create a welcoming and friendly environment while getting you connected with resources on PrEP and HIV/STI testing. Coupon for 50% off lockers available by contacting Ryan

Games Night.

Freeplay Arcade for free unlimited arcade and classic games. This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cis, and trans guys.

Monday, April 24 6:30pm: Meet at ACAS (260 Spadina Ave, Unit 410) for greetings and introductions.
7:00 pm: 10-minute walk over to Freeplay Arcade (300 College St)
Free, no cover on Mondays!

Movie Night & HIV self testing

April 21 / 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Asian Community AIDS Services for a night of learning, free HIV self-testing kits, a movie, snacks, and community.

Friday, April 21 at 7:00 PM 260 Spadina Ave, Unit410, 4th floor
Vote for the movie you want to see ('Fire Island' or 'Everything Everywhere Allat Once') at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLMY6KD

Community Counsellor

AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) is seeking a Community Counsellor. Application submissions accepted until Friday May 5, 2023 at 5:00p

OAN Executive Director

Ontario AIDS Network is seeking an Executive Director. Application Accepted until position is filled

Join PASAN Board of Directors

As a member of our board, you’ll meet and collaborate with individuals committed to prisoners’ justice, advocating for equitable HIV resources.

Attending monthly board meetings and serving on one or more board committees. You will have the opportunity to contribute to PASAN’s strategic direction and support the organization in communicating and achieving its mandate. Particularly, regarding Advocacy, Board Development, Decolonization, Anti-Oppression/Anti-Racism, Finance, and Fundraising.

To Queer or Not to Queer:

The Impact of EDI Policy Language on Queer People’s Sense of Belonging in Schools

Seeking LGBTQ+ research participants, ages 16-30.

The survey looks at how the use of particular, identity-related language in K-12 educational equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Policies impacts the sense of belonging queer people have in schools.

As a thank you, participants will be able to enter a draw for a chance to win 1 of 3 $50 gift cards.

This project has been reviewed and approved by the Wilfrid Laurier University Research Ethics Board (REB# 8492).