AVI Health and Community Services

By Tristan Douville, Victoria Pride Contributing Writer

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes April as Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Month. We observe this time to better understand how STIs affect people and our society at large, but more importantly, to promote community organizations who do the crucial work of screening, prevention, and education.

Communities on Vancouver Island have access to services like these thanks in no small part to organizations like AVI Health and Community Services. This Victoria-based non-profit has been working since 1985 to educate and support those who have HIV and the hepatitis C virus (HCV). AVI also has locations in Langford, Nanaimo, Courtney/Comox, and Campbell River.

AVI has a wide array of resources for the queer and trans community as well as for people who use substances. At the downtown Victoria location, they have a needle exchange and harm reduction center, testing services, and drop-in spaces. Their work ranges from counselling, advocacy, support, and treatments related to HIV and HCV, to education and community groups facilitation.

Once such group is the Men’s Wellness Program, which is headed by Marshall Kilduff, a Health Promotion Educator. This program provides a space for men who have sex with men to access support groups, safe sex supplies like condoms and PrEP, and wellness workshops.

“Not only do we connect directly with people in our community,” says Kilduff, “but we also advocate on the community’s behalf.” Other initiatives such as Queer Eye for the Service Provider workshops aim to educate health care workers on the health disparities of LGBTQ2+ folks and combat
microaggressions in the health care system.

The core of AVI’s mission is the simple idea that knowledge is power. Being educated and aware of risks surrounding sex is the surest way to stay safe.

Kilduff explains, however, that sexual health awareness is much more than just proper education. “Being aware of your risks is so crucial,” he says. “You have to understand within yourself what your own risk tolerance is. Our role at AVI isn’t to tell people what to do; it’s to empower people to feel safe in the sex they’re having. That might include talking about consent, boundaries, and limitations, but it can also be learning to communicate your desires and finding confidence in what it is you enjoy.”

Although some events and group meetings have been canceled or rescheduled in light of social distancing efforts, many of AVI’s programs are still running online. This includes Queerabilities, a group for queer and trans folks who are living with a disability; the South Island Gender Variant Drop In Group; and many of the counseling and harm reduction services AVI provides.

For updates related to changes of service and transitioning programs online, or to see how you can get involved, check out the AVI Health and Community Services Facebook page or visit avi.org.

Sign up to receive the VPS monthly newsletter by email!