History of the Vancouver Island Persons with HIV/AIDS Society

In 1991 a group of people with HIV approached the Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society (currently the BC Persons with AIDS Society) to ask if they would sponsor an outreach project in Victoria. At that time local (Victoria) members of that organization were holding weekly support  meetings at the YMCA and wanted to create a more comprehensive space for self-empowerment through mutual support and information exchange in a context of self governance. The Board accepted the proposal and provided a small budget for basic start-up costs (e.g. a post office box and a telephone line).

Representatives later met with the Provincial Health Officer and regional health authorities for both moral and financial support. After successfully applying for a small operating grant we were able to open our first office on Superior Street on June 1, 1992.

With a budget and an office, members developed programs that included a drop-in lounge, support meetings, a health education series, a treatment library, a 24 hour telephone help line, a food bank and a clothing/furniture exchange. A management committee (composed of any member who wanted to participate) met weekly to plan activities which were carried out solely by member/volunteers.

In 1994 the management team felt operations could be streamlined by incorporating the project as an autonomous organization. A governing Board of Directors was appointed and an employee was hired to handle the daily administrative responsibilities and the Victoria Persons with AIDS Society was officially established.

In 2005, our primary funder, the Vancouver Island Health Authority asked us to extend our mandate to cover the whole of Vancouver Island instead of only the Capital Region. Thus, we changed our name to the Vancouver Island Persons with HIV/AIDS Society.