We Need Your Help! Kelowna, Sept

August/September 1999 Volume 3, Issue 3

for the AIDS Resource Centre - Okanagan & Region

, AIDS Walk '99 We need your help! Kelowna, Sept. 26 Minist~ "cuts" ARC funoing Programs ano services jeaparoizeo

he word has come down from the also have seen requests for educational Ministry of Health, HIV/ AIDS Di sessions increase 200 per cent during the Tvision, that funding will be same period. ARC's mandated area cov slashed to $247,000 for fiscal year 1999/ ers the two Regional Health authorities, 2000 - this at a time when the AIDS Re Okanagan Similkameen and North source Centre is at its most active provid Okanagan, and encompasses 78,000 ing essential programs and services square kilometres with a population of throughout its mandated area. 337,603 people (based on 1996 censusl. Gary Taylor, AIDS Walk '99 Coordinator During the past two years our client base We live in a province where two indi increased 342 per cent from 31 registered viduals test positive far HIV every day. That See Insert for more information clients .in July 1997 to 106 in 1999. We _ anllU!d lIlIlJ8IIlIl

British Columbia AIDS Funding by Region WHAT'S I~I~ ... Ea.t Kaatenay 76,.473 2.03% $35,000.00 0.39% $0.<16 West Kootenay-Boundary 80,037 2.13% $243,009.00 2.15% $2.41 Topher Talks 3 Narth & South Okanagan 337,603 8.97% $263,702.00 2.94% $0.78 Counsellor's Corner 4 Thompron 125,282 3.33% $226,331.00 2.53% $1.81 2,042,844 $7,009,840.00 78.21% $3.43 Women's Study Lower Mainland 54.30% Pregnancy, HAART and Drug Use .. 4 Capital Health Regian 331,966 8.82% $738,476.00 8.24% $2.22 Cen~al &Upper Van. 1.land 347,728 9.24% $191,6<16.00 2.14% $0.55 Volunteers' Corner 5 Caast Garibaldi 70,921 1.89% $0.00 0.00% $0.00 Just a Volunteer, am 11 North Interior 124,681 3.31% $212,889.00 2.38% $1.71 You betl 5 Peace Uord 62,3<16 1.66% $9,175.00 0.10% $0.15 From the ARC Library Narth West Regional 90,638 2.41% $52,328.00 0.58% $0.58 Tips far Travellers 6 Caribao 71 ,701 1.91% $30,024.00 0.33% $0.42

Vlagra In the News 7 Provincial Total $8,962,420.00 $2.38 Condom Cops 8 ••Aborigiital dollars included in lotal $749,387.00 • • •• • • • • •• •••• • •••• • • ••• • • ••• • ••• • •• • ••••• •• ••• • • • • • • • • ••••••• • cost must be measOred in terms of extraor Funding cuts dinary medical, social and per!onal costs _ ClIiIi..dIrOll page 1 to individuals, family, friends and partner!. Despite this, it has become apparent to past represents 18 per cent of the 11 individu ARCs staff and volunteers over the citizens in our re als testing positive each day in Canada. several years that most affects them. If E~itOY Other statistics you may be interested in gion don't believe AIDS M icbael J. salJaJ Ihe funds to relate to the brea k- we spend This on education, down in funding day newsletter is throughout BC, and awareness and support, the official may one day prove the glaring inequity in this publication to be true. However, if fun.ding to regions What these cuts mean: of the AIDS we at ARC are forced to outside the Lower Resource staff lost our presence in Mainland and • 2 full-time reduce Centre our area this definitely Vancouver Island. in your area Okanagan I Client support services be the case. ISee Table 1 below.) will not & Region We ask that you get As you can see, we reduced or cancelled (ARCl, formerly Kelowna ond Area AIDS involved as members of certainly are not the Resources, Education and Support • AIDS Educator unable to travel from ARC, clients of ARC or only "have-not's" vy Society. It is published four to six times simply as a concerned ing for funding but this Kelowna to mandated areas yearly. The materials in this newsletter citizen of either the makes it no less frus are meant to be consistent with ARC • Volunteer training reduced North Okanagan Re trating to witness purposes which are: to aur Pre gional Health Authority these cuts I conference attendance re No the Okanagan Sim • to promote awareness of AIDS and vention, Awareness or Internet Service ilkameen Regional lated diseases and Support Pro I Phone lines cut back; Health Authority. Please • to develop and provide resources to grams. cancelled local MLA how combat the spread of AIDS and the HIV As we go through tell your you feel about this fund virus the process of the I Additional cutbacks to be determined Elena • to develop and provide educational re regionalization of ing cut or contact HIVI sources the HIVIAIDS do/- Kanigan, Director of Health, 3'd floor, • to support those living with AIDS and lars in our area, the dollars allocated in AIDS Division, Ministry BC V8W those diagnosed HIV+, and/or their sig contract with the Ministry in 1999/ 1520 Blanshard Street, Victoria, the Ask for nificant others 2000 will set what Regional Health Au 3C8. Phone: 1-800-663-7867. and comments thorities will spend for years to come. Is 952-2A81. e-mail: elena.kanigan@ Even so, the opinions contacts are listed are those of the au this enough? moh.hnet.bc.ca. (MLA within this newsletter or Bear in mind it will be a huge challenge on page 6.) If you reguire assistance thors and do not necessarily reRect official how you can help, does not rec· for our region to have funding reinstated have a question about ARC policy. The newsletter call (250)862 or endorse the use of to a level appropriate to the needs of our please don't hesitate to ommend, advocate • or therapy de current services. 2A37 or 1-800-616-2A37. any particular treatment Roberts, board, stoff and The ramifications of one person con Daryle scribed as information. The Resource do not accept the risk tracting HIV is devastating to a commu Executive Director, AIDS volunteers of ARC & Region for any damages, nity. AIDS affects everyone. Its economic Cenlre, Okanagan of, nor responsibility costs or consequences of any kind which may arise or resu~ from the use of infor Health Canada AIDS Community Action Plan mation disseminated through this newslet ter. British Columbia Funding by Region Persons using the information provided through this newsletter do so by their own Funding %of ACAP FUlldlng Heo1Jh Region Nome Region %of Total and hold the society's Board, staff Funding Per Person decision Population Population and volunteers harmless. $0.00 Submissions for publication may be sent Kootenay 76,473 2.03% $0.00 0.00% East to our offices at any time; publication 80,037 2.13% $50,000.00 6.57% $0.62 We5t Kootenay-Boundary deadline is two weeks prior to publication 0.00% $0.00 North & South Okorogan 337,603 8.97% $0.00 ebte. Submissions will be returned if a re 0.00% $0.00 Thompson 125,282 3.33% $0.00 quest is made in writing and an address $0.25 to reprint and dis Lower Mainland 2,OA2,8A4 54.30% $510,500.00 67.13% provided. Permission $0.30 tribute this newsletter is openly encour Capital Health Region 331,966 8.82% $100,000.00 13.15% 0.00% $0.00 aged. Central & Upper Von. Island 347,728 9.2A% $0.00 The ARC office is located at: 70,921 1.89'% $0.00 0.00% $0.00 Coast Garibaldi #202, 1626 Richter Street 7.89'% $O.AS North Interior 12A,681 3.31% $60,000.00 Kelowna, Be V1 Y2M3 0.00% $0.00 Peace liard 62,346 1.66% $0.00 Phone: (2501 862-A1DS (2A37) $0.00 North West Regional 90,638 2.41% $0.00 0.00% 1-800-616-A1DS 12A37) $0.56 fAX: (2501 868-8662 Coriboo 71,701 1.91% $40,000.00 5.26% Website: [email protected] AOO Provincial Totol 3,762,220 $760,500.00 $0.20 Internet: www.silk.net/arc/ a ...... '

Topher Talks •• • (fA C[ient's Viewpoint"

nee upon a time there was a ARVD Anti-retroviral Drugs BID Twice a day mother mouse that was walking NRTI Nucleoside Analogue Reverse TID Three times a day through 0 field with her bobies. Tronscriptose OD Once a day A 0 They hoppened on to cot thot wos hunt NNRTI Non-Nucleo,ide Analogue PO By mouth ing mice in the field. The mother mouse Reverse Transcriplase PRN A, needed thought quickly ond told her bobies to hide HAART Highly Active Anti-retrovirol IV Intravenous behind her. Slowly the mother mouse Therapy puffed herself up ond storted borking like 1M Intramuscular Mega HAART, Immune helper cells o dog. The cat froze in its steps and looked CD4 or T4 ~he around. Once more the mother puffed Super Mega HAART and Viral Load Measure of virus in blood herself up ond storted borking again. The Modified Mega HAART Multi-drug Regimens Log, A measure of increase or cat, a little confused at not seeing a dog, CHF Complementary Health Fund decrease in viral load tumed and ran away. Happy with the re MAC Mycobacterium Avium sults, the mother tumed to her babies and Complex Miscellaneous said: "See? I told you it pays to learn a CMV Cytomegalovirus BBB Blood Brain Barrier second language." HAV Hepatiti' AViru, STD Sexually ~ransmitled Disease As clients with this disease know, HIV/ HBV Hepatitis BVirus CNS Central Nervous Sys~em AIDS reguires that we learn a second lan~ HCV Hepatitis C Virus CSF Cerebral Spinal Fluid guage. Actually we learn parts of many CBC Complete blood count IDU Injection Drug U'elrl languages. Unfortunately, many of these acronyms, abbreviations and medical jar· gon leave us confused. So, here is a primer. ARC supporters splash for cash These are just a few of the many short forms that we use in daily conversations. I A great big thank you goes out to Willow, GeoFF, Barbara-J, Janet, Stephenie and our know many more are out there. fearless leader, Doryle, who all took tums being dunked during the Mardi Gras Festival Whether you're HIV-positive or some~ July 17. Additional thanks go out to 8ar one who supports PWAs, I hope YAHAGS bara-J, Janet, Brenda, Julie, Altair, Lindo (you are having a good summer) and you B, Stephenie, GeoFF, Willow, Pot, Lisa and WCSUATAW (will come support us at the Rose Hein for manning the booth. We even AIDS Walkl in September! • managed to get CHBC Weatherman Chris Cleaver (leh) and the First United Church's Organizations David Martin (boftamJ to sit and be dunked for half an hour. IThe biggest ,plash oc ASO AIDS Support Agency curred when Iwas dunked ....JThanks to PWA Perlons living with HiVIAIDS Drew and Libby Sherwood for their gen CDC Centre for Disease Control erous donation of the dunk tank. NAPWA National Association of Persons With AIDS BCPWA British Columbia fWA, PWN Positive Women's Network PAN Poci"c AIDS Network CAS Canadian AIDS Society PARC Pacific Aids Resource Centre CATIE Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange FDA Federal Drug Administration Medication and Illnesses PEP Po,t Expo,ure Prophyloxi' PCP Pneumocystis Corinii Pneumonia KS Kaposi's Sarcoma PI Protease Inhibitors a • •• • • •• • • • • • • • • • ••• • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • Women's Study Results Are In mu[ti-~ear stuo~ Pregnanc~1 HAART ano orug use are targetteo ouring

thera The rercentage of women who drank he Canadian Women's HIV Study 5. Has the use of complementary alcoho in the six months before entry into began in 1993. Five hundred and pies gone by the wayside since HMRT? wide· the study decreased from 59% [reported fifty-six HIV-positive and 324 The introduction and increasingly T anti of their first visit) to 50% (re at the time HIY:negative women from across Canada spread prescription of combination have the time of their most recent visit). participated. retroviral therapy does not appearto ported at have who said they For the full text of this study contact the affected the use of complementary thera The percentage of women study. 15 drinks per week re ARC librarian or: pies among women in our drank more than mained ~imilar: 6% at the nrst visit and Dr. Catherine Hankins, Co-principal in alcohol and illegal drugs HIY Study. 6. Cigoreffe" A% at the most recent visit. vestigator, Canadian Women's HIV-positive women using? 3694; what are Meanwhile, 16% of women say they Tel: (514) 528-2400, ext. they first ioin the Canadian When have injected drugs at some point in their e-mail: [email protected] HIV Study, 57% of women say Women's lifetime. Six percent say they iniected they have smoked at some point in their drugs in the six months before joining the 1. Does Finding out you are HIV-positive life; 36% say they currenlly smoke and half study and, at follow-up, 4% soy they in change the likelihood of becoming preg of these women (54%1 say they smoke 'Iected drugs in the six months before their nant? Now that HJY transmission to ba more than 15 cigarettes a day. At the time visit. At the most recent study visit, bies can be reduced, are more HIY-posi of their last visit, the percentage of women atest the women say they hod used five women becoming pregnant? who currently smoke was similar at 40% 12% of in the last six months; women The advent of anti-retrovirals to prevent but the proportion of smokers smoking marijuana than or equa I to 500 mother-to-child HIY transmission has nol more than 15 cigarettes a day decreased with CD4 greo ter with CD4 led to an increased pregnancy rate among (48%). CD4 count did not seem to influ were more likely than women (19% HIY-positive women. However, more preg whether or not a women changed under 500 to report using marijuana ence • nant H1Y-positive women are deciding to her smoking habits. versus 11 %). continue with their pregnancies now that anti-retroviral prevention is available even though it does not completely stop trans mission. Counsellor's Corner 2. Is HPV (human papilloma viru, ) infec tion more likely to persisf in H/Y-positive People folk about The most effective under women and increase their risk of cervical 'Life,ty/e'. What doe' that standing of our behaviour cancer? mean From a counselling comes through understand Compared to H1Y-negative women point ofview? Can you help ing how we perceive the (A9%), HIY-positive women were more me understand what that world: i.e. our lifestyle. By likely (89%) to have HPV infection (any means For me? understanding our uncon type) and more likely to have persistent scious goals (and our HPY infection with types associated with Goyle replies: lifestyle), we can gain in our behaviours increased risk of cancer of the cervix. Human behaviour is so sight into with oth cial behaviour and is inHu and relationships 3. Has highly adive anti-retroviral therapy ers. We can leam tools to opportunistic infec enced by our relationships (HAART) meant lewer with others. Early on we "In order to see use when our faulty convic tions in HIV-positive women? us into trouble, or have reactions and create tions get Results suggest the be.sinning of a de where you are change these foulty experiences. Through our we can cline in opportunistic intections since the and thus our interrretations, we convictions of combination anHretroviral unique going, it is introduction form ideas a how the world behaviour. therapy. However, we need to follow these allows us greater works. This, in tum, deter important first to Insight trends more closely and for a longer pe of ourselves mines our life goals. The understanding riod of time before conclusions can be We become em concepts of self, others and look at where and others. about the extent of the decline. and better made a world view can be called powered to foce life's chal increa'ing in Ca your lifestyle. you have been," equipped 4. I, the u,e of HAART lenges and live a fulfilling women? As we travel through life, nadian existence. Although HAART use in Canadian our lifestyle remains relatively stable. We Gayle Gregory is a Master's student in with H1Y infection has increased, unconsciously interpret new life experi· women Psychology and is available half of eligible women with im ences in the light of previously held con Counselling less than to PWAs by appointment at the AIDS Re mune helper cells ICD4) under 500 were victions. However, we can run into trouble sourCe Centre. therapy during 1996/97. We are if these early convictions were faulty in any on triple Mail or drop off your questions at our to follow trends in the Cana way. Faulty convictions can couse us to continuing reception for Gayle to answer personally Women's HIV Study which suggest repeat the same mistakes over and over dian or in the next newsletter. • increased use of triple therapy. again. II • •• • •• • • • • • • • • •• • • •• • • • •• • ••• • •• • •• • • ••• • • • •• • •• •• ••• • • • • •• •••• 'T 1 t ~.~ well as caffee donated by ings ;n June. These were events inviting V 0 un eer ,../" r,'-, Starbucks. The volunt~ers who youth to give feedback on proposals for ,-I' ',~ ".",., were able to attend mcluded Healthy Choices, a joint committee of : \', 1Ir' 'i Marie, Nicole, Brenda, Janet, many agencies in the Okanagan. Bean Corner-,: Julie, Judy Waege~ Chris~ Geoff, Scene also donated their board room for ~ .•, Barbara-J, and Tla-Tonl. Staff the meetings. Thank you! '. ~resent were Daryle, Terri and myself; team numbers were rounded out by Bucks from Baseball ... or . Rob, Jordan, Ross and Mary. Though the It's Safel (The food that is.. ,.) golf scores started matching the notional In preparation for running the conces debt by the end of the evening, all the sion at the Rainbow Coalition's June 27 prizes were distributed. baseball toumament, several ARC volun· teers attended a Food Safe course taught Rags of Riches by Kelown Health Inspector Dave Nelson. The next event was a huge garage sale The usual $65 fee for the course was May 1 of used clothes and other treasures waived. Chris, Julie, Altair, Tia·Toni, Bar to raise funds for AIDS Walk '99. Iwould bara·J, Nicole, Tammi and Iwere all suc· like to thank all volunteers. Marl·orie, Janet, cessfvl in passing this course. All the new Chris, Barbara-J, Julie, Geo f, Jennifer, Food Safe graduates spent some time Aip· Altair, David, Ann, Sasha, Carol, Michael, ping burgers, wieners and smokies. (We Nicole, Rob and Rod are among the had Linda he Ip ing us, too.) In terms of Merv McLeod people who contributed to the success of Fundraising, the barbecue made over Coordinator of this event which raised about $500. $500 for the centre. A number of businesses also helped out: Volunteer Services Second Tyme Around and Party Local tferoes in the News! Rental donated display racks, hangers Finally, five members of our volunteer and tables. Safeway donated a coffee pot corps were voted local heroes. Their he Volunteer Comer has been a and Starbucks Ihe coffee. Food was names - Julie, Stephenie, Chris, very busy place since the lost given by B-Hive Bistro and Okanagan Donna, and Marie - were announced newsletter. The most important Pie Company. Argus Properties loaned on SILK FM the week of JU7 19 to JU7 23. Tevent since then was the Volunteer Ap us the space. They received plagues from United Way preciation evening of miniature golf at of the Cenlral & South Okanagan/ Scandia on April 22. Mother Nature even Youth Makiug lIealthy Choices Similkameen. cooperated allowing our toumament to Thanks to Safeway for donating pop And a big thank you to the Knights of take place outdoors. Prizes included CDs and Breadeaux Pizza for donating six Columbus who made a generous dona· donated by HMV and A&B Sound, as large pizzas to the youth focus group meet· tion to our Volunteer Lunch Program. •

olunteer: one who offers service, care for either too much), and I was the ioins a force, etc., of his/her first speaker. Ithink Ionly lasted 12 min' Vown free will: offers oneself. utes, but I did it! From then on, I began Someone told me the other day, that f to help out more and more. of the many was just a volunteer. Why do I do it~ services offered by ARC, I have helped What do I receive for volunteering~ This with most of them at one lime or another. is worth some thought. ... SO'les... 1 am a volunteer who has I looked back on how I came to the eame the respect of others at ARC. I centre. Back in 1993, my brother Jerry have stuck with it over the years and have (who has passed on now) asked me to done my best. If it sometimes cut into my meet him at KARES (a small organiza' personal life, that was my decision. I tion then.) After that, if we had nothing have made fhis my job and sometimes I JustA better to do, my daughter and I would brought it home with me, but I have hop an the bus and head up to the of learned to set my boundaries too. fice. There was always work to be done: So, to answer my initial guestion: Do I Volunteer,. stuffing envelopes, folding pamphlets, get something from volunteering here~ and so on. Yes. I have learned so much. I get sup First, I had to understand what HIV/ port from the staff and volunteers. I see Am I? AIDS was all about before knowing how the beneRts to the people who learn at to help the community. Idecided Iwould the 'speaks'. I get acknowledged from do publiC "speaks'. My Rrst speech was both sides. I have learned to set clear You bet! on World Aids Day, December 1, 1995 boundaries for myself and my family; and the topic was how HIV/ AIDS had and I get the benefits of the many self inFected or affected my life as a sister help courses and other workshops that and as a parent. I was scared because are offered to volunteers. it had to be at least 20 minutes. A cam Yes, 1 am a volunteer and damn era and a-fTlicrophonewere there (I don't pleased to be one! • a • • •••• • • • •• • • • • •• •••• • • • •• • •••• • • • • • • • •• • • • • ••• • •• • • ••• • • •• • •••

From the ARC Library • • • Tips for HIV-Posit1ve Trave[[ers

- ".' • ~,~ 'l'-... .- I I I've always wanted ta ~

Six Months In Advance One Month In Advance While You're Away Avoid fatigue. Design an itinerary with If you haven't been exposed to hepati Obtain copies of your prescriptions and lime for resting and allow for jet lag. in tis B virus, your doctor may recommend a two- or three-day supply of medications clude someJoga and medifation in your taking three vaccines over a six-month pe to put in your carry-on in case of lost lug unschedule time. Avoid infection. Ob riod. gage, serve food and water safety precautions. Shap far herbal medicines, Medical Assert your right to sit at least five rows Two Months In Advance herbalist Daniel Gagnan suggesls the fal· away from a coughing or sneezing fellow Planning is crucial Once you've cho- lowing: traveler on a plane, bus or train. Let AIDS sen your itinerary, start collecting infer- • Black currant leaves can raise your over- fade inlo the backgraund. Waking up in mation on how to avoid hassles and limit all resistance. new places makes it easy to shape an ~------identity broader than your diagnosis. I Okanagan & Region MLA Contacts' . Once You've Returned I I Don't lock your new perspective away I Jim Doyle April Saunders MLA Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Okanagan· Vernon with your suitcase. Start planning your next 103 Gould's Island 106-3334-30 Avenue trip! Or try 'travelling' at home. Create a Golden, BC VOA lAO Vernon, BC vn 2C8 "Spanish Saturday." Invite amigos for fla Phone: (250) 837-6814 Phone: (250) 260-4474 menco dancing, paella and sangria. Or visit the planetarium or park. Bill Barisoff Sindi Hawkins When we leave familiar routines and MLA Okanagan Boundary MLA Okanagan West 34843-97 Street 102-2121 Ethel Street surroundings, anything's possible. Lori Oliver, BC VoH no Kelowna, BC V1Y 2Z6 Ayers watched the sun rise outside her tent Phone: (250) 498-3001 Phone: (250) 717-1570 in the Kalahari Desert and suddenly re membered that she is more than the virus John Weisbeck George Abbott swimming through her veins. You, too, can MLA Okanagan East MLAShuswap dream up creative vacations that open you 230 Highway 33E 103-320 Alexander NE up to new possibilities. Deep healing re Kelowna, Be V1X 1XO Salmon Arm, BC VI E 1E7 quires this kind of openness, this knowl Phone: (250) 491-1940 Phone: (250) 833-1815 edge thai miracle, can happen, • Rick Thorpe Harry lali MLA Okanagan ~ Penticton MLA Yale-Lillooet (From Poz Magazine, June 1997. By lis 103-74E Wade 1928 Quilchena Freedman. Ask for a copy of Countries Penticton, BC V2A 8M4 Merritt, BC VOK 2BO With Hiv-ReJated Entry Re,/rid;on, avail· Phone: (250) 493-711 I Phone: (250) 378-6673 able from the ARC librarian ar Ihe educa· . __ _.- .. - --_ . tar) a ••• • •• • • •• • • ••• • • • • ••••• •• • • •• •• •• ••• •• ••••••• • •• •••••• •• • •• • • • Until therels a Cure AIDS Time capsu[e ref[ects bisto~ anD bope ,;'

lmost 20 years into the epidemic, people liv ing with HIVI AIDS (PWAsl, physicians, re A searchers and frontline AIDS workers marked their last meeting of the century by burying a pre millenium time capsule. The event took place during the Canadian AIDS Sociefy's annual general meeting July 9 to 11. During the meeting delegates had the oppartu nify to write about their personal experience with HIY/ AIDS, and to share their personal ano professional mile stones in the Rght against HIVI AIDS. These were gath ered, along with their hopes and dreams for the hiture, and placed in the time capsule. The capsule will only be exhumed once a cure is found. "This event allows us to reRect on the great energy The AIDS time capsule wlll only be exhumed once a cure Is found. spent to fight against AIDS, celebrate our efforts, and honour the memory and important contributions of those "In a world where the history of dominant political, social and cultural individuals who are no longer with us. It also allows us groups are instantly recorded and filed at the National Archives, collect to look forward to the day that there finally will be a ing and maintaining your own historical archives is key to ensuring Ihat cure," said Terrence Stewart, Chair of the Canadian AIDS your voices will be heard by future generations. This will, in tum, ensure a Society (CASI. Stewart unveiled a plaque bearing the bal~,nce when a history ot this social movement is researched and writ inscription "Until There's a Cure" whichAwill mark where ten. the capsule is buried at Theatre de I'lie Park in Hull, CAS gratefully acknowledged the City of Hull for authorizing the time Quebec. capsule burial and plaque display. •

Caveat Emptor: PWAs enjoy Loon Lake Retreat A Warl1il1g about Viagra al1a Protease Il1bibitors On the July 2 weekend, three of us trav others provided massage, acupressure, elled to Vancouver for the loon lake Re healing touch, acupuncture, and an In treat. We ignored the snow along the Touch Workshop for men. My favourite Coquihalla by singing along to a tape of was lucy, an outrageous, beautiful clair Doctors in Scotland warn against a pos good 01' seventies and eighties tunes. On voyant. Between fits of laughter she was sible interaction between Yiagra and pro Monday we joined about 25 ofher men able 10 accurately divine what was impor lease inhibitors (PI). Viagra is a drug used and women {all HIY-positivel to register. tant to each person at that moment. Ap to treat sexual dysfunction in men. The We were tagged with a sticker with our parently I have to wait until after next sum d rug is metabolized in the liver by en Zodiac sign and also our Chinese sign mer betore I meet Mr. Right! zymes of the PA50 cytochrome. PI are (Year of the Dog, Rabbit, Dragon). The The game of Piclionary challenged the known to inhibit these enzymes, which Goats and Rabbits got a lot of attention! drawing impaired (and Isfill think tlie other may lead to increased levels of Yiagra in Aher piling into a yellow school bus, team cheatedJl The evening of the talent the blood. In tum, this can lead to unde we were entertained by several comedi show was memorable for its spontaneity, complete irreverence and many surprises. sirable effects such as headache, Aushing ans. The blue sky lifted everyone's spirits and {after a mandatory smoke breakl we Music, skits and tacky costumes and possibly low blood pressure. In order arrived at the BC Ministry Forestry Reserve were de rigeur. Really good to reduce the risk of potentially hanmful somewhere north of Abbotlsford. solo singing and a rude three interactions betv.reen Yiagra and PI, the Warm sun, dense forest, a part round were fun. authors recommend a lower starting dose quiet but cold lake, and Our heartfelt thanks to of Viagra for people on highly active anti many cabins were there to ( Jackie Haywood and her retroviral therapy (HAART). In the mean enioy. The dinner bell ... crew for getting us there time, the authors describe the need for called us for endless plat- <;~nA and taking such good care thorough study of Viagra use in patients ters of great food three of everyone's needs. let using PI as "urgent". The doctors also de times a day. A hot tub, ca her know that you want to scribe the combination of Via~ra and amyl noeing and hiking were attend the next PWA event nitrite (poppers) as potentially lethal. • avoilable,.anytime. Facilita by contacting the BCPWA (From Lancet 1999;353:8AO) tors ran small groups, and retreat team. • a ••• • •• • •• •• • •• • • •• • • ••• • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • ••• •• • • • •••••• • ••• •• Condom Cops take it to the streets .. . and beaches

he Kelowno Condom Cops IGeoffond Willowl are happily on patrol for another Okanagan summer. Things are going swimmingly, and we've enjoyed a T from our IIclients." Our beat includes down warm reception town Kelowna, Gyro Beach, the Nude Beach (where there's lots to see), the nightclubs and pubs, and many other spots. So come find us and get all of your condom needs fulfilled!!! The Penticton Condom Cops (Lisa and Perry) have compe· titian this year from the "Slip on a Shirt, Slap an a hat, Slap an Sunscreen Police" Isaund familiar?1 sponsored by the Ca' nadian Cancer Society. Cool weather kept the beaches quiet but business picked up once the sun came out. We also hope to attend the Iron Man event and raves as they come up. Nicole and TJ, the Condom Cops in Vemon, are being well received. We have three bars to visit in town, and the Nude Beach. Same of the beaches have been closed. We also travel out to Mabel Lake, Salman Arm, fintry, the. The bars in Enderby will be op' Pere· Westside, and Armstrong. 1999 Condom Cop team. Standing, left to right: TJ (Trevor) Lisa proached for permission, too. Perry Bahnlwal, Nicole Hale and Willow Lloyd. Kneeling: polkln, Hope you're having a good summer. Play safe! • Gilderdale and Geoff Barker. Events September 77- 78 September 26 Coming Kelowna Volunteer Festival. The AIDS Re· AIDS Walk '99 IKelowna) September 7, 7999 source Centre, Okanagan & Region In Spring 2000 Idates to be announcedI Bird Entry Deadline formation Booth will be at the Kelowna AIDS Walk '99 Earft A National Conference on Women and fare draws Curling Rink for team registration and air HIV/ AIDS is calling for seven volunteer Friday, 9 am -1 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm September 70- 77 women to sit on the planning team Saturday, 100m - 4 pm For info contact the Canadian AIDS Soci Kelowna Core Training for all new volun September 20 " ety, 900-130 Albert St., Onawa, ON K1 P teers/staff at oUe's KLO campus Meeting 01 the 5G4. Fax: 1613) 563·4998 Friday, 7 pm -10 pm ARC Annual General 7 pm e-mail: [email protected] Saturday, 9 pm - 4 pm Ramada Lodge, Kelowna,

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