Current News

VARCS is in our 20th year of providing services to our community!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported, volunteered and remembered VARCS throughout the years!

VARCS will be distributing our newsletter every other month. We will also be providing an extra piece called "The X File". This addition will be for those who are current and/or former substance users and the agencies that work with people who use substances.

Yes, it has been quite awhile since our last newsletter in December of last year!

VARCS would first like to thank the Vancouver Island Health Authority for the additional funding we received this year in order to keep our amazing outreach/access worker, Brittney! She has been a valuable asset to VARCS and we couldn't imagine not being able to keep her with us, so a big thank you to VIHA and to Brittney for staying on!

VARCS continues to look for other avenues of funding to expand our mandate to include more access/outreach programs not currently provided in our community.

VARCS welcomes our newest board member, TJ! TJ re-located here from Toronto and brings many skills with him. We are excited to have him on our board and look forward to his involvement with VARCS!

We would also like to welcome the new Board Chair at Vancouver Island Person's With AIDS Society, Craig! Craig joins our community from Toronto as well. VARCS has already had the opportunity to partner with VIPWAS for PRIDE and we are now working together on the AIDS Walk for Life. So welcome Craig as well as the new and returning board members at VIPWAS!

VARCS also welcomes Sheena to Victoria! Sheena is the new Harm Reduction Coordinator for VIHA. Sheena brings a wealth of knowledge and skill with her, she starts in September!

Last but certainly not least, we would like to bid a safe and amazing journey to Katrina,

Executive Director at AIDS Vancouver Island as she takes a year away from Victoria!

You will be missed, but, we look forward to working with the acting executive director, James! Katrina will be leaving in September and James will assume the E.D. role. All the best to you both!

If anyone would like to submit anything for the newsletter, Please Do!