Category: Advocacy, Policy, Public Health

Expanding access to STBBI testing through harm reduction in BC

Posted On: Monday, April 13th, 2026

Written by Amrit Tiwana & Sofia Bartlett  New research highlights important gaps, and promising opportunities, to improve sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection testing for people who use substances at harm reduction sites across British Columbia. Sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBIs), including HIV, hepatitis C virus, and infectious syphilis, continue to be a major public… Read more »

Marking the 10th Anniversary of BC’s Public Health Emergency of Overdose and Overdose Deaths

Posted On: Thursday, April 2nd, 2026

April 14th will mark the 10th anniversary of the Province of B.C.’s declaration of a public health emergency due to the poisoned drug supply. We are all called upon to remember the 19,000 people who have died from the toxic drug supply since 2014 – and to reflect on the reality that these were preventable… Read more »

New Webinar: Grief Handiwork: What is beginning? (Spring/East)

Posted On: Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Grief does not move in stages. It moves in cycles. Building off of the impact of Fall 2025’s Grief Series in demonstrating the value of intential space for conversation, connection and sharing in a supported way, through the leadership of Carlene Dingwall, PAN’s Capacity Building and Leadership team will be hosting a year-long circle which… Read more »

Three upcoming PLDI Leadership Trainings early 2026

Posted On: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

  Governance Training (online): Jan 29- Feb 12: (BC, and Western Canada: AB, SK, MB) (*prerequisite Core training) *applications extended until Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM PST!*   Communications Training (in person, Vancouver): March 20-22: (BC) (*prerequisite Core training) Learn more.   Core Training ‘Who am I as a Leader?” (in person, Loon… Read more »

Substance Use News, December 2025

Posted On: Thursday, December 18th, 2025

Substance Use News provides a monthly collection of news and resources on the social, medical and political responses to the toxic drug supply crisis and harm reduction. To get the latest toxic drug safety alerts, visit Info for People Who Use Substances page from Toward the Heart. Get weekly substance use news by subscribing to our newsletter: scroll… Read more »

Training on Governance: find out how your voice can make a difference

Posted On: Thursday, December 11th, 2025

On the heels of our successful PLDI Pilot Online Facilitation Training in October 2025 – please find: Training on Governance: find out how your voice can make a difference “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu” This means that if you’re absent from decision-making, your interests may be overlooked,… Read more »

World AIDS Day 2025: Keeping Momentum, Strengthening Community — PAN Reflects on a Powerful Panel Conversation

Posted On: Monday, December 8th, 2025

Update (December 15, 2025) : BC-CfE’s World AIDS Day 2025 event recording now available! On Monday, December 1st, 2025, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) alongside the Health Initiative for Men (HiM), Pacific AIDS Network (PAN) and Providence Health Care (PHC), marked World AIDS Day at St. Paul’s Hospital with a passionate call… Read more »

PHAC’s STBBI Partners Meeting Speaker Presentations

Posted On: Monday, December 1st, 2025

At the end of October 2025, the Public Health Agency of Canada held their Community Partner’s Meeting. During the meeting, they shared epidemiological updates and PHAC’s progress on the STBBI Action Plan. They have shared speaker presentations from this meeting.    Supporting Decentralized STBBI Diagnostics: Lowering barriers without compromising quality PDF of presentation available here: Supporting… Read more »

World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week; Honouring Leadership, Community, and the Work Ahead 

Posted On: Monday, December 1st, 2025

December 1st marks both World AIDS Day (WAD) and the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, offering an important moment to reflect on progress, renew commitments, and honour the communities and leaders who continue driving BC’s HIV response forward. At the heart of PAN’s work is a commitment to centring community knowledge, particularly the leadership and… Read more »

Webinar: Tailoring sexual health information for newcomers in Canada

Posted On: Thursday, November 20th, 2025

Thursday, December 4th 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Pacific time Newcomers to Canada often face barriers in accessing culturally relevant sexual health information. This webinar will highlight innovative approaches from organizations leading efforts to address these gaps. The Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN) will share findings from their “Sexual Health Promotion… Read more »

Beyond the Headlines: Human Rights and BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis with former BC Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe and BC CMHA CEO Jonny Morris

Posted On: Thursday, November 20th, 2025

Via BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner Each year on December 10th, to mark the signing of the UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948), BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner seeks to bring awareness to human rights issues in BC. This year, BC’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender invites you to participate in… Read more »

Substance Use News, November 2025

Posted On: Tuesday, November 18th, 2025

Substance Use News provides a monthly collection of news and resources on the social, medical and political responses to the toxic drug supply crisis and harm reduction. To get the latest toxic drug safety alerts, visit Info for People Who Use Substances page from Toward the Heart. Get weekly substance use news by subscribing to our newsletter: scroll… Read more »