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Albert

NS

"My name is Al and I have been living with HIV for 34 years. I have never stopped working, even though I went on disability. I have continued to work bringing the face of HIV/AIDS to my community, Province, Country as well as Internationally.”

Alex

Vancouver, BC

Alex smiles in his usual cheerful way as he walks out the front door of the Dr. Peter Centre on the way to his studio apartment nearby.

Alphonso King Jr. (Jade Elektra)

Toronto, ON

“While World AIDS Day is a time to remember those we have lost from this disease, I feel it is also a day of celebration of those who have survived.”

Amy

Vancouver, BC

There’s a bass line that ran through Amy’s early life and it went like this:  no one is there for me when I need them most.
Like a riff, it played over and over again in her mind, just like a track of music running through her mind.

Anonymous

“When I began my healing journey on the red road, I had a lot of questions of why. Why me Creator? Why were these experiences brought to me? Why am I HIV positive?”

Anonymous

Vancouver, BC
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Trigger Warning: Suicide / Discriminatory actions against People Living with HIV

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016 - my world fell apart on that day. I was unprepared, I thought I had been relatively safe, but I realized I had never really taken the time (as a 38yr old gay man) to really truly understand what being HIV-positive meant.”

Anonymous

Vancouver, BC
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Trigger Warning: Discriminatory actions against People Living with HIV

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride. With my whole career at stake, I was more worried about my career rather than my health. I wasn't worried about how I got it; I was more worried about who I could have given it to.”

Ashley

ON

“On December 1st, we will observe the 32nd World AIDS Day. I’ve been an activist since 2005 when I was seven years old and it never ceases to amaze me that many people don’t know when World AIDS Day is observed."

Ashly

Sudbury, ON

“One day, I went to work and just didn’t feel well. If I remember correctly, I had even passed out. I left work to see a doctor. While discussing my symptoms, he asked me if I had ever had an HIV test. I hadn’t. He asked me if I wanted to do one and I said sure. Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with HIV. Surprisingly to me, I didn’t feel upset, I just felt disappointment in myself.”

Christian

Toronto, ON

“As a person living with HIV, World AIDS Day does not only happen on December 1st of each year. In fact, I celebrate World AIDS Day every single day. Every second of my life has been made possible by highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) which will enable me to live a long and productive life just like any sero-negative person."

Claudette

Vancouver, BC

“I identify as a Cree Indigenous woman and have significant experience in HIV, mental health, and Indigenous focused research initiatives. My familiarity with Indigenous knowledge and worldview allows me to be an exceptional Peer Research Associate for all projects I am involved in, as I share my experiences and ensure that research is done mindfully, and in a good way."

Einfach

ON

“World AIDS Day is a time for me to think of those we have lost, back in the 80s and 90s, and the people who we continue to lose today."

Éric

Québec, QC

« La journée mondiale du sida me fait penser à toutes les personnes que j’ai eu la chance de connaitre dans ma vie, ici, au MIELS-Québec, qui était atteinte du VIH/sida et qui sont morts d’une maladie opportuniste.  »​

Hélène

Québec, QC

« Pour moi la résilience est de se donner le temps. De se reconnaitre. D’accepter l’inacceptable.  »​

Ian

Saskatoon, SK

Prior to Sanctum, Ian had not engaged in the healthcare system, with the exception of emergency hospital admissions.

Indigo

ON

“I still remember the day I was diagnosed with HIV. During that time, I was overcome with grief over losing a parent. I fell in love with a person who wasn’t trustworthy. I experienced discrimination several times due to being a woman. So many things happened in my life. I was very weak physically and mentally. However, I kept hope alive to do something. "

Jeannine

Québec, QC

« Pour moi la journée mondiale du sida c’est montrer qu’en 2020, on est encore là. Je suis en forme, j’ai des problèmes de santé, mais je suis encore là. Quand on apprend en 1996 qu’on vit avec le VIH, ce n’est pas la même chose.  »​

Joy

Brampton, ON

“For World AIDS Day, I just want to extend a virtual hug to all Black folks who are living with or affected by HIV. This year has been particularly challenging for us but I hope we can get together on this day and reflect on how we are STILL here"

Justin

Toronto, ON

"My name is Justin Anantawan and I am an HIV activist, social worker, teacher, musician and photographer (instagram: @justin_anantawan) of Chinese and Thai Descent. I am based in Toronto, but I frequently travel to Kenya and Jamaica for outreach work in the LGBTQ community and PLHA community."

Kassim

Toronto, ON

Kassim left Trinidad when he was barely out of his teens, unable to remain in a country where homosexuality is criminalized.

Mar

Toronto, ON

A newcomer to Canada, Mar was diagnosed as HIV+ when treatment for tuberculosis was taking twice as long as it should. “I was fighting and not keeping up,” Mar recalls.  She didn’t know she was living with HIV. "

Muluba

Mississauga, ON

This year was the most confusing year of my life. As the year comes to a close and we commemorate World AIDS Day I find myself reflecting. There is so much I wanted to do for this year’s WAD. 

Myles

Toronto, ON

“The first World AIDS Day was 32 years ago, longer than I have been alive. As a kid, I remember seeing it on posters in school or in the pages of magazines, but honestly, I never really knew what it meant."

Nicolas

Québec, QC

« Lorsque mon médecin m’a annoncé que j’étais séropositif en 1986, il m’a donné un choix : soit mourir d’ici quelques mois, soit vivre ma vie d’une façon équilibrée (travail, loisirs, repos). J’ai alors choisi la Vie.  »​

Philip

Conception Bay, NL

Philip lives in Conception Bay North, on the east coast of Newfoundland. He's medically retired and has been HIV positive for over 30 years. He's also a volunteer HIV/AIDS advocate, activist, and community educator.

Raymond

Québec, QC

« J’ai appris que j’avais le VIH lorsque j’ai rencontré une infectiologue qui n’a pas été par le dos de la cuillère pour m’annoncer que j’étais atteint du VIH : « Monsieur Labbé, vous avez 6 mois à vivre ». 

Rene

Halifax, NS

Rene was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland. When he was 14 years old, he left the province and, in the following decades, lived all over North America.

Rodney

Toronto, ON

Although Rodney has lived with HIV for more than 35 years and has multiple health challenges, it wasn’t until he had a stroke a year and a half ago that he needed Casey House.

Rose-Marie

Québec, QC

« Demain, j’aurais 22 ans. C’est le début d’une nouvelle vie qui commence. Peut-être pas si différente, mais avec un nouveau parcours qui se dessine pour moi.  »​

Stephan

QC

« La journée mondiale du sida signifie pour moi que l’espoir est possible. Qu’il ne faut pas lâcher ! Les médicaments sont meilleurs et plus efficaces qu’avant.  »​

Tarian

ON

“For me, World AIDS Day is a day to remember my peers who have passed away from HIV. Back home, we do marches on this day with those who work in this field, including government officers and donors."

Trevor 

Toronto, ON

“It has been 30 years since my HIV diagnosis. I was 25, so I’ve lived most of my adult life with HIV. I have only been tested once for HIV and that was in 1990. It was a scary time, I felt very alone, and I knew it would be a positive result. Something inside of me knew."