Category: Peer Leadership

  As part of a larger project, the UBC Reproductive Infectious Diseases Team is working on sharing information about the rising rates of syphilis in pregnancy in British Columbia. They are hoping to connect with peer engagement/outreach workers who support people who have lived and living experience of substance use/mental health challenges/being underhoused during pregnancy. They are… Read more »

  Download this poster to share. The REDOSE 2.0 study aims to better understand the concentrations and side effects of bictegravir, a commonly prescribed antiretroviral medication. This medication is part of a regimen called Biktarvy. Participation in this study is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time. All information collected will remain confidential. You… Read more »

New Research & Evaluation Treehouse Resources, April 2025

Research and evaluation both offer opportunities for learning and community building in meaningful ways. We see research and evaluation like two different trees with different origins that are intertwined in methods and analysis yet also separate in what they can tell us. We see this relationship as beneficial to both evaluation and research. Read more about… Read more »

The Value of Using a Peer Evaluation Approach

The Positive Leadership Development Institute (PLDI) is a leadership development program for people living with HIV. One goal of the PLDI Alliance was to evaluate the program for inclusivity and cultural safety in a deliberate, specialized way. Having this goal resulted in the creation of The Culturally Safer HIV Leadership Training Project. The project took… Read more »

The Basics of Community Based Research, Part 2.2

Purposes of Community-based Research: Supporting communities driving change In general, community-based research can help drive meaningful change by actively involving those directly affected by the issues in the research process. To name a few examples, active involvement can include being a part of: What needs researching How to conduct the research and what methods to… Read more »

Substance Use News, March 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. Subscribe to our newsletter for information weekly- scroll to the bottom… Read more »

With sadness and respect – Dakota Descoteaux

Dakota (Brian) Descoteaux February 10, 1958 – March 6, 2025 With deep respect and sadness, I share the passing of our cherished PLDI trainer and community leader, Dakota Descoteaux. In mid-December, Dakota faced the return of cancer—less than six months after undergoing extensive surgery in the hope of overcoming it. Though he had always cherished… Read more »

WAITLIST OPPORTUNITY: PAN-PLDI will be hosting an in-person Communications Training Weekend,  Friday March 21st  – Sunday March 23rd  2025. Please note from time to time an accepted participant may not be able to attend as we get closer to the event date due to illness, family emergency, etc. As the training benefits from a full group,… Read more »

The Forum – Peer-led Advocacy with Ribbon Community

  Via Ribbon Community Are you living with HIV in BC and interested in making changes to the policies that impact us every day? Join Jasmine, GIPA coordinator at Ribbon Community, for a provincial HIV advocacy forum on March 25, from 2:00-4:00 PM (held online via Zoom). This is a space to connect, share experiences, and shape advocacy efforts and… Read more »

  Via BCCfE Status: This is a part-time (up to 15 hours/week split between the two studies) one-year contract with the possibility of extension. Start date: ASAP Salary: $24.24 per hour. Location: BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), Hope to Health Complex 625 Powell Street, Vancouver, BCAND St. Paul’s Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street. Job:… Read more »

Ribbon Community Women’s Food Security Program

The Ribbon Community Women’s Food Security Program supports women living with HIV to access culturally responsive, nutritious food items wherever they live in BC. This program started in late 2024 and is still in the building phase of our offerings. At this time, we offer: • Financial support directly to pregnant people living with HIV… Read more »

HIV Research Engagement Opportunity

  On behalf of the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation (SHAPE) 2.0 study team at BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, you are invited to participate as a community partnering site in the new phase of the SHAPE study. About the study The SHAPE study is a longitudinal cohort study of people living with HIV (PLWH)… Read more »