VARCS' would like to thank Candice for stepping in and doing a great job in the Access Worker Position! We wish her well in her new job! VARCS' is also excited to welcome Marika to our team in the Access Worker position! Marika brings a lot of experience, knowledge and understanding of what this work entails! Thank You Candice and Welcome Marika!

Rilpivirine is an experimental non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) being developed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals. Just last week, Tibotec and Gilead announced that the combination of rilpivirine and Truvada was comparable to Atripla (efavirenz plus tenofovir and emtricitabine) in two Phase III studies. Tibotec said it would apply for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of rilpivirine this summer.

Gilead and Tibotec are working on a deal to co develop the fixed dose combination of rilpivirine and Truvada and plan to file for FDA approval in the fall. If the combination pill is approved, it would become the first complete all in one pill HIV regimen since the release of Atripla in 2006. more

For the editor-in-chief and founder, however, a sense of humour is what has gotten him through the last 23 years of living with HIV. There is no question about the role of humour and its relationship to positive health outcomes, there needed to be something different available that celebrated having fun. The result is the creation of Positive Lite, a Canadian-driven website for both positive gay men and their friends, irrespective os sexual orientation, gender or nationality.

HIV-positive people in Canada get labelled with various acronyms, including PHA, PLWHIV, PWA etc. All of these are variations of "people living with HIV or people with AIDS" and all of these define us through disease. The goal is for readers to see us as whole and complete people whose lives are so much more than just a positive HIV diagnosis.

Positive Lite is a venue for us to explore our lives in their entirety and to express our individuality through writing, photography and video. In essence, this is our playground.

The site's motto is "You don't have to be poz, but it helps." Even though all contributors are HIV-positive, one cannot assume that anyone interviewed or participating in the production of content is positive. We cannot live in sero-isolation. It is important to bring in the broader community if we are to achieve the set-out-goals. Check out the website

Brian Finch, Editor & Founder

for myself. I am extremely blessed to work with the most remarkable co-workers, employers and colleagues. It is to all of these people I am sincerely honoured to work and have relationships with! As most of us know, when times are tough, your honest and sincere supports are there for you. I would like to thank my co-workers and my Board of Directors who I work with regularly who's compassion and understanding was over whelming. I would also like to thank the many, many wonderful colleagues I have had the good fortune to work with locally, provincially and nationally. Many of who were both thoughtful and supportive as well!

I also include those who are my friends

I take pride in my work and what I do, and through out difficult times, I have been lucky to have these people in my daily work world! It is absolutely inspiring and wonderful to have so many people care, so thank you all!

Sincerely, Karen

Drivers' Program Provided by wonderful volunteers it is one of VARCS first services. Rides are provided to medical appointments, shopping, banking and social activities benefiting our members who have mobility issues. VARCS is ALWAYS in need of volunteers for this. read about all the services that VARCS provides

Home Help Another service provided by volunteers and one of VARCS first services. Volunteers may provide help with light cooking and housekeeping for our members. VARCS is ALWAYS in need of volunteers for this service as well.

Referrals and Advocacy VARCS staff will provide referrals to community programs and services and will seek out information for people who request it. If we don't do it, we'll find out who does. VARCS staff will provide advocacy to ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS are able to access the services and programs that fit their individual needs.

Respite Respite is provided to relieve stress for caregivers (partners, spouses, family etc.) who are providing care and in need of a break.

Mobile X, mobile needle exchange The Mobile X has been operating for more than five years now. It provides harm reduction materials such as clean equipment like syringes, water, wipes, cookers. The outreach workers provide education regarding safe using practices, health information and offer materials and information about other service providers. The Vancouver Island Health Authority street nurses provide regular shifts in the van. The Mobile X works off a cell phone, individuals contact the van and the van drives to where they are. We serve the entire Capital Region.