Positive Living Magazine

NEWS A ND TRE A TM E NT I N F O RM A T I O N FRO M TH E PO S ITIV E LIV IN G SO CIE T Y O F B R ITISH CO LUM BI A NEW S A ND T RE A TM E NT I N F O RM A T I O N FRO M TH E PO S ITIV E LIV IN G SO CIE T Y O F B R ITISH CO LUM BI A

ISSN 1712-8536

NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 20 • NUMBER 6

Pictures from the Brink

Surviving Suicidal Thoughts

May McQueen

Aurora Cannabis

IAS 2018

I N S I D E

Follow us at:  pozlivingbc  positivelivingbc

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FIGHTING WORDS

Latest developments on HIV disclosure are a win for advocates

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COVER STORY

Still Here documents suicidal thoughts and survival in HIV-positive men

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LATEST INFO ON HPV & HIV

The linkage between HIV and individual HPV types appears strong

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NUTRITION

Staying hydrated isn’t complicated, says our nutrition expert

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INFANTS AT RISK

Study urges CMV screening of children in routine HIV care

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POZ CONTRIBUTIONS Recognizing Positive Living BC supporters

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VIVA’S SISTER TO SISTER African study addresses risks of violence and HIV for girls and young women

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GIVING WELL

A look at one of the hottest companies, today, Aurora Cannabis Inc.

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VOLUNTEER PROFILE Volunteering at Positive Living BC

 positivelivingbc.org

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AIDS 2018 CONFERENCE WRAP UP

Behind the showbiz glitz at this year’s AIDS conference

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IN MEMORIAM: MAY MCQUEEN

Photos and recollections by some of the many friends of our dear Ms. May

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LAST BLAST

Some final words from Ross Harvey as he clears on out

HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM MANDATE & DISCLAIMER In accordance with our mandate to provide support activities and prejudice. The program does not recommend, advocate, or endorse facilities for members for the purpose of self-help and self-care, the the use of any particular treatment or therapy provided as information.

Positive Living Society of BC operates a Health Promotion Program The Board, staff, and volunteers of the Positive Living Society of to make available to members up-to-date research and information BC do not accept the risk of, or the responsiblity for, damages, on treatments, therapies, tests, clinical trials, and medical models costs, or consequences of any kind which may arise or result from associated with AIDS and HIV-related conditions. The intent of the use of information disseminated through this program. Persons this project is to make available to members information they can using the information provided do so by their own decisions and access as they choose to become knowledgeable partners with hold the Society’s Board, staff, and volunteers harmless. Accepting their physicians and medical care team in making decisions to information from this program is deemed to be accepting the terms promote their health. The Health Promotion Program endeavours to of this disclaimer. provide all research and information to members without judgment or P5SITIVE LIVING | 1 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Message The Positive Living Society of British Columbia seeks to empower persons living with HIV disease and AIDS through mutual support and collective action. The Society has over 6,000 HIV+ members.

POSITIVE LIVING EDITORIAL BOARD Joel Nim Cho Leung, co-chair, Tom McAulay, co-chair – Glen Bradford, Elgin Lim, Jason Motz, Adam Reibin, Neil Self, Yaz Shariff MANAGING EDITOR Jason Motz

DESIGN / PRODUCTION Britt Permien FACTCHECKING KT Moon COPYEDITING Maylon Gardner, Heather G. Ross PROOFING Ashra Kolhatkar CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Olivier Ferlatte, Ross Harvey, Jason Hjalmarson, Gary Kasten, Tom McAulay, Jason Motz, Yaz Shariff PHOTOGRAPHY Britt Permien DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION Adam Reibin DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Glen Bradford TREATMENT, HEALTH AND WELLNESS COORDINATOR Brandon Laviolette SUBSCRIPTIONS / DISTRIBUTION John Kozachenko, Matthew Matthew Funding for Positive Living magazine is provided by the BC Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch & by subscription & donations.

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 Reception 604.893.2200  Editor 604.893.2206  living@positivelivingbc.org  positivelivingbc.org

Permission to reproduce: All Positive Living articles are copyrighted. Non-commercial reproduction is welcomed.

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© 2018 Positive Living

from the chair

M

any of you already know, but for those of you who don’t, this is my second term as Chair of Positive Living BC’s Board of Directors. My first tenure on the Board was from 1995-2001. At that time, I was unwittingly a harbinger of change, bringing the Society from a kitchen table grassroots organization into the boardroom. Almost two decades on, I find myself again on the cusp of change for this organization.

Nearly everything about HIV has changed in the last twenty years. And the Society has kept pace with such changes in terms of its programming and services delivered. What hasn’t changed is our model of governance.

Mutual support and collective action is the mission of Positive Living BC. That mission can only be achieved when membership is actively involved in the work of the organization and the advocacy efforts we undertake. Yet, today there are fewer members participating at this high level of involvement; new members are, more often than not, engaging with our programs and services in a client-based model rather than the self-empowerment model that is the core of our mission.

There are many reasons for this: the advancement of HIV treatments has allowed many members to keep jobs, homes, friends, to stay in school, and to live a full life. These people tend not to need or use community services. Whereas the members we now see at the commu-

P5SITIVE LIVING | 2 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

TOM MCAULAY

nity level are the most in need, living the most chaotic of lives, often living in poverty, and with the least capacity to contribute to our self-empowerment and collective action model.

We need to modernize the way we do business. We have to ask the hard question: is an all HIV-positive Board still an effective way to govern our Society? We must look at all aspects of how we operate and make changes that are appropriate for the new HIV paradigm.

So what are we going to do about it?

Your new Board is concerned about all of this and will be seeking membership input to answer the difficult questions, and to help us navigate our path into the future. This will likely come in the form of a membership survey and town hall meetings where we can speak at length and in person. Of course, any constitutional changes will come to the full membership for vote at our AGM. It is my hope and dream that we will engage in a robust and meaningful process to determine what our membership wants.

The exciting thing for me personally is that this time, I am more than wittingly a harbinger of change. Change—while difficult—is an opportunity. I welcome your input at this early stage in the process.

Email me anytime at tomm@positivelivingbc.org or drop by and see me on the fourth floor at 1101 Seymour Street. So let’s get going again! 5

‘Hibernating’ HIV strains

pCanadian researchers have developed

a novel way for dating “hibernating” HIV strains, advancing HIV cure research in the province. Published in the prestigious journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the BC-CfE’s first major scientific contribution to the areas of HIV cure research confirms that dormant HIV strains can persist in the body for decades.

“If you can’t identify it, you can’t cure it,” said Dr. Zabrina Brumme, lead author on the study. “This research provides further essential clues in the pursuit of an HIV cure—which will ultimately require the complete eradication of dormant or ‘latent’ HIV strains.”

“Scientists,” Brumme added, “have long known that strains of HIV can remain essentially in hibernation in an individual living with HIV, only to reactivate many years later.

Our study confirms that the latent HIV reservoir is genetically diverse and can contain viral strains dating back to transmission.”

Dormant HIV strains, which have integrated their DNA into that of the body’s cells, can persist for years and are unreachable by antiretroviral treatments and the immune system. They can reactivate at any time, which is why HIV treatment needs to be maintained for life.

Through advances in antiretroviral therapy, an individual living with HIV can now live a longer, healthier life on treatment. Treatment works by stopping HIV from infecting new cells. On sustained treatment, individuals can achieve a level of virus that is undetectable by standard blood tests. An undetectable viral load means improved health and the virus is not transmittable to others.

In order to “date” dormant HIV strains within the viral reservoir, researchers needed to compare these strains to those that evolved with an individual living with HIV over the entire history of their infection. The BC-CfE is one of a handful of institutions worldwide capable of such research, thanks to its maintenance of a historical repository of blood specimens from individuals diagnosed with HIV in BC. These specimens date back to 1996 and were originally collected for viral load and drug resistance testing.

Source: www.cfenet.ubc.ca

Effective vaccines missing from pipeline

pMany of the vaccines critically needed

to fight some of the world’s most prevalent infectious diseases are not likely to be developed, according to a new analysis of current candidates in the research and development pipeline.

The study, led by Duke University’s Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, analyzed 538 product candidates for 35 neglected diseases to estimate the costs and likelihood that each would progress to a product launch. Using a new financial modeling tool known as Portfolio-to-Impact (P2I), the researchers found that, under current conditions and funding, about 128 of those candidates would make it through the pipeline—including new diagnostics as well as repurposed and novel medicines.

But the model suggests the current pipeline is unlikely to yield highly effective vaccines for HIV, tuberculosis (TB), or malaria—advances that global health experts have said could be game-changers in the

effort to control the worldwide spread of infectious diseases.

“What this tells us is the current development pipeline is not likely to give us all the pieces to fight these diseases,” said Gavin Yamey, Director of the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health. “It underscores the need to substantially scale up resources and innovative development approaches to fill those gaps.”

While highly effective vaccines for HIV, TB, or malaria are unlikely to be launched, the P2I model did estimate some 85 other types of products for these three diseases would reach launch, reflecting the predominant share of the R&D funding those diseases receive.

“The model shows us where the current pipeline is most robust and where it is lacking,” Yamey said. “For global health advocates, this is a broad picture of what pieces we are likely to still be missing, and where we can direct priorities in funding and product development.”

Source: Eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-09/du-eth090418.php

Special antibodies could lead to HIV vaccine

pA small number of people who are

infected with HIV-1 produce very special antibodies. These antibodies do not just fight one virus strain, but neutralize almost all known virus strains. Research into developing an HIV vaccine focuses on discovering the factors responsible for the production of such antibodies.

A research team led by the University of Zurich (UZH) and University Hospital Zurich (USZ) has been searching for these factors for

P5SITIVE LIVING | 3 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

years. Several have already been identified: for example, the virus load and the diversity of the viruses, the duration of the infection, and the ethnicity of the affected person can all influence the body’s immune response.

The starting point for the researchers was the data and biobanked blood samples of around 4,400 HIV-infected people, recorded in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Zurich Primary HIV Infection Study. In total the researchers found 303 potential transmission pairs—i.e. pairs of patients for whom the similarity of the viruses’ genomic RNA indicated that they were probably infected with the same virus strain. “By comparing the immune response of these pairs of patients, we were able to show that the HIV virus itself has an influence on the extent and specificity of the antibody reactions,” said Roger Kouyos, the study’s first author.

Antibodies acting against HIV bind to proteins found on the surface of the virus.

These envelope proteins differ according to virus strain and subtype. The researchers therefore examined more closely a patient pair with very similar virus genomes and at the same time very strong activity of broadly neutralizing antibodies.

“We discovered that there must be a special envelope protein that causes an efficient defense, “ sad Alexandra Trkola, virologist and head of the Institute of Medical Virology at UZH. In order to be able to develop an effective vaccine against HIV-1, it is necessary to pinpoint the envelope proteins and virus strains that lead to the formation of broadly acting antibodies. It is therefore planned to widen the search.

Source: www.UZH.ch

Possible cure key found in bowels?

pA study of HIV-positive patients with

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) found that administering a drug for IBD disrupts congregating T cells infected with HIV in the gut—which form a persistent reservoir of infection. The compound, called vedolizumab (VDZ), could someday help find a cure for HIV. Although modern antiviral medications can keep HIV at bay, there is still no treatment that eliminates the virus from the body. One key roadblock is the virus’s ability to infect T cells that reside in the mucosal tissues of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Researchers focused on T–cells harbouring a4ß7, a protein that mediates the migration of immune cells into certain portions of the GI tract. They administered VDZ—a frontline treatment for IBD that targets a4ß7—to a group of six IBD patients who were also HIV-positive and monitored them for 30 weeks through blood tests and colonoscopies. VDZ thwarted formation of the T– cell clusters in subjects’ small intestines, and proved safe over the study’s duration.

These results support the idea that anti-a4ß7 therapy could be an important tool in the ongoing quest to eradicate HIV, the authors say.

Source: www.aaas.org

SFU undergrad wins award to pursue HIV research

the Pula Award in Health Sciences, which honours an undergrad student who has “demonstrated history of or expressed interest in doing research work in the area of HIV/AIDS.” Growing up with family members who were living with HIV, Rosa Balleny learned that there are many barriers to accessing services and health care in Canada, and that these barriers are never equally distributed. This was her motivation for pursuing a BSc in the FHS, with a focus in Life Sciences.

“I was drawn to the more holistic approach to studying health,” she said, “We’re not just focusing on the biomedical aspects of our own health, but how society and the institutions that we live in affect our own lives and the health of populations.”

This summer, Balleny worked with data regarding peer leadership, and sexual and HIV-related health outcomes of HIV-positive women. Hearing their voices being placed at the centre of discussions has given her a new perspective about how public health research can be conducted.

Balleny is in her last year at SFU and plans to pursue a career in medicine, with the hopes of working as a physician in public health. She aspires to use the knowledge she has gained regarding the social determinants of health and illness to help increase the access to and quality of health care for people living with HIV in Canada.

Source: www.sfu.ca/fhs 5

pA fourth year undergraduate student

in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) has received P5SITIVE LIVING | 4 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

By Tom McAulay

Science weighs in on HIV disclosure

F

ighting Words is a regular column informed by the work of Positive Living BC’s Positive Action Committee. Our mandate is to advocate and educate at various levels of government and industry to help shape policies that address the needs of people living with HIV. In other words, this is where we engage in political action.

Among our priority issues over the past few years is HIV criminalization. We have worked diligently with our community partners across the country to insist that scientific fact and socio-cultural realities are what shape Canada’s laws surrounding HIV disclosure and related prosecution.

Influencing lawmakers is a struggle that requires constant vigilance and widespread support from key players in HIV research, treatment, and care. We cannot overcome this struggle alone.

That’s why we were thrilled by an outcome of the nd 22 International AIDS Conference (IAS) held this July in Amsterdam. Twenty leading HIV researchers worldwide released a consensus statement declaring that science does not support HIV criminalization. The consensus statement was published in the Journal of the International AIDS Society (IAS) along with an editorial entitled, “Addressing HIV Criminalization: Science Confronts Ignorance and Bias.”

The authors of the consensus statement asserted that, “Globally, prosecutions for non-disclosure, exposure or transmission of HIV frequently relate to sexual activity, biting, or spitting. This includes instances in which no harm was intended, HIV transmission did not occur, and HIV transmission was extremely unlikely or not possible. This suggests prosecutions are not always guided by the best available scientific and medical evidence.”

They concluded that, “The application of up-to-date scientific evidence in criminal cases has the potential to limit unjust prosecutions and convictions. The authors recommend that caution be exercised when considering prosecution, and encourage governments and those working in legal and judicial systems to pay close attention to the significant advances in HIV science that have occurred over the last three decades to ensure current scientific knowledge informs application of the law in cases related to HIV.” The statement also confirms that, “at least 68 countries have laws that specifically criminalize HIV non-disclosure, exposure, or transmission. Thirty-three countries are known to have applied other criminal law provisions in similar cases.”

Why is this important? It shows that Canadians living with HIV are not alone in how we are unjustly treated by the courts. Positive Living BC has always functioned on the belief that there is safety and power in numbers. And perhaps more than ever, we now believe that there is a true worldwide movement behind our efforts to be treated fairly. On a more granular level, this statement will also play an essential role in future criminalization cases as it demonstrates how the world’s top experts in HIV science are behind us.

Finally, progress! 5

To read the ‘Expert consensus statement on the science of HIV in the context of criminal law’, visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6058263

P5SITIVE LIVING | 5 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Good Dehydration: it’s all in your pee “Check your pee.” That’s my answer whenever someone asks me the old “How much water should I drink in a day?” question.

There’s a ton of misinformation out there about hydration, water consumption, and various other drinks: coffee, rehydration drinks, pop, and juice. All of the chitchat ignores that the simplest way to check your hydration status is to look at the colour of your urine: a pale yellow or clear urine indicates adequate hydration. The US National Parks Service hangs a urine colour chart over all of the urinals in Death Valley Park to educate park visitors about the importance of hydration.

So, what contributes to good hydration?

Water is a great choice—it has no sugar in it, and doesn’t contribute to tooth decay (unlike pop.) Be careful about adding acids to water, though; sipping on acidic water mixes can affect tooth enamel. Add cucumbers, watermelon, or leafy herbs to a jug of water, or just lemon peel.

Foods supply a lot of the water that we consume. Watery foods (vegetables, fruits, and soups) contribute much of the water we intake, but few of us eat enough of these foods to meet recommendations. Try to use the Half Your Plate rule promoted by Vancouver Coastal Health and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association. I try to get people to choose eating fruit over drinking juice, because juice has a high sugar content (equal to pop), without any of the fibre.

When eating fruit, the fibre in it slows down how fast sugar enters the blood.

Folks worry about the dehydrating influence of what they drink, too. Studies show that caffeinated beverages don’t have the impact on hydration that was once thought. People who drink up to 800 ml of coffee per day (two Grande or one Venti) have no significant differences in hydration from the same people

By Gerry Kasten

when they’re not drinking coffee. (If you’re drinking more than two Grandes per day, maybe rethink your coffee consumption habits.)

Alcohol does dehydrate you, so try to switch between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as you’re imbibing.

Any number of studies show that rehydration drinks like Gatorade are not necessary except for people who are exerting themselves for longer periods, people exercising in the hot conditions, or professional athletes.

So, hydration is not rocket science: our thirst is a pretty good guide. And, as I mentioned, “Check your pee!” It’s really the simplest indicator. 5 Gerry Kasten, MSc RD, is the dietician at Spectrum Health in Vancouver.

SUGGESTED READING Kavouras SA. Assessing hydration status.

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care. 2002 September;5(5):519.

Shirreffs SM. Markers of hydration status.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

2003 Dec;57(S2):S9.

Healthy Eating - Vancouver Coastal Health [Internet]. 2017 [cited August 13, 2018].

Available from: www.vch.ca/public-health/ nutrition/healthy-eating.

Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Veggies - Home [Internet]. [cited Aug 13, 2018].

Available from: www.halfyourplate.ca/.

Killer SC, Blannin AK, Jeukendrup AE. No Evidence of Dehydration with Moderate Daily Coffee Intake: A Counterbalanced Cross-Over Study in a Free-Living Population.

PLOS ONE. 2014 Jan 9;9(1):e84154.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 7 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

wom n First sexual encounter links to HIV and violence for Kenyan women

A

dolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya are more likely to experience higher risks of HIV and gender-based violence when they are involved with sex work venues or have sexual experiences at a young age, suggests a study led by St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Manitoba.

Published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS), the research suggests that the conditions of a first sexual encounter, such as a woman’s age, the man’s age, use of condoms, and whether or not the encounter is consensual can be indicators of future risk of HIV infections and gender-based violence.

The researchers found that adolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya who are forced or coerced in their first sexual experience, are four to five times more likely to face ongoing gender-based violence throughout their life. This research also showed that one in four participants experience gender-based violence after their first sexual experience, with 37.5 percent prevalence amongst those involved in sex work.

Dr. Sharmistha Mishra, of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital and one of the study’s lead authors, et al found that women who experienced their first sexual encounter before the age of 15 were two times more likely to be at risk of HIV acquisition. This was especially common for sex workers and those who frequented sex work venues.

“We wanted to understand early risk and vulnerabilities for HIV because many prevention programs for key populations reach young sex workers several years after they have already experienced high-risk encounters,” Dr. Mishra said. “There were vulnerabilities that appear in the first few years of becoming sexually active and entering sex work more formally.”

The study’s results were drawn from a cross-sectional biological and behavioural survey conducted among sexually active girls and young women in Mombasa. Community organizations identified participants at local sex work hotspots who then participated in interviews and HIV testing. Participants were referred to HIV prevention and care programs in Mombasa.

“Global health partnerships are strongest when there is a generation of new knowledge that informs programs led on the ground,” said Dr. Mishra, speaking of this work’s partnership between St. Michael’s Hospital, the University of Toronto, the University of Manitoba, and the National AIDS and STI Control Programme in Kenya.

This research is part of a multi-component study designed to count how many young women are involved in sex work in Mombasa, to measure early HIV risks through a representative survey, and conduct mathematical modelling to understand the impact of not accounting for the early risk many young women face.

“We’ve identified a need to provide a HIV preventions and treatment plans for adolescent girls and young women at an earlier age,” said Dr. Marissa Becker, associate professor at the University of Manitoba and co-lead of the study. “We hope the findings of this research can assist HIV prevention programs to adapt their strategies to reach vulnerable young women and teenaged girls at a younger age and intervene on risks early on.” 5 Courtesy of www.stmichaelshospital.com

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International conference spotlights AIDS advancements

By Yaz Shariff

The

22nd International AIDS conference (AIDS 2018) took place in Amsterdam 23-27 July.

Awash with celebrities from Elton John to former US president Bill Clinton, the limelight remained firmly on the community, research, and advocates internationally. Around 18,000 participants from over 160 countries attended to tell a story of hope and optimism as well as cautionary urgency. Here are some of the notable highlights from the event.

Stigma’s Kryptonite - PARTNER 2

News released in further support of Treatment as Prevention (TasP) and U=U initiatives. The science behind the message is getting stronger as the notion is robustly tested. Arguably, the burden of proof should now be whether people with a suppressed viral load are able to transmit HIV. PARTNER 2 sought to expand on the evidence produced by HPTN 052 and PARTNER 1 that a suppressed viral load prevents HIV transmission via sexual contact. Up until this release, there was not enough data in gbMSM groups to apply this statement as confidently as they could in their heterosexual counterparts.

Together, PARTNER 1 and PARTNER 2 have accumulated a total of 972 serodiscordant gay and 516 heterosexual couples. A total of 76, 991 acts of condomless sex were recorded and no attributable transmissions when the HIV-positive partner had a suppressed viral load. PARTNER 2 is the latest in a series of randomised controlled trials that have cemented the fact that people with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV to their sexual partners.

U=U Goes Global

Ten years on from The Swiss Statement, the U=U movement was in full swing showcasing the campaign’s global reach in ener-

gizing advocates worldwide. The community-based initiative is unique in comparison to the TasP and universal test and treat campaigns rooted in public health. U=U focuses on the individual and addresses the legacy of HIV stigma; it tells people they are not a danger to their sexual partner and offers hope against the stigma.

Work remains in disseminating the statement to all communities. In order to enhance the message’s significance, the language needs demystifying in order to be heard farther afield.

Reaching PLHIV and having that individual believe in the message is only half the battle; we need to reach their sexual partners, too, and have them understand it as well. What is needed is an unequivocal response from advocates and community alike. With over 76,000 condomless sex acts covering every type of sex imaginable — that’s a lot of sex—and zero transmissions, the messaging should reflect this groundbreaking finding.

Cure Research—The Kick that Didn’t Kill

Hopes of an eradication cure have been unsuccessful, according to initial results from the first experiment into a “kick & kill” approach.

The kick & kill strategy looked at activating HIV from hiding places in the body known as latent reservoirs (the kick). The immune system was trained to “kill” HIV by administering vaccines. However, researchers did not find a difference in effect between those who received kick and kill therapy and those who were given standard ART. Despite the disappointing results, the trial paves the way for testing different combinations of therapies to tackle latent HIV reservoirs. “It does not mean the basis of the approach is wrong.

This is the very first randomised study of the kick and kill concept and the field now needs to work together to explore how better and more effective agents can have an impact of the HIV reservoir,” said Dr. S. Fidler, co-principal investigator.

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© WHO/I.S. van Dijk

Meg Doherty, Coordinator of Treatment and Care, Department of HIV/AIDS at WHO talks about dolutegravir, the new HIV medicine at AIDS 2018.

HIV is Not a Crime

An expert consensus statement reflecting the science of HIV in the context of criminal law was published at AIDS 2018. (See ‘Fighting Words’ on page 5.) The statement uses recent research to provide an accurate portrayal of the current HIV climate in order to offer caution when prosecution is sought for HIV transmission, exposure, and non-disclosure. Twenty eminent scientists, including two leading Canadian researchers, produced the statement. Canada has had a peer-reviewed National Consensus statement led by Dr. Julio Montaner for four years; yet, it remains one of the worst offenders for prosecutions.

It acts to provide criminal justice authorities with a tool for expert evidence when estimating the risk of transmission, taking into account condom use, male circumcision, PrEP, PEP, and viral load that is low or undetectable. It also addresses the misconceptions exaggerating the harms of HIV infection. If it is assumed HIV could cause grievous bodily harm, a more severe punishment is sought. The statement acknowledges the nature of an HIV diagnosis, reflective of the advances in treatment allowing for a long productive life. The statement also acknowledges that medical records and phylogenetic analysis cannot conclusively prove transmission.

The challenge now is to turn the strong rhetoric and passion into action on the ground.

Spotlight on Dolutegravir

Concerns were addressed around dolutegravir following a safety warning issued in May for use in pregnant women. The prevalence of adverse effects in newborn babies was higher in groups taking dolutegravir. The trade-off in using dolutegravir in populations who may benefit from its superior performance suppressing viral load, needed to be balanced against averting adverse effects or deaths in infants.

This was highlighted in a report that dolutegravir achieved faster rates of viral suppression than efavirenz (24 days cf. to 84 days). This was true of mainly undiagnosed women in late pregnancy, and shows dolutegravir’s potential power in reducing vertical transmission of HIV during pregnancy and birth.

A Brazillian study showed that those starting HIV treatment for the first time were more likely to have a fully suppressed viral load with dolutegravir-based regimens supporting the WHO’s recent endorsement to include dolutegravir as a first-line treatment option. However, concerns on its use in pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential may restrict its uptake.

Dolutegravir has also been showcased at the conference as being as effective in dual therapy as triple therapy. This could reduce the burden of side effects, reducing transmission rates as well, and has the potential of lowering treatment cost as a two-medication regimen.

AIDS 2018 reignited the passions of the community, demonstrating the AIDS movement hasn’t gone away. However, development assistance funding for HIV has dropped $3 billion (USD) between 2012 and 2017. Eight of 14 governments reduced their global spend efforts in 2017 with the US expected to follow suit. US policy now prohibits funding going to foreign NGOs, including HIV services.

The true test will come in France next year at the Global Fund Replenishment. While successes should be recognized and celebrated, they must not breed complacency. With 1.8 million new infections in 2017, complacency and reduced funding for HIV/AIDS threatens the progress towards the 90-90-90 target in 2020. Perhaps the hardest challenge now is to convince people that AIDS is not over. 5 Yaz Shariff is Treatment Outreach Coordinator at Positive Living BC.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 11 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

‘Here to stay’

All photographs by participants of the Still Here Project

Picturing suicide and resilience among gay and bisexual men living with HIV

By Olivier Ferlatte

“When

I was diagnosed, my first thought was to just crash the car against the bridge and just die. The thought to kill myself just appeared in my mind. It was a scary moment in my life, just deciding to do it or not.

Obviously, I didn’t. I’m here.”

This is Spencer. In a small interview room at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus he recounted the first time he had thoughts of suicide. Before

this interview, Spencer disclosed that he had never spoken about his struggles with suicide to anyone. Like many others who have contemplated killing themselves, Spencer felt a great deal of shame and embarrassment. He also did not know where to look for help. He felt that he was the only person in the world who thought that he would be better off dead. So, he suffered in silence.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 13 | SEPTEMBER •• OCTOBER 2018

continued next page

But Spencer was not alone in his struggle. Suicidal thoughts and death by suicide are far more common than people think. One in ten Canadians will have thoughts of suicide in their lifetime. These experiences are even more common in the HIV community. In British Columbia, nearly one in twelve deaths among PLHIV between the years 1996 and 2010 were from suicide, a rate three times higher than that in the general population.

Data from the most recent Sex Now Survey show that struggles with suicide are common among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. One in four gay and bisexual men living with HIV had serious thoughts of suicide in the past 12 months, while 5 percent had attempted suicide during the same time period. The rate of suicide attempts of gay and bisexual men living with HIV is 1.5 times higher than among HIV-negative gay and bisexual men, and over 12 times the rate reported among the general population of Canadian men.

Despite the elevated risk of suicide among the HIV community, and particularly among gay and bisexual men living with HIV, we know very little about the unique prevention needs of those living with HIV. Mental health services for PLHIV are insufficient and continue to be difficult to access.



Mental health services for PLHIV are insufficient and continue to be difficult to access.

To draw attention to this issue, Spencer (names of participants have been changed) and 21 other gay and bisexual men living with HIV, who have contemplated suicide in the past, took part in the Still Here Project, an art-based project centred on a research technique known as “photovoice.” Spencer and the other participants took photographs that captured their experiences

with suicide, including what triggered their thoughts of suicide and how they managed them. Then, they participated in interviews in which they described their photographs and the meanings behind them.

Over 150 photographs were contributed to the Still Here Project, providing an intimate look into what it means to battle suicide as someone living with HIV. A common theme in the photographs and the participant

stories is the connection between HIV stigma and suicide. Advancements in HIV treatment and care have transformed the length and quality of life of those living with HIV, yet attitudes have been slower to change.

Boyd, another project participant, described it this way: “There’s still a lot of judgment and criticism from people who are [HIV-]negative. I’ve had people literally run away from me screaming, ‘stay the hell away from me!’”

Many participants described similar experiences where they were rejected and abandoned by partners, family members, and friends due to their status. Others told us that these abandonments pushed them towards thinking about suicide. Some described how they had internalized HIV stigma and that they felt dirty and blamed themselves for their HIV status, contributing to their suicidal ideation.

However, many felt that HIV stigma was only one piece of the puzzle that explained why they contemplated suicide. Kirk described how “HIV in the decision to

P5SITIVE LIVING | 14 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

suicide would have been 40 percent of the reason.” Kirk cites loneliness after a break-up and the loss of social support after he immigrated to Canada as other factors that lead him to consider suicide.

Loneliness featured prominently among participants as a trigger of suicidality. Jerome described how loneliness affected his mental health and suicidality: “I started using drugs, and I did all the wrong things to feel less lonely.”



Talking about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide.

This is a myth.

Other common factors mentioned by the participants were experiences of trauma and violence, financial and housing difficulties, and a general sense of hopelessness.

What is most striking in the Still Here participant stories are the difficulties they experienced accessing services to help them manage their suicidality and other concurrent mental health difficulties, such as depression and addiction. The cost associated with counselling and the limited availability of free mental health services were the barriers most often encountered. Many participants also spoke of mental health stigma as an important factor that prevented them from seeking help. Indeed, many were worried about appearing weak for having thoughts of suicide. A participant, Nick, drew some interesting parallels between HIV stigma and suicide stigma: “I think suicide’s one of those things that’s like a hidden thing, kind of like HIV. You might think it, you might want to do it, might come close to doing it, but you don’t really want people to find out.”

Despite stigma, suicidality, and difficulty accessing help, the participants were still able to tell their stories.

They are still here. Their survival demonstrates tremendous strength among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.

Their resilience was evident in the creative ways they had found to manage their suicidal thoughts and improve their mood. For example, many found support within their peers and the HIV community. Several participants described how they were volunteering, supporting other individuals living with HIV, or participated in activism to break their isolation and to give themselves a sense of purpose. Others engaged in art, spent time with their pets or loved ones, or practiced meditation to better their well-being.

In terms of what needs to be done to reduce suicide among PLHIV, the Still Here Project participants were unanimous about one point: we must start by breaking the silence around suicide, particularly among those must affected: gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Talking about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide.

This is an old myth that needs debunking because re-

fusing to talk about suicidality increases the isolation of those who are suicidal. This is one reason the Still Here project participants took their photographs, to help de-stigmatize suicide and to let others who struggle with suicide know that they are not alone. They also wanted to convey that there is hope, and that together we can change how we think about and respond to suicide and mental illness. continued next page

P5SITIVE LIVING | 15 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Thomas’s Story ‘If it ever happened to me, I would kill myself.’

Those were the thoughtless and idle words that I said to myself on several occasions over the years. Little did I know they would be put to the test. I had always assumed that if I ever contracted HIV the shame and stigma would be motivation enough for me to end my life. The day I found out, I thought for certain that would be my fate.

Prior to my diagnosis in 2016, I struggled with my sense of self-worth, always questioning whether I was deserving of love, acceptance, and compassion. It seemed to me that my diagnosis confirmed I wasn’t. The virus had stripped me of what little sense I did have that I deserved life. It felt as though it was some kind of cosmic punishment for my non-adherence to social norms, or perhaps even for my arrogance and “sin.”

Having HIV and continuing on with life seemed incompatible to me. It seemed at the time that a little bundle of RNA had made every personal dream, hope, and aspiration futile. What was the point of self-actualization if, no matter what I became, I would always be someone with HIV? I saw the incurable nature of my illness as the nail in my own coffin.

To celebrate the courage of the Still Here Project’s participants in speaking out about the taboo topic of suicide, and to stimulate much needed conversations about mental health among gay and bisexual men living with HIV, we shared within the pages of this magazine selected photographs from the Still Here Project. Honest and raw, we hope readers will find them moving and thought provoking. We hope that they encourage individuals to start conversations about mental health and suicide among people living with HIV. These conversations might just save a life.

Dr. Olivier Ferlatte is a post-doctoral research fellow at the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use and the director of the Still Here project. His research focuses on the mental health among sexual and gender minorities.

Two years later, I do not pretend that I have fully accepted my diagnosis, or that I am comfortable with it every day. And while I sometimes still cry and have to fight against self-pity, I can also say that I was not conquered by HIV. I am still alive today.

I am healthy and, all things considered, my life has been relatively unchanged except for a little lilac pill I take each morning.

I can see now that all the fears and apprehensions I had about HIV were learned and imposed upon me. They were accepted as reality, but as it turns out, they are not. I’m not entirely sure how I did it, but I come to the realization that this imperfection did not deprive me of my worthiness. It’s a daily struggle, but it’s a struggle I am proud to take on because I am privileged in that I am alive today.

It happened to me and I chose life.

Thomas is a young gay man living with HIV who participated in the Still Here Project. 5

If you or someone you know might be at risk of suicide, there is help.

Please call the Crisis Center for support: 1-800-suicide or visit crisiscentrechat.ca to chat with someone.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 16 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

I

nfants born to HIV-positive mothers had high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Infants who also were infected before birth by the virus that causes AIDS were especially prone to CMV infection.

Researchers have found that 23 percent of the infants who became infected with HIV during the mother’s pregnancy also were infected with CMV; 18 percent who were infected with HIV either during pregnancy or birth acquired congenital CMV; and 4.9 percent who were exposed to HIV but remained uninfected with that virus also acquired congenital CMV. HIV-infected infants were four times as likely to have acquired CMV infection compared to infants who were exposed to, but remained uninfected with, HIV. HIV-positive infants who were infected during the mothers’ pregnancy had a six-fold chance of also acquiring congenital CMV. Cytomegalovirus infects people of all ages. People with healthy immune systems usually do not exhibit symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, or swollen glands, and in those with weakened immune systems, more serious symptoms in the eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus and intestines. But it is also an often under-recognized cause of infant disease and illness, including hearing loss and developmental delay.

While it is known that CMV infection rates may be higher in HIV-exposed and HIV-positive infants compared to the general population, less is known about comparative risks of their acquiring CMV. Few studies have explored these relationships between HIV and in low- and middle-income countries, where rates of CMV and congenital CMV are thought to be higher.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development HIV Prevention Trials Network 040 Trial, which evaluated three infant antiretroviral treatments in women, primarily from Brazil and South Africa. The team conducted laboratory tests on 992 urine specimens that were collected at birth from HIV-exposed and HIV-infected infants. Data was then analyzed with infant CMV results with respect to other details on maternal and infant HIV status and other circumstances that could pose a risk.

The researchers did not evaluate CMV rates in the general population because the study was restricted to mother-infant pairs previously enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development HIV Prevention Trials Network 040 parent study. In addition, women in the parent study were only diagnosed with HIV infection at the time of labour and delivery, so these results are not applicable to HIV-infected pregnant women who are on antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy.

The study highlights the importance of screening for CMV infection as part of routine care for HIV-exposed infants. This is especially important for infants born to women who are at highest risk of transmitting HIV to their infants—that is, those who are not on antiretrovirals during pregnancy. Screening for CMV is important because it can be easily missed, as many infants do not exhibit symptoms at birth.

For more information, see http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/hiv-positive-infants-are-at-high-risk-for-acquiring-congenital-cytomegalovirus-infection 5

P5SITIVE LIVING | 17 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

P5SITIVE LIVING | 18 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Giving Well

W

ith Cannabis now legalized in Canada, we were thrilled to accept the support of Aurora Cannabis at the 2018 Vancouver AIDS WALK. For this edition of the Giving Well we sat down with Aurora to talk about some of the history between the HIV and Cannabis movements, and hear more about why they decided it was important to support the Vancouver AIDS WALK. Q: Tell us about yourself—who are you, and what is your position with Aurora?

A: My name is Jonathan Zaid and I am Aurora’s Director of Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility. My job is to oversee Aurora’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, including our work around empowering consumers and communities, championing progressive advocacy, and environmental sustainability, and to ensure these initiatives are integrated in everything we do.

Q: What is Aurora’s mission? What does Aurora do, and how is it different from other companies operating in the sector?

A: Aurora Cannabis is a community-minded cannabis company dedicated to producing high-quality cannabis and being a good corporate citizen. We were founded in 2013 and today we have operations in 18 countries and employ over 1,400 people. Given cannabis for consumer adult-use is newly legalized, we have an opportunity to set the standard for how cannabis companies can behave in a socially responsible way.

A DONOR PROFILE

By Jason Hjalmarson

Q: What does “Giving Back” mean to Aurora? Tell us about your approach to corporate social responsibility.

A: Aurora is proud to be very focused on supporting the communities we operate in. We’ve been honoured to support a variety of important community partnerships, such as PRIDE festivals across Canada, as well as the 2018 Vancouver AIDS WALK. We’re very committed to inclusivity and diversity, both publicly through community partnerships, but also internally in our hiring practices and workplace culture.

We believe strongly that medicinal cannabis should be accessible to anyone who will benefit from it. In addition to compassionate pricing for people with low incomes, Aurora is committed to advocating against the unjust taxes applied to medical cannabis and broadening insurance coverage.

Q: What is the connection between Aurora and HIV? A: Aurora is a cannabis company focused on delivering high-quality cannabis products, including to people using them for medical purposes. Some of the first people to advocate for the right to use cannabis medicinally in Canada were HIV patients. Many people living with HIV report that using Cannabis is helpful for things like stimulating appetite, sleep, or reducing nausea.

Q: Why did Aurora decide to support the 2018 Vancouver AIDS WALK? A: The relationship between HIV and medicinal cannabis is well established, and participating in the AIDS WALK gave us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to supporting the communities we live and operate in. Aurora was honoured to be a part of the 2018 Vancouver AIDS WALK, and we hope to continue participating in this important community event in future years. The Vancouver AIDS WALK benefits low-income people living with HIV— it’s an important cause that we are proud to support. 5 Jason Hjalmarson is Director of Fund Development at Positive Living BC.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 19 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Celebrating the life, MAY MCQUEEN On September 27, 2018 Positive Living BC invited members, volunteers, staff and other community friends to a celebration of May McQueen’s exceptional life. The following are statements collected there in honour of May.

 There are some people who come along

in life who personify the terms “saint” and “angel”. May McQueen was just one such individual. May was everybody’s grandmother, everybody’s friend. She was particularly generous with her love towards those who were most in need. She was drawn towards people who were suffering the most—and in the beginning of the epidemic that was mostly gay men abandoned by their families, experiencing horrible health decline, and eventual death. As the epidemic continued, May became involved with the population of people living with HIV who were also incarcerated. She never shied away from anyone who could benefit from her being nice to them.

May often told me about her own mother, whom she spent her entire life emulating. During the Great Depression, her mother always kept an open door policy for anyone who knocked and needed a meal. Despite food being rather scarce, there was always enough for someone’s son or daughter. This is the spirit in which May lived her full life.

On the day that May passed she gave me a message for all her “boys and girls.”

It is a simple one: “Be the best you and be kind to others.”

Tom McAulay. 

 Sweet, sweet May. Many a day you brightened my world with stories full of laughter, light, and love. Thank you for being in my life. The world is a better place because of you.”

Johnny. 

 I cherish many memories of

our Ms. May. My fondest one is of “We don’t shake hands here, we kiss! You’re going to be alright.”

May was the positive face and smile for members to come in.

Joel Nim Cho Leung.  P5SITIVE LIVING | 20 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

 Our morning walks to the BCPWA/

PLSBC offices. We lived in close proximity so we could meet up at 8 a.m. most mornings and chat as we walked. The chats covered many and varied topics and most often ended with some news about one of ‘her boys.’ These morning walks covered a period of some ten years. Over the years we learned much about each other and found that in many ways, we were kindred spirits. May’s passion, energy, good spirits, infectious smile and awesome hugs have been added to my memory box.

Elis Aubie. 

generosity, and spirit of  You will be missed. You are a bright light that touched so many lives. A beautiful woman with lots of spunk. I’m sure your impact in heaven will be just as amazing as it has been on earth with your life’s dedication to so many. Dance and be merry and joyful on your peaceful spiritual journey. Thank you for your service. Hugs and angel blessings.

Heidi. 

 You always had a smile

and a hug for everyone’s heart you touched. It was a sad day when I read what had taken place. I still choke up every time I think of you. You were truly a loved woman by all.

May you rest in peace.

Moise. 

 A forced retirement at 65

provided May McQueen with the new path and role she was always meant to have. The epitome of compassion and non-judgemental love, she raised the bar of what volunteerism can and should be. Her hugs and smiles always made tough situations bearable, those of us whom she touched are forever grateful.

Barb Snelgrove. 

 May was not only a grandmother,

but a mother to the men in all the institutions she attended. She came into prisons without judgement and had no fear of any of us. If anything, she brought most if not all guys to a place of being humbled. When she arrived we would literally go running to assist her to sit her down. Her words ring true to my heart when she would say to me, ‘you are a fine distinguished young gentleman.’

Alwin.  P5SITIVE LIVING | 21 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

DENTAL HYGIENE PROVIDED FREE FOR MEMBERS ONLY!

💿💿

­

💿💿

(

)

■

PUT YOU R

SMILE O IN FRONUT T.

­

(or to your preferred dental professional)

HPV study shows strong links to HIV

An

international research team led by a scientist at the University of California, Riverside, has for the first time identified individual types of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are specifically linked to HIV infection.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, concludes that a person with any HPV type, more than one HPV type, or high-risk HPV is more likely to acquire HIV.

The study found the following HPV types are linked to HIV: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 52, and 58.

“Although most studies have shown a general link between HPV and HIV co-infection, our findings illustrate the strong relationship between individual HPV types and HIV infection,” said Brandon Brown, lead author of the study. “Some HPV types are more linked to cancer and others to warts. This further illustrates the potential utility of HPV vaccine for men who have sex with men and trans women, not only for HPV prevention but also possibly for HIV prevention.”

Brown explained that previous research has shown that HPV, in general, was linked to HIV infection, but his research team looked at infection with 37 HPV types and found that individual types are linked, “which is more specific than saying HPV is linked.”

The study investigated the relationship between HPV types and incident HIV infection among men who have sex with men

(MSM) and transgender women in Lima, Peru. The study had 600 participants recruited at a local community-based health center, bars, clubs, and via social media. Brown and his colleagues started with two groups, one with genital warts and one without, and followed participants over two years to see who contracted HIV. Of the 571 participants who completed at least two study visits, 73 acquired HIV in two years—a 6 percent HIV incidence rate.

Brown has been working in Peru for more than 10 years and has conducted preliminary work on HPV vaccine acceptability in MSM. “In working with a community-based organization in Peru, we learned that genital warts were highly prevalent among their clients, and with a high HIV burden,” he said.“ So, we worked with community organizations to develop this cohort study including genital warts and HIV.” According to Brown, the results of the study are “absolutely applicable beyond Peru, and synergize with recent results of studies outside Peru.”

“The fact that our study took place in Peru is irrelevant,” he said. “Our results are applicable to the U.S., for example, where strong links between individual HPV types and incident HIV infection exist.”

Regarding prevention and treatment, Brown recommends the HPV vaccine, widely provided to everyone—regardless of sex, gender, or sexual orientation—before sexual debut, and genital wart treatment.

“Even if the vaccine is not provided before sexual debut, there can be strong benefit if given at any time to prevent HPV-associated disease and also HIV,” he said. “We know that HPV is the most common STI, and we know that HPV vaccine works to prevent chronic HPV infection. What we need now is to implement the vaccine in a better way. The uptake in the US is lower than other vaccines, and the availability in many other developing countries is low at best and absent at worst.” 5 Courtesy of www.ucr.edu

P5SITIVE LIVING | 23 | JULY •• AUGUST 2018

For a full list of donors visit positivelivingbc.org

$5000+ LEGACY CIRCLE Peter Chung

$1000 - $2499 CHAMPIONS Don Evans Blair Smith Fraser Norrie Jackie Yiu Joss J. de Wet Malcolm Hedgcock Paul Gross Tony Barnard Paul Goyan Bramwell Tovey

$500 - $999 LEADERS Cheryl Basarab Christian M. Denarie Cliff Hall Dean Mirau Emet G. Davis James Goodman Leslie Rae Mike Holmwood Pierre Soucy Rebecca Johnston Robert Capar

Ross Harvey Scott Elliott Stan Moore Wendy Stevens

$150 - $499 HEROES Carmine Digiovanni Dennis Parkinson Edith Davidson Jeff Anderson Larry Hendren Patricia E. Young Rob Spooner Glyn A. Townson Stephen French Stephanie Tofield Ron Kowal Barry DeVito George Schwab Jane Talbot Patricia Dyck Penny Parry Ron J. Hogan Susan C. Burgess Tom Mcaulay Wayne Avery Elizabeth Briemberg Bonnie Pearson Brian Anderson

Darrin D. Pope Dena R. Ellery Gbolahan Olarewaju Glynis Davisson Gretchen Dulmage Jamie Rokovetsky Jean Sebastian Hartell Joel N. Leung John Bishop Keith A. Stead Ken Coolen Lawrence Cryer Lorne Berkovitz Mark Mees Maxine Davis Mike McKimm Pam Johnson Patrick Carr Ralph E. Trumpour Ralph Silvea Ronald G. Stipp Ross Thompson Sergio Pereira Tiko Kerr Vince Connors William Granger James Ong Brian A. Yuen Ernestus Penuela

P5SITIVE LIVING | 24 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Len Christiansen Katherine M. Richmond Nicolas Demers

$20 - $149 FRIENDS Adrienne Wong Chris G. Clark Chris Kean Heather Inglis Lindsay Mearns Lisa Raichle Miranda Leffler Tobias Donaldson Adrian Smith Andrea Reimer Angela McGie Catherine Jenkins Hans-Krishna Von Hagen John Yano Lisa Bradbury Sandra Bruneau Sharon E. Lou-Hing Tracey L. Hearst Zoran Stjepanovic To make a contribution to Positive Living BC, contact the director of development, Jason Hjalmarson.  jhjalmarson@positivelivingbc.org  604.893.2282

PROFILE OF A VOLUNTEER “Ashra is a vital part of the editorial team, proofing the magazine in its final stages to offer suggestions for clarity and to point out all manner of errors. Ashra works quickly during a hectic and stressful phase of production. She is professional, courteous, and unflappable. She is a pillar upon which this magazine relies on. Cheers, Ashra!

Jason Motz, Managing Editor

*Ashra Kolhatkar*

What is your volunteer history with Positive Living?

I have only ever been involved with the magazine.

Five years already!

Why did you pick Positive Living BC? My background is in public health and when I finished grad school, I wanted to volunteer with a health and social justice organization. Positive Living has such a diverse range of volunteer roles that it allowed me to find a position that made use of my skills.

What is our strength?

The shared knowledge and history of all the volunteers, members, and board members make it a force for good with

the capacity to do great work and make important changes for the community.

What is your favourite memory of volunteering here?

An evening arranged by my boss, Jason Motz, so the magazine volunteers could meet and get to know each other. I work remotely, so it was fun to be able to put faces to names.

What do you see in the future for Positive Living BC? I expect to see Positive Living continuing to be an important influence in the community.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 25 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Where to find

HELP

If you’re looking for help of information on HIV/AIDS, the following list is a starting point.

For more comprehensive listings of HIV/AIDS organizations and services, please visit www.positivelivingbc.org/links

bA LOVING SPOONFUL

1449 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1G8  604.682.6325  clients@alovingspoonful.org  lovingspoonful.org

cAIDS SOCIETY OF KAMLOOPS

(ASK WELLNESS CENTRE) 433 Tranquille Road Kamloops, BC V2B 3G9  250.376.7585 or 1.800.661.7541  info@askwellness.ca  askwellness.ca

bAIDS VANCOUVER

1101 Seymour St Vancouver, BC V6B 0R1  604.893.2201  contact@aidsvancouver.org  aidsvancouver.org

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Victoria)

713 Johnson Street, 3rd Floor Victoria, BC V8W 1M8  250.384.2366 or 1.800.665.2437  info@avi.org  avi.org

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Courtenay)  250.338.7400 or 1.877.311.7400  info@avi.org  avi.org/courtenay

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Nanaimo)  250.753.2437 or 1.888.530.2437  info@avi.org  avi.org/nanaimo

bAIDS VANCOUVER ISLAND (Port Hardy)  250.902.2238  info@avi.org  avi.org/porthardy

bANKORS (EAST)

46 - 17th Avenue South Cranbrook, BC V1C 5A8  250.426.3383 or 1.800.421.AIDS  gary@ankors.bc.ca  ankors.bc.ca

bANKORS (WEST)

101 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H1

 250.505.5506 or 1.800.421.AIDS  information@ankors.bc.ca  ankors.bc.ca

bDR. PETER CENTRE

1110 Comox Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1K5  604.608.1874  info@drpetercentre.ca  drpetercentre.ca

bLIVING POSITIVE

RESOURCE CENTRE OKANAGAN 168 Asher Road Kelowna, BC V1X 3H6  778.753.5830 or 1.800.616.2437  info@lprc.ca  livingpositive.ca

bMCLAREN HOUSING

200-649 Helmcken Street Vancouver, BC V6B 5R1  604.669.4090  info@mclarenhousing.com  mclarenhousing.com

bOKANAGAN ABORIGINAL AIDS SOCIETY 200-3717 Old Okanagan Way Westbank, BC V4T 2H9  778.754.5595  info@oaas.ca  oaas.ca

bPOSITIVE LIVING

FRASER VALLEY SOCIETY Unit 1 – 2712 Clearbrook Road Abbotsford, BC V2T 2Z1  604.854.1101  info@plfv.org  plfv.org

bPOSITIVE LIVING NORTH

#1 - 1563 Second Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3B8  250.562.1172 or 1.888.438.2437  positivelivingnorth.org

bPOSITIVE LIVING NORTH WEST

3862F Broadway Avenue Smithers, BC V0J 2N0  250.877.0042 or 1.866.877.0042  plnw.org

bPURPOSE SOCIETY FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES 40 Begbie Street New Westminster, BC V3M 3L9  604.526.2522  info@purposesociety.org  purposesociety.org

bREL8 OKANAGAN

P.O. Box 20224, Kelowna BC V1Y 9H2  250-575-4001  rel8.okanagan@gmail.com  www.rel8okanagan.com

bRED ROAD HIV/AIDS NETWORK

61-1959 Marine Drive North Vancouver, BC V7P 3G1  778.340.3388  info@red-road.org  red-road.org

bVANCOUVER NATIVE HEALTH SOCIETY 449 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1P5  604.254.9949  vnhs@shawbiz.ca  vnhs.net

bVANCOUVER ISLAND PERSONS

LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS SOCIETY 1139 Yates Street Victoria, BC V8V 3N2  250.382.7927 or 1.877.382.7927  support@vpwas.com  vpwas.com

bWINGS HOUSING SOCIETY 12–1041 Comox Street Vancouver, BC V6E 1K1  604.899.5405  wingshousing@shaw.ca  wingshousing.org

bYOUTHCO

205–568 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC V6B 3J5  604.688 1441 or 1.855.968.8426  info@youthco.org  youthco.org

P5SITIVE LIVING | 26 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

POSITIVE LIVING BC SOCIETY BUSINESS UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS 2018

JOIN A SOCIETY COMMITTEE!

EVERY 2ND THURSDAY | 2 pm | 2nd Floor Meeting Room

If you are a member of the Positive Living Society of BC, you can join a committee and help make important decisions for the Society and its programs and services. To become a voting member on a committee, you will need attend three consecutive committee meetings. Here is a list of some committees. For more committees visit positivelivingbc.org, and click on “Get Involved” and “Volunteer”.

November 28, 2018

Reports to be presented >> Financial Statements - August | Executive Committee Update | Director of Program and Services | Events Attended

December 12, 2018

Reports to be presented >> Executive Committee Update | Written Executive Director Report | Director of Operations and Administration | Standing Committees | Events Attended

December 26, 2018

CANCELLED

January 9, 2019

Reports to be presented >> Financial Statements - September | Executive Committee Update | Set CHF Amount | Written Executive Director Report | Director of Human Resources | Events Attended

January 23, 2019

Reports to be presented >> Written Executive Director Report | PHSA Quarterly Reports | Director of Communications and Education | Executive Committee Update | Standing Committees | Membership Statistics | Events Attended Positive Living BC is located at 1101 Seymour St, Vancouver, V6B 0R1.

For more information, contact: Mike Hedges, director of operations  604.893.2268 |  mikeh@positivelivingbc.org

Name________________________________________ Address __________________ City_____________________ Prov/State _____ Postal/Zip Code________ Country______________ Phone ________________ E-mail_______________________ I have enclosed my cheque of $______ for Positive Living m $25 in Canada m $50 (CND $) International Please send ______ subscription(s)

Board & Volunteer Development_ Marc Seguin  604.893.2298

 marcs@positivelivingbc.org

Education & Communications_ Adam Reibin  604.893.2209

 adamr@positivelivingbc.org

History Alive!_ Adam Reibin  604.893.2298

 adamr@positivelivingbc.org

Positive Action Committee_ Elgin Lim  604.893.2252

 elginl@positivelivingbc.org

Positive Living Magazine_Jason Motz  604.893.2206

 jasonm@positivelivingbc.org

ViVA (women living with HIV)_Charlene Anderson  604.893.2217

 charlenea@positivelivingbc.org

m BC ASOs & Healthcare providers by donation: Minimum $6 per annual subscription. Please send ____ subscription(s) m Please send Positive Living BC Membership form (membership includes free subscription) m Enclosed is my donation of $______ for Positive Living * Annual subscription includes 6 issues.

Cheque payable to Positive Living BC.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 27 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

Last Blast Some final thoughts before I call it a career

By Ross Harvey

So

this is it. I must say (write?), it’s been a privilege and an honour to serve you as Executive Director for the past 21 years. When I started I figured I’d be lucky to last three years (I wasn’t at all sure I’d pass my probationary period).

In 1997, the Society’s total expenditures amounted to $1.7 million and there were over 2,800 active members of record.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, there were 561 new diagnoses of HIV in BC, 170 AIDS diagnoses, and two deaths attributed to AIDS. In 2017, the Society’s total expenditures had risen to $2.7 million. There were almost 6,000 active members of record.

According to the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, there were 188 new diagnoses of HIV in BC, and, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control, in 2016, there were 65 AIDS diagnoses. While the number of deaths attributed to AIDS has not been reported for several years, it may be assumed to be very low.

A lot done. But a lot left to do.

2018 was another year of chaos, challenges, and growth.

It started with us still wedged into those terribly cramped temporary quarters at 803 East Hastings. (Remember the massage-in-a-vault?) Then, in August, things got really wild, as the entire second floor operation squeezed into the already over-crowded first floor space.

But then came September, and everything changed as we moved into our superb new facility. We found ourselves in a bright, welcoming environment. What can I say about the new space? It is one in which members can empower themselves. From the clean, naturally lit, lounge to the fully equipped hair salon, from the private health clinics rooms, to the crowning jewel, the dental clinic, the new digs are worth the toil.

Not everything was roses, however. We lost a long struggle with the Public Health Agency of Canada over its decision not to renew its $276K annual funding of Positive Living BC. This loss means the end of the Positive Gathering and a prison outreach

program that has been cut in half.

But, we still managed to run a small surplus on operations last year, after two years of fiscal shocks and consequent major deficits (and one year with a small deficit). We must continue to achieve a surplus on operations to erase the debilitating cumulative deficit with which we continue to struggle.

So, times continue to change. Old challenges pass and new challenges arise; as does the new talent needed to meet them. I am delighted to note that your Board has chosen a new Executive Director—Elgin Lim—who will do an excellent job.

It remains for others to determine whether or not, on balance, my tenure as your Executive Director has been a good or a bad thing.

What I can tell you with unshakable certainty, is that it has been one helluva ride. It only remains for me to thank each and every one of you—members, volunteers, employees, contractors—for you kindness, patience, and good humour. You have created and sustain a remarkable organization. I wish you good luck and continued success. 5 Ross Harvey is now living the life of Riley in retirement somewhere in the hinterlands of British Columbia.

P5SITIVE LIVING | 28 | NOVEMBER •• DECEMBER 2018

POSITIVELIVINGBC.ORG

u FUN u SOCIALIZE u NETWORK u VOLUNTEER

YOUR TIME u GIVE BACK WITH YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE u SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS u JOIN OUR OVER 200+ VOLUNTEER TEAM u YOUR TIME SUPPORTS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV u WESTERN CANADA’S LARGEST HIV ORGANIZATION

FOR MORE INFO > 604.893.2298 marcs@positivelivingbc.org