HIV and AIDS have been with us for thirty years but stigma and its effects continue to create harm
VICTORIA, BC—While this year’s UNAIDS World AIDS Day theme, ‘Getting to Zero’, aims to achieve zero new HIV infections and zero AIDS deaths, it is the goal of getting to zero stigma that is often hardest to attain. Advancements in treatment and broader access to testing have made the first two ‘zero’ goals within reach on Vancouver Island. However, for a coalition of storytellers who are living with HIV in the capital region, stigma remains a harmful and dominant force. (more…)
People First Radio, an initiative offered by Nanaimo’s Columbian Centre—in partnership with the Radio Malaspina Society—marks six years on the air this week. The “program about people, the society in which we live, and issues related to health and wellness” was conceived by Columbian’s executive director Tom Grauman and then put into motion by co-presenters Kevin Midbo and Jan Coleman. 
Jim Spinelli doesn’t like the term ‘low-barrier housing,’ despite his 17-year involvement with finding affordable housing for local residents.
Fresh from the reality TV spectacle of the Senate scandals, Canadians have been offered a new series, the Rob Ford crack cocaine video saga. But there haven’t been resignations in shame or hasty retreats to “spend more time” with one’s family. The response seems to be ‘nothing to see here…move on.’ Rob Ford, for example, has said, “I have no reason to resign.” His popularity, meanwhile, seems to actually have increased. 
EDMONTON—Five days after undergoing gastric bypass surgery to reduce the size of her stomach and lose weight, Adrianna O’Regan knew something was wrong. She became violently ill and could not even keep down water.
Addiction is a chronic and progressive health issue affecting the body, mind and spirit of individuals with chemical dependency. Not only does it affect the addicted person, but it has a significant impact on family, workplace and community systems as well.