Category: Advocacy, Policy, Public Health

Overdose Emergency Response Centre – Community Action Initiative Grants Stream 2

Posted On: Thursday, May 31st, 2018

The Community Overdose Crisis Innovation Grant application process opens on Monday, June 4th!   The Community Action Initiative (CAI), in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions (MMHA) and the Overdose Emergency Response Centre (OERC), has funding available for Community Overdose Crisis Innovation Grants. These grants will augment the impact of the previously… Read more »

Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait

Posted On: Monday, May 28th, 2018

“Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world. However, the benefits of good health are not equally enjoyed by all.” A new report, Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait, from the Public Health Agency of Canada presents results at the national level for 22 indicators of health status and determinants of health, selected to… Read more »

Stimulus 2018: Drugs, Policy and Practice in Canada

Posted On: Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Stimulus 2018 is a national conference on harm reduction and drug policy in Canada. It is scheduled for October 3 – 5, 2018 in Edmonton. This comes from the conference site: We are in the midst of an unprecedented overdose crisis, impending legalization of cannabis, a sexually transmitted infection epidemic, and a wide range of drug… Read more »

Webinar: Peer Health Navigation: GIPA, MEPA and Your Organization

Posted On: Friday, May 18th, 2018

Presented by CATIE and Positive Living BC Date: June 4, 2018 Time: 9 -10 AM Pacific Time/ Noon to 1 PM  Eastern time Register now   Join CATIE and Positive Living B.C. for a webinar about the greater involvement and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV (GIPA/MEPA) in peer health navigation, a person-centred approach… Read more »

NEW! Stigma 102 Video from Universities Without Walls

Posted On: Friday, May 18th, 2018

Stigma 102 is a new video developed by Universities Without Walls, which provides distance education to “move people and HIV research evidence into practice, and practice into research.” Universities Without Walls provides many e-learning modules to learn at your convenience.   . HIV Stigma 102 has been developed as a companion video that follows Stigma 101. Both… Read more »

Dr. Shannon McDonald presents FNHA Overdose Opioid response at Gathering Wisdom

Posted On: Friday, May 18th, 2018

The latest Gathering Wisdom Forum was held in Vancouver May 15-17. This Forum invites three representatives from each BC First Nation community in BC to discuss health and community wellness issues for Indigenous people in BC. This year Dr. Shannon McDonald, acting Chief Medical Health Officer with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) was among the speakers… Read more »

Substance Use News: Community Voices

Posted On: Friday, May 18th, 2018

With the grim news that March was the second-deadliest month for overdose deaths in BC history, it’s clear that the overdose epidemic is still raging. Awareness, education and advocacy continue to be important, alongside the amazing harm reduction efforts of people across communities in BC. Here, some resources featuring community voices. Sites to Check Out… Read more »

PRICK! Testing Event on May 31st in Penticton

Posted On: Monday, May 14th, 2018

PRICK! is a private and confidential on-the-spot STI testing event for all ‘guys who like guys’ Who is PRICK for? Our definition of ‘guy’ includes: bi, cis, curious, gay, male, non-binary, queer, questioning, straight, trans, two-spirit, and all other guys who like guys. Tests included are for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis (A,B &C), HIV and syphilis…. Read more »

Advocates welcome major concessions in Government of Canada’s prison needle exchange announcement

Posted On: Monday, May 14th, 2018

From the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network: The following statement is issued by the Canadian HIV & AIDS Legal Network (“Legal Network”). Comments can be attributed to Sandra Ka Hon Chu, Director of Research and Advocacy. May 14, 2018. Today, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and Correctional Services Canada (CSC) Interim Commissioner Anne Kelly quietly announced a prison needle exchange program (PNSP)… Read more »

Public Health Association of BC’s 9th annual Summer School, The Public Health Approach: Building Safe and Inclusive Communities

Posted On: Thursday, May 10th, 2018

Your are encouraged to register for the Public Health Association of BC’s 9th annual Summer School, The Public Health Approach: Building Safe and Inclusive Communities. PHABC’s Summer School is one of BC’s only continuing education courses for public health. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest issues in public health, build your professional… Read more »

Community Priorities for Action on Overdose: Report from the South Island Community Overdose Response Network

Posted On: Monday, May 7th, 2018

The South Island Community Overdose Response Network has released a report from a community symposium that took place on December 12, 2017. Their report from the event is now available:  Community Priorities for Action on Overdose   From the Introduction: In May 2017, AVI with the support of the Community Action Initiative (CAI) hosted a… Read more »

BC Centre for Disease Control: Public Knowledge Summary

Posted On: Saturday, April 21st, 2018

Public Knowledge Summaries provide ongoing and emerging information on BC Centre for Disease Control analytical findings. This information can be freely shared among your colleagues, contacts, and the general public.                   TOPIC: Estimated impact of the provincial take-home naloxone program on preventing illegal drug-related deaths in BC, 2012-2016… Read more »