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BALLROOM = BR BARCLAY = B COMOX = C DENMAN = D FOYER= F GILFORD= G NELSON= N

FRI

5:00PM 7:30PM

F Registration Opens BR Opening Session Hot & Cold Finger Food Reception Open to All Registrants

8:30AM

F Registration Desk Opens

PM

SAT

AM

C ”How to Give a Speech

:45

0-1 0:3 0

AM

D Empowerment Through Peer Networking [Maximum 25 people]

10

B The ABCs of HIV

9:0

-12 :15

N HIV 201: New Realities Focus Group (Treatment)

G The “Conviction” and Exoneration of “Patient Zero”

12.15-1:15PM

D & C Self-advocacy and survival tactics for those living with HIV/HCV co-infection

B Using Paper & Pencil for Self Care

G Your Life, Your Words

BR Hosted Lunch for All Registrants

N Myth Busters: Born to lead? No. Prepared to lead? Yes!

D Gathering of Community Voices: The Benefits of Regional Aboriginal Coalitions

:30

PM

D Looking Fierce: Expert Eyelashes and Makeup for Novices [Maximum 25 people]

PM

:45

N The More You Know: Relationships

C The less you know, the more you believe! How to tell fact from fiction

3:0

0-4

C Women and HIV: the realities of violence and criminalization [HIV+ Women Only]

5-2 1:1

N HIV 201: New Realities Focus Group

B Sharing our HIV Status [Under 25-years only]

G Healing with Cedar

B The body holds our stories: Yoga is a resource for everyday living

G Disclosing in the Undetectable Era: Safety, Strategies and Proof

4:30 – 6:00PM B AA/NA Recovery Meeting

PM

:15 AM

B & G Therapeutic Touch

-12

D & C Life and Love After HIV: A Women’s Sharing Circle [HIV+ Women Only]

10

:45

:30

BR Hosted Gala Dinner for All Registrants Keynote by YouthCO

N Challenging HIV Stigma

9:0

0A

M-

10

SUN

AM

6:00PM

12:15-1:15PM

N Treatment as Prevention: “Reading” the scientific evidence & media hype D Road Map to Healing Relationships [Maximum 20 people]

C HIV Med Mysteries Solved! B A Vibrant Future begins with Produce

BR Closing Session and Hosted Lunch for All Registrants

Notes

Friday Night Keynote and Presentation

1 2 i A wom n

This Opening Session features our Keynote speaker, Charlene Anderson, who is a Board Director at Positive Living BC and a volunteer at AIDS Vancouver Island. Charlene has been positive for 25 years and active in HIV/AIDS service organizations for most of those years. “Being involved in my community is key for me. It provides me with a vehicle for getting the message out that there is life after a positive diagnosis.” Charlene hopes to entertain, motivate and inspire with her story.

Message from the Chair Valerie Nicholson On behalf of the Planning Committee, I welcome you to Positive Gathering 2016!

This year’s Committee has been especially dedicated to providing a more diverse array of programs and workshops than ever before at the Gathering. We are pleased to see that diversity reflected in our audience this weekend. We really promoted registration to people 25 years or younger this year and I am excited that so many are participating. Our hope is that everyone finds this weekend’s activities interesting, entertaining, informative and relevant. A new element of the Gathering is the offer of free, complementary health and wellness services, like therapeutic touch, in the conference foyer on Saturday. Please take advantage of these services between workshops. And please be sure to thank the volunteers who are donating their time and expertise to us.

On a personal note, I want to thank the caring, creative and proactive member organizations who contributed to this year’s Planning Committee:

AIDS Vancouver; AIDS Vancouver Island; ANKORS; DTES Consumers Board; Living Positive Resource Centre; Positive Living BC; Positive Living North; Positive Women’s Network; REL8; Vancouver Native Health; ViVA; and YouthCO. The Committee also acknowledges, with gratitude, that funding generously provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has allowed us to bring you this unique event. Please enjoy yourself and contact me with any questions. I’m happy to help my peers!

Valerie Nicholson, Chair, March 2016

The session will also include interactive meet and greet activities presented by YouthCO, detailed info on the weekend’s workshops and a reception with hot and cold finger food and refreshments.

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Saturday Night Presentation

YouthCO exists as a space for youth to be leaders within the HIV movement. In this panel, we will share stories of our lives with HIV, and bring a youth-y perspective to being poz. Some of have grown up with HIV, and some of us were diagnosed as youth - and all of us are fabulous.

34 Help build the Educate to Empower Jasbir is the Education Coordinator at curriculum: HIV 201: New Realities. We want AIDS Vancouver. to hear about your perceptions and opinions on the topic of Treatment or Undetectable. Ali has been with AIDS Vancouver for This workshop is split into two parts. almost two years, taking a leadership The second part (Undetectable U+) happens role in advocacy for people living at 10.45am. with HIV.

DR. CHRIS LOREY AND ANDREW EHMAN

SAMIRA MAHORO

There are so many – and always changing – HIV acronyms, medications, and buzz words. This interactive workshop revisits the HIV alphabet as presented by The Stigma Project. Let’s create our own alphabet of words we can use to build communities that know the truth about HIV.

THE “CONVICTION” AND EXONERATION OF “PATIENT ZERO”

PAUL GOYAN

Examine Randy Shilts’ famous 1987 book Paul is a former Board Director of “And the Band Played On” about the early Positive Living BC and regular contributor AIDS epidemic in America, and exchange to Positive Living Magazine. In 2014, your own opinions, remembrances and he was the primary author for the stories to better understand how stigma Society’s discussion paper sent to the (including self-stigma) affects PLHIV. BC Attorney General, The Need for New Charge Assessment Guidelines: HIV Non-Disclosure in BC.

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Andrew is the creator and facilitator of REL8 Okanagan in Kelowna. He is a member of Interior Health’s Stop HIV program, sitting on the Peer Advisory Committee

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Dr. Lorey is a member of REL8 Okanagan and co-founder of Senior Gay Men in Kelowna. He is Professor Emeritus in Culture and Language Studies at the University of New Brunswick.

SAT 9:00-10:30

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This workshop demonstrates how being part of an HIV peer network can empower our everyday lives, break isolation, reduce stigma, build selfesteem, and get us involved in the larger HIV community.

SAT 9:00-10:30

THE ABCS OF HIV

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EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PEER NETWORKING

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SAT 9:00-10:30

JASBIR KHURANA AND ALI AZARI POUR

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SAT 9:00-10:30

HIV 201: NEW REALITIES FOCUS GROUP (TREATMENT)

SAT 9:00-10:30

HOW TO GIVE A SPEECH

Learn how to: • start a speech without saying “Thank you for inviting me”

• conquer nerves

• tell stories - there is a set way!

• decide on a theme for your talk

• summarize

•stick to your allotted time.

DENISE WOZNIAK

Denise is a member of ViVA, ICW-NA and a member of Toastmasters International.

SAT 10:45-12:15

HIV 201: NEW REALITIES FOCUS GROUP (UNDETECTABLE U+)

JASBIR KHURANA AND ALI AZARI POUR

Help build the Educate to Empower Jasbir is the Education Coordinator curriculum: HIV 201: New Realities. We at AIDS Vancouver. want to hear about your perceptions Ali has been with AIDS Vancouver and opinions on the topic of Treatment for almost two years, taking a leaderor Undetectable. This workshop is split ship role in advocacy for people living into two parts. The first part (Treatwith HIV. ment) happens at 9am.

56 Finn is a Board Director of Positive Living BC.

Dispel leadership myths and discover your inner leader with the super animated “Myth Busters” from the Positive Leadership Development Institute!

SAT 10:45-12:15

JASON MOTZ AND LORENZO CRYER

Writing can be a means of positive growth and self-empowerment. This workshop explores how storytelling can be used to improve one’s life.

Jason is Positive Living Magazine’s Managing Editor and a media expert. He is also a freelance writer, animal rights activist, and advocate for mental health.

Living with HIV for 30 years, Lorenzo is well acquainted with stigma, prejudice, and discrimination. He also spent 15 years as an advertising copywriter. Lorenzo shares his ethos by writing f or Positive Living Magazine as the “Positive Gardener.”

LOOKING FIERCE: EXPERT EYELASHES AND MAKEUP FOR NOVICES

TYLER CUDDAHY

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This workshop is designed to help anyTyler has been living with HIV for 10 one who wants to know how to properly years. He is a key volunteer at Positive apply eyelashes, and learn some basic Living BC, a former Board Director, and tips on daywear makeup to give a natural is a well-known local Drag Queen— look and feel. Synder Starr!

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Sarah is the Program Director at YouthCO. Her interest in gay men’s health and HIV began during an internship in Kigali, Rwanda in 2008.

SAT 1:15-2:45

Jessica will be working as the Positive Programs Intern and could not be more excited to work alongside the team of staff and members at YouthCO, as well as the team at the International Community of Women Living with HIV.

YOUR LIFE, YOUR WORDS

Florence, a high-spirited PLDI grad, was diagnosed in February 2015 and is dedicated to helping other PLHIV through her work as a Board Director of Positive Living BC.

Marc has been an enthusiastic Lead Instructor with PLDI since 2009, and works as Positive Living BC’s Manager of Volunteer Services. He will be celebrating living with HIV for 20 years this March.

SARAH CHOWN AND JESSICA VIELLE

This drawing workshop is intended for selfcare time in a relaxing way. It is open to everyone—no art experience is necessary!

FLORENCE DUBE AND MARC SEGUIN

SAT 1:15-2:45

WOMEN AND HIV: THE REALITIES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIMINALIZATION

Disclosure is one of the most difficult issues for women. Criminalization adds another layer of complexity. We’ll explore connection between criminalization, HIV and gendered violence.

CLAUDETTE CARDINAL, FLO RANVILLE, LULU GURNEY, PATIENCE CHAMBOKO, VALERIE NICHOLSON AND MELISSA MEDJUCK

This group of strong, caring and supportive women has decades of professional expertise in HIV/AIDS to share.

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USING PAPER & PENCIL FOR SELF CARE

SAT 1:15-2:45

MYTH BUSTERS: BORN TO LEAD? NO. PREPARED TO LEAD? YES!

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SAT 10:45-12:15

Be informed and empowered to navigate the pharmaceutical, medical and self-care aspects of the entire treatment process. Through personal stories and open dialogue we identify where we are in the journey and get tools and support to continue forward.

FINN KOVALTSENKO

HI V

SAT 10:45-12:15

SELF-ADVOCACY AND SURVIVAL TACTICS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH HIV/HCV CO-INFECTION

WOMEN ONLY

78 YOUTHCO

We have had all kinds of experiences when it YouthCO exists as a space for youth comes to sharing our status – some good, to be leaders within the HIV movement. some bad, and many in between. In this In this panel, we will share stories of workshop, we will talk about how to take our lives with HIV, and bring a youthcare of ourselves when making decisions perspective to being poz. Some of have about sharing our HIV status with people in grown up with HIV, and some of us our lives. were diagnosed as youth - and all of us are fabulous.

SAT 3:00-4:30

GATHERING OF COMMUNITY VOICES: THE BENEFITS OF REGIONAL ABORIGINAL COALITIONS

BERNARD, CHRISTINA AND SHELDON

Presented by the Northern BC First Nations HIV/AIDS Coalition, the Coalition provides HIV/AIDS/HCV education awareness, prevention and support services to all First Nations communities in Northern BC.

25 U -ye nd ar er so nly

SAT 1:15-2:45

SHARING OUR HIV STATUS

SAT 1:15-2:45

ELDER ALANNAH ATLEY AND FLO RANVILLE

HEALING WITH CEDAR

Learn how to make 8.5”, 9” or 9.5” size wristbands from cedar bark, which combines fun creativity and showing off your creation.

Alannah grew up in the Yukon and northern BC, and is of Aleut, Gitxsan, and Irish ancestry. She works as a Support Worker at Semiahmoo House Society, as Sous Chef at Chefe Daniel, and as Principle Consultant at Tsuku Consulting and Counselling.

SAT 3:00-4:30

THE LESS YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU BELIEVE! HOW TO TELL FACT FROM FICTION

Get wise with basic analytical and factchecking skills so you can move beyond the headlines and hype, and get the real scoop on HIV news.

HESHAM ALI AND LEAH GIESBRECHT

Hesham and Leah both work at Positive Living BC. Hesham is a Peer Navigator. Leah is the Communications Coordinator.

Flo is an Interviewer/Outreach Worker with the Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS: Women’s Longitudinal Needs Assessment Project and has recently been hired as a Peer Navigator at Positive Living BC.

SAT 3:00-4:30

THE MORE YOU KNOW: RELATIONSHIPS

When it comes to our health, relationships play a major role. In this interactive workshop, we will talk about social norms and values, peer pressure, self-esteem, and more. This is a safe space for discussion about sexual health and well-being.

DIRCEU CAMPOS W

SAT 3:00-4:30

THE BODY HOLDS OUR STORIES: YOGA IS A RESOURCE FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

Stress is an ever-present force and if left unprocessed it takes a negative toll. Learn how yoga regulates the nervous system and builds resilience.

MONIQUE DESROCHES

Monique has been living with HIV since the early 90s. She works at Positive Women’s Network as an administration coordinator. She is also a yoga and mediation teacher.

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SAT 4:30-6:00

JONATHAN POSTNIKOFF

This presentation will highlight the reality Jonathan is the Treatment Outreach C people face when disclosing their status in oordinator at Positive Living BC, a peer the era of undetectability. What are the facilitator on the Gay Poz Sex study, an risks of not disclosing? What constitutes Adjunct Professor through the University proof in an age of criminalization? And of British Columbia, has completed two rewhat strategies have worked, or not search fellowships through the Universities worked, for you? Without Walls training program funded by the CIHR, and is a Board Member for the Canadian Treatment Action Council.

JOINT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS MEETING

Sometimes we face stigma from our well-meaning friends, our teachers or the people we work with. Sometimes we face it in the media. In this workshop, brainstorm examples of when HIV stigma comes up in our lives, and ways that we can respond to take care of ourselves and pass on the facts about HIV at the same time.

SUN 9:00-10:30

This is an open joint AA and NA recovery 12 Step meeting.

LIFE AND LOVE AFTER HIV: A WOMEN’S SHARING CIRCLE

KIARA ASHTON

Kiara has been living with HIV since birth and has been active in her community since the age of seven. This is her first Positive Gathering, and she is looking forward to it very much!

VALERIE NICHOLSON, KATH WEBSTER, ALISON CARTER, MARGARITE SANCHEZ

Valerie is a Peer Research Associative for the CHIWOS study and the Chair of Positive A safe and respectful workshop for women Living BC. to share and discuss the challenges Kath is a Peer Researcher Associative and triumphs of dating, love, relationships, for the CHIWOS study and Trainer for the and sex, and an opportunity to inform the Positive Leadership Development Institute development of a new community-driven Allison is the former CHIWOS study coordinator resource for and by women. and a current PhD student at SFU, doing strength-based research on love, sex and relationship among women with HIV. Margarite is an HIV/AIDS educator; advocate, artist, and activist working with VIVA women at Positive Living Society and Southern Gulf Islands AIDS Society. WOMEN ONLY

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This is an interactive presentation involving discussion, ideas and information sharing.

SUN 9:00-10:30

CHALLENGING HIV STIGMA

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SAT 3:00-4:30

DISCLOSING IN THE UNDETECTABLE ERA: SAFETY, STRATEGIES AND PROOF

SAT 6:00-8:00

HOSTED GALA DINNER

GUEST SPEAKER: YOUTHCO MEMBERS

YouthCO exists as a space for youth to be leaders within the HIV movement. In this panel, we will share stories of our lives with HIV, and bring a youth-y perspective to being poz. Some of have grown up with HIV, and some of us were diagnosed as youth - and all of us are fabulous.

This event is a chance to celebrate our lives as Positive People and our HIV positive community.

SUN 9:00-10:30

THERAPEUTIC TOUCH

Learn nurturing, caring touch techniques in a fun, playful and educational environment.

JUSTIN NEWELL, T.T.R.P.

Justin is a volunteer Therapeutic Touch practitioner at Positive Living BC.

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SUN 10:45-12:15

TREATMENT AS PREVENTION: “READING” THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND MEDIA HYPE

SUN 10:45-12:15

PAUL GOYAN

The BC-CfE is recognized as a leader Paul is a former Board Director of Positive in Treatment as Prevention. This workLiving BC and regular contributor to Positive shop shows non-scientists with basic Living Magazine. In 2014, he was the literacy and numeracy skills “how to primary author for the Society’s discussion read” research articles published by the paper sent to the BC Attorney General, The BC-CfE and related media coverage in Need for New Charge Assessment Guideorder to arrive at their own assessment of lines: HIV Non-Disclosure in BC. BC’s performance. You may be surprised by what you uncover.

Learn about The Triangle Model, which helps us heal and improve the quality of our relationships while supporting us with a spiritual component.

RHONDA BILLIE

SUN 12:15-1:15

Rhonda has worked with this concept of healing for almost 10 years. The process has helped her come to terms with her HIV status, address discrimination against First Nations women, and find love in her life.

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SUN 10:45-12:15

HIV MED MYSTERIES SOLVED!

For some of us who grew up with HIV, being in charge of our own meds is a new thing – even if we have been taking them for many years. In this workshop, we will look at what we need to know about our HIV meds and learn from each other about how these meds work together to support our health. We will also get to share tips and tricks to take our meds and support our health.

JESSICA VIELLE

Jessica will be working as the Positive Programs Intern and could not be more excited to work alongside the tea m of staff and members at YouthCO, as well as the team at the International Community of Women Living with HIV.

VALERIE NICHOLSON AND MELANIE LEE

The Harvest Organic Co-op invites you to take part in this interactive discussion on hydration, health and whole food blender healthy drinks.

Valerie is a co-founder of Harvest Organic Co-op and Chair of Positive Living BC.

Melanie works as a Peer Research Associate with CHIWOS while she volunteers with Harvest Organic Co-op and enjoys everything about food!

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SUN 10:45-12:15

ROAD MAP TO HEALING RELATIONSHIPS

A VIBRANT FUTURE BEGINS WITH PRODUCE

HOSTED CLOSING LUNCH

This final meal together and closing circle ends the Conference.