Our mission states: Working collaboratively, the Pacific AIDS Network builds the capacity and skills of its member organizations, including people with lived experience, to effectively address HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and related communicable diseases and conditions. PAN is made up of 40 organizations providing important supports and services in communities across the province.
We rely on our members to be actively engaged! There is strength in numbers. This is what makes our network effective and collaborative.
And we need to hear from you! This ensures that our work is provincially informed. Member input on needs, issues, challenges and successes drives our work in the present, and shapes our future directions. Members also provide an invaluable perspective on frontline service realities that informs our advocacy with government and other decision makers.
What PAN gives to members – what you can expect from us
- We promote, advocate for, and are committed to, exemplifying and evolving GIPA/MEPA, the Hepatitis C Manifesto and Nothing About Us Without Us principles.
- We advocate for change and adequate sector funding at provincial and federal levels.*
- We enhance and represent the community voice on a provincial and national level *
- We work collaboratively with regional health authorities, the province and the federal government to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the community-based response.
- We provide leadership training for people with lived experience of HIV (the Positive Leadership Development Institute) and hepatitis C.
- We provide face-to-face and networking opportunities for our members and allies that also connects them with health authorities, ministries and funders.
- We provide training and capacity building programming and informative webinars for frontline staff and volunteers.
- We co-lead the Collective Impact Network with the PHSA to magnify the work of the sector provincially and build inter-agency collaborations.
- We build capacity for evaluation and work towards common indicators that demonstrates the value of our shared work.
- We foster relationships with researchers and academics, and support community-based research (CBR) that builds community knowledge, contributes to policy analysis, and shapes advocacy.
- We create weekly E-newsletters and news items documenting community updates and trends in funding, services, research and more.
- We gather resources on our website for: training and leadership; CBR and Evaluation; Advocacy and Policy; Population and public health; and Organization support, including Indigenous Cultural Safety and peer work.
What PAN asks of members – what we expect of you
- Support and promote voices of people with lived experiences (PWLE). Dedicated support by Executive Directors and senior leadership for the involvement of PWLE within their organizations and with PAN, so that individuals participating as representatives or delegates at PAN events are fully able to engage.
- (Required in the bylaws) Complete the Annual Member survey. Your input is essential to help PAN as an organization stay relevant and responsive.
- Provide updates and feedback on regional challenges and successes, in support of our provincial mandate.
- Participate in collective actions and joint advocacy initiatives (when appropriate).
- Respect the Group Guidelines and Responsibilities at PAN events and meetings.
- Engage fully at the annual AGM and related meetings.
- Recommend candidates for the PAN Board of Directors and support their engagement at the board level (particularly for PWLE).
- Promote benefits of PAN membership to other eligible organizations, and support their application.
- Update us with any organizational changes and contact details.
Renew membership
As required in the bylaws, we ask all members to renew membership every 3 years, to consider the expectations and benefits when doing so, because the strength of PAN as a provincial network depends on the contributions of each member organization. Your input and engagement is essential for our work together.
* As at this time, PAN sits at the following national tables: National Working Group on HIV/AIDS Research; PHAC’s STBBI National Framework roundtable; National Safer Supply Community of Practice; Canadian AIDS Society’s National Testing Day Committee. PAN also sits at the following provincial tables: STOP HIV/AIDS Collaborative Implementation Committee; PHSA’s Collective Impact Network (CIN); Gay Men and HIV Provincial Working Group; regular meetings with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions (MMHA) and the Overdose Emergency Response Centre (OERC); Provincial Overdose Mobile Response Team (POMRT) Advisory Committee; Overdose Prevention and Education Network (OPEN) Committee, coordinated by the Community Action Initiative (CAI).