Archives

Previous news: Nov 2011

Highlights from our Nov e-news:
- Nov 20: Joy Drive launch party
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day
- Dec 5: International Volunteer Day
- Dec 15: Not-So-Silent Night!
- info from CATIE
- thanks to organizers of "Bad Habits" fundraiser

New hours for PWA's Essentials Market (Food Bank). Effective Dec 1: clients can access the Essentials Market from 2-7pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Call us if you have any questions!

Highlights from our Oct e-news:
- Oct 15: "Bad Habits" fundraiser
- thanks! Pie in the Sky raised $7,000
- David Linton
- new PWA service: "Intake Follow Up"
- recipients of PWA Friends of the Foundation Awards

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David Linton, co-founder of the Friends For Life Bike Rally and long-time rider and supporter, as well as past board member of Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) and long-time supporter of the agency.
His commitment to improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS in our community was inspiring and his passion shaped a Bike Rally that has endured for 14 years and continues to grow. As we move forward with the Bike Rally, we will always carry David’s enthusiasm in our hearts. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Our Annual General Meeting will be Tuesday October 4, 2011 at 6:30pm in PWA's offices. Exciting information will be presented on our recent strategic planning process. In order to vote you must be a member.

Special offer to attend Elton John show Nov 8-12 in Toronto. read more ...
 

PWA Poz Prevention Coordinator Mikiki is moderating this Sunday's The Normal Heart Panel. Panels are on Sunday, October 23, and Sunday, October 30, beginning at 5PM at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Tallulah's Cabaret. They are FREE and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Come for the 2:30PM Sunday matinee and stay for the panel, or attend the panel only - all are welcome (and there is a cash bar).

Job posting: Director, Development & Communications: deadline for submission of resumes is 9am, Mon Oct 24, 2011. See job posting for more details.

Documentary: "Bad Habits: The Return of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" (read more)
World Premiere: Sat Oct 15, 6pm (NB. new time), Royal Theatre (608 College St). 100% of each $10 admission goes towards PWA's programs. Buy tickets! And tell your friends: email or Facebook

PWA offices will be closed on Monday, October 10, 2011.

Pie in the Sky, PWA's Thanksgiving fundraiser for our Food Programs, Essentials Market and Food For Life, meal delivery program - coming soon!

Highlights from our Sept e-news:
- AGM: Oct 4
- Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving fundraiser
- PWA at Fall Home Show, Sept 22-25
- "Bad Habits" World Premiere, Oct 15 at 6pm

One Million+ Thank You's! We couldn't have done it without you - the riders, crew, volunteers, sponsors and donors who dedicated countless hours, pledged money and provided material and emotional support to the 13th Annual Friends For Life Bike Rally. Because of you we have surpassed last year's fundraising total and have raised more than $1.2 million for Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.

Our heartfelt thank you for this fantastic accomplishment and for another great year. And looking forward to 2012, we know we can continue to grow and make the 14th Annual Friends For Life Bike Rally even better than ever with all of you.

Please join us again next year!

Thank you to Steamworks for another successful Tighty Whitey Car Wash; $3,831.66 was raised! Click for pictures!

Highlights from our July e-news:
- July 17 Tighty Whitey car wash
- July 24 Bike Rally departure
- PWA's food programs
- thanks: Abrams Group for Pride Parade help

Highlights from our Aug e-news:
- strategic planning process update
- Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving fundraiser
- fundraising thanks: Tighty Whitey car wash, Friends for Life Bike Rally, Mr. Spearhead
- PWA at Fall Home Show, Sept 22-25
- Become a PWA member today

Join PWA and the over 400 participants in the Friends For Life Bike Rally on July 24th for departure to Montreal at 8:30am, Queen’s Park. It's not too late to sponsor one of your friends, or to make a general donation.

PWA's Spring newsletter is now available

new PWA treatment bulletins (in English, French and Spanish):
- HIV & The Brain
- Hepatitis C & HIV

PSHP study needs persons who tested HIV negative in the past year to participate in a housing study - click for details.

new PWA treatment bulletins:
- Treatment Adherence
- Key HIV Treatment-related research from 2010

Tighty-Whitey Car Wash: July 17, noon-4pm, 540 Church St - a fundraiser for PWA.

PWA Pride Speakers Week (June 29, 30) - click for details, to register, please phone the Speakers Bureau Coordinator.

The Amazing Pride Race: Part scavenger hunt. Part obstacle course. All Amazing. Saturday June 25. Click here to register in advance.

Highlights from our June e-news:
- PWA's official facebook page
- Q and A with Murray Jose, PWA's Executive Director
- Fresh Co fundraiser: thanks!
- PRIDE Speakers Series at PWA
- Trip of a Lifetime raffle tickets
- July 17: Tighty Whitey Car Wash

Highlights from our May e-news:
- in memory of Steve Roseland
- CLIMAX 2011: thanks to PROUD FM
- Trip of a Lifetime raffle tickets
- Inside Out Sponsored Screening
- thanks: Metropolitian Community Church, Mr. Spearhead 2011

Devon joins PWA volunteers in the Essentials Market on Day 24 of her 31 days of volunteering. Learn more at givingfor31.com

Highlights from our April e-news:
- last chance to get CLIMAX tickets!
- recognition of long-time volunteers
- team lead for new client intakes
- FFLBR after-hours shopping at MEC (April 19)
- M·A·C VIVA GLAM GAGA

Highlights from our March e-news:
- Climax: May 15
- Spearhead Food Drive
- PWA's medication access program
- Update on HIV criminalization

Miembros de Latin@s Positiv@s estan invitados a bajar y completar la solicitud para asistir al retiro y enviarla a: lpoactions@gmail.com o tambien pueden llamar al numero general de PWA al 416-506-1400 y marcar la extension de LPO 109.

Thanks to PWA's supporters, Love Bowl raised approximately $11,000 !

Highlights from our Feb e-news:
- last chance to register for PWA's Valentine's themed Bowl-a-thon fundraiser Love Bowl
- big thanks to Whole Foods Market, Yorkville fundraising efforts through their Bag Hunger program.

CLIMAX, May 15th featuring live music, host bar and light brunch at National Ballet School, 1pm

PWA's winter fun fundraising event – LoveBowl – is fast approaching: Saturday, February 19

Highlights from our Jan e-news:
- volunteer opportunities at PWA
- Jan 28: www.livelovelarge.org
- Feb 19: Love Bowl

PWA extends a big thanks to: hosts for Proud FM Joy Drive collections, corporate donors to holiday hampers, CHUM Christmas Wish, and Mr. Spearhead 2011's fundraising

PWA's Winter newsletter is now available

PWA is the Canadian research partner for the innovative GNP+ project to document human rights violations related to HIV.

PWA is a CLHE partner. Recent divergent court rulings on 'significant risk' are why we need Prosecutorial Guidelines for HIV Non-Disclosure. Click to sign the call.
(read more ...)

PWA's annual report is now available.

PWA was featured on Global Television's 'Making a Difference' segment.

PWA position paper: Treatment as Prevention

Read our latest treatment bulletin: Human Papilloma Virus & HIV

Previous news: 2010

Highlights from our year-end e-news:
- petition: Canadian Working Group on Criminal Law & HIV exposure

Highlights from our Dec e-news:
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day

Don't forget to take the last opportunity of 2010 to make a charitable donation.

Please note PWA's office hours for the December holidays.

World AIDS Day, December 1. Join PWA at the 519, at 5:45pm for the Community Carnation Memorial.

Highlights from our Nov e-news:
- Nov 15: National Philanthropy Day
- Nov 21: Joy Drive Launch Party
- Dec 1: World AIDS Day
- PWA's bi-annual newsletter available electronically

Help Dwayne Bryk (Mr. Spearhead 2011) help PWA's food programs

Highlights from our Oct e-news:
- PWA's Thanksgiving event raised over $4,500
- winners of 2010 Friends of the Foundation Awards
- donations for residents affected by fire at 200 Wellesley E

Want Pie? Pie in the Sky, Thanksgiving fundraiser for PWA's Food Programs.

Highlights from our Sept e-news:
- Upcoming: PWA AGM (Sept 22), Bike Rally 2011 (Sept 23), Home and Style (Sept 30-Oct 3), TICOT Coronation (Oct 9)
- Pie in the Sky: PWA's Thanksgiving event

PWA welcomes Katherine Hampton - Special Events Coordinator. If you are interested in registering for the 2011 Friends For Life Bike Rally, please contact Katherine or register online.

more 2010 news ...

Previous news: Aug 2010

Click to take the survey See right for more details.

Highlights from our August e-news:
- thanks to Bike Rally and Tighty Whitey car wash participants
- Essentials Market Nutritionist
- PWA AGM on Sept 22

On a trial basis, PWA is now offering longer office hours on Thursdays, 10am till 8pm.

Read our latest treatment bulletin:
Anxiety, Depression & HIV

A reminder to join PWA for our Annual General Meeting September 22nd 6:30 - 9:00 pm, in the PWA Board Room. Light refreshments will be served.

Thank you to Andrew Thornicroft, Mr. Steamworks 2010 and all the volunteers, donors and sponsors for making the 2010 Tighty Whitey Car Wash such a success. $7,500 was raised for the practical direct support services provided at the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.

Thank you to all Riders, Crew, Sponsors and Supporters of the 2010 Friends For Life Bike Rally. Over $1.2 million was raised for PWA's practical direct support services. Xtra videographer Micheal Pihach reports on day 6 of the 2010 Friend for Life Bike Rally. Also watch video reports from day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, and day 5.

Highlights from our July e-news:
- Tighty Whitey car wash (July 18)
- Bike Rally departure (July 25)
- Team PWA in Scotia Marathon (Sept 26)
- PWA presenting at International AIDS Conference (July 18-23: Vienna, Austria)

Job posting: Sepecial Events Co-ordinator: deadline for submission of resumes is 6pm, Wed, Sept 8, 2010. See job posting for more details.

Job posting: Accountant: deadline for submission of resumes is 5pm, Friday, July 30, 2010. See job posting for more details.

July 2010 International AIDS conference update: PWA acknowledged as a leader in responding to the expansive use of criminalization and Poz prevention, a hot topic at the conference, with PWA demonstrating leadership on the issue. See here for details.

July 2010 International AIDS conference: Former US President Bill Clinton told the Vienna conference that it's time to secure sustainable funding for the global response to AIDS. In a generally up-beat speech, President Clinton highlighted increased funding of HIV treatment, care and prevention over the past decade, and said that he was "thrilled" by falls in HIV prevalence amongst young South African women. However, he stressed that much still needed to be done - only one-third of those people eligible for life-saving HIV treatment are actually receiving it.

see poster (left): PWA shares around Poz Prevention on the international stage.

Sunday July 18: The annual Tighty Whitey car wash happens in the alleyway beside Café California and Steamworks. From 11am to 4pm. All donations go towards supporting PWA’s support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Highlights from our June e-news:
- Jag Parmar's film to show at the Vienna International AIDS Conference
- PWA's presence at Pride Toronto
- Climax: over $13,000 was raised
- get your "Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical" ticket for Oct 13
- learn about PWA's Speakers Bureau

June 5: Cavalcade of Stars, 8-11pm at Play, celebrating Spearhead's 40th anniversary, proceeds to PWA Food Bank

Highlights from our May e-news:
- Climax (May 27)
- PWA sponsors Inside Out Film Festival screening
- CWGHR Annual Forum sand AGM (June 12-13)
- sign petition: universal access to HIV/AIDS services

Job posting: Director, Development & Communications: deadline for submission of resumes is 6pm, Monday, May 3, 2010. See job posting for more details.

Job posting: Volunteer Coordinator: deadline for submission of resumes is 10am, Monday, April 12, 2010. See job posting for more details.

Highlights from our April e-news:
- Climax (May 27)
- shiatsu, accupuncture clinics
- Bike Rally Expo (May 2)

Read our latest treatment bulletins: Syphilis, Newly Diagnosed

PWA outlines the agency role, understanding and overall position on Poz Prevention

Read our latest treatment bulletins: Stress, Aging

Highlights from our March e-news:
- Income Tax assistance at the 519
- PWA Volunteer Core Skills Training
- Toronto Health Bus: Thursdays (12-2pm)

Natasha Ward is joining PWA on March 8, as our new Special Events Coordinator! She has a certificate in Event Planning as well as extensive experience planning and executing events particularly at the AIDS Committee of Toronto with SNAP, the Walk and Fashion Cares. Join us in welcoming her.

Thank you to all our fantastic bowlers, teams, sponsors, silent auction donors and our partner the Toronto Historical Bowling Society who came out to Love Bowl on February 13th to throw a strike in support of PWA - $25,000 was raised to help provide direct support services for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Register for the Friends For Life Bike Rally 2010 Today - Toronto to Montreal. As of the beginning of February, the ride has reached a record high of 230 registered riders and over 50 crew! Recruit a friend and you will be entered to WIN a Raleigh Bike! Need help enticing a friend to ride? Contact us for a DVD screener of the documentary "A Reason to Ride" to share with them. It is a truly compelling and emotional look at the road to Montreal.

Read our latest treatment bulletin:
Gastrointestinal Health & HIV

Previous news: 2009

Enjoy our Holiday 2009 newsletter.

The purpose of PWA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan is to maximize PWA's ability to continue offering programs and services to clients while supporting the health, safety and well being of employees and volunteers. Read more...

Toronto Public Health:
- H1N1 Frequently Asked Questions
- priority clinics for immunocompromised people (Oct 29-31)
- Flu Shot Clinic Schedule (starting Nov 2)

Ontario Ministry of Health:
- H1N1 Fact Sheet, in English, French, or Spanish

PWA Agency Brochure - also available in French and Spanish

Casey House will present a learning seminar on HIV and Criminal Law in Canada on Thursday, February 25, 2010. Registration is required; call 416-962-4040, ext. 226

Register Now for the Hottest Valentine's event around! Love Bowl, February 13th 2010.
read more ...

Job posting: Special Events Coordinator: deadline for submission of resumes is 9am, Monday, February 8, 2010. See job posting for more details.

Interested in participating in this year's Friends For Life Bike Rally? How about joining our fantastic Crew? Then come to the Launch Party Wednesday January 27th at the London Tap House. Meet with past crew and riders and learn all about this incredible event!

To those PWA clients who have accessed the Food Bank in December 2009 and who completed the "Welcoming Space" Pilot Project Survey - thanks!

Join SPEARHEAD on December 18th, 10pm at the Black Eagle for pictures with Santa, a new fundraiser with proceeds to benefit PWA.

Join TICOT for a Christmas Show on December 13th.

PROUD FM's Joy Drive: please donate non-perishable food items or grocery store gift cards at locations across the city.

World AIDS Day: Join us for a Community Carnation Memorial - Dec 1 at 5:45pm at The 519 Church Street Community Centre.

PWA's Financial Assistance Program will be available for a limited time - see details.

Thanks to our volunteers, bakers, pie peddlers, pie purchasers and sponsors support over 700 pies were purchased on Oct 9th, to help raise over $30,000 for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation's Food Programs

At TICOT's Coronation at the Marriott Eaton Centre on Oct 10, they announced that this year raised an amazing $55,000 for its charities of choice, PWA and the 519 Community Centre.

TICOT's annual coronation will be Oct 10. Reign XXII is committed to fundraising this year for The 519 and PWA.

PWA is the charity of choice at the Home + Style Studio Tour at the Fall Home Show, October 1-4 at the Direct Energy Center

Organization meeting for the 2010 Friends For Life Bike Rally will be Sept 30 at the 519 Community Centre.

PWA's Annual General Meeting will be Thursday September 24, 6:30 - 9pm at Oakum House (63 Gould Street, at the corner of Church St).

A Reason to Ride DVD for Purchase

The 2009 Bike Rally was a great success: 230 riders and 93 support crew made the 628km journey. We raised more than $920,000 and pledges are still coming in!

PWA Suspending the Financial Assistance Program until September 1st, 2009

New publication: Poz Prevention: knowledge and practice guidance for providing sexual health services to gay men living with HIV in Ontario
La Prévention Poz: connaissances et pratiques en matière de livraison de services de santé sexuelle aux homes gais vivant avec le VIH en Ontario

Pozitively Healthy: a gay man's guide to sex and health in Ontario

Pride Week (June 19 - 28), $25 "Pride Fixe" 3 course dinner at Prohibition (696 Queen St E.), in Support of the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation

Latinos Positivos AGM - June 12th

Free tickets to Wonderland! Tickets will be given out at random by lottery. Deadline Friday June 5th 5p.m.

Planning Future Clinical HIV/AIDS Services in Peel: Help Out By Answering a Confidential Survey: in English or français

Recruiting Volunteer Speakers: PWA is looking for graduates of the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) Leadership Level I & II program to become volunteer educators. If your passions are HIV education/prevention, challenging stigma and discrimination and helping to dispel the myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS we want to hear from you. All persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are eligible to apply. All voices and stories are important and we would also like to connect more with youth, women and heterosexual communities to make sure their stories are told. Contact Speakers Bureau co-ordinator.

Substance Use and Being HIV+: This monthly meeting is a community member initiative in partnership with PWA. Meetings are facilitated by Poz Gay Men who identify as substance users. This is a gay positive space where anyone who is HIV+ and is or was a substance user is welcome to attend.

Effective Dec 21, 2008, PWA office has moved to 200 Gerrard St East, 2nd floor