Support Programs

• Average Joes Social Group
• Average Joes Cafe
• Wednesday Evening Support Group
• Boys R Us
• Complimentary Tickets Program
• Complementary Health Fund
• Gardening
• Hair Salon
• Income Tax Assistance
• Lounge
• Polli & Esther's Closet
• Retreats
• Internet Café

Average Joes Social Group

Date: Every Wednesday Evening
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Numbers Cabaret - 2nd Floor
Address: 1042 Davie Street, Vancouver
Contact: Richard Harrison
Email: richardh@bcpwa.org
Phone: 604.893.2258

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Average Joes Café

A friendly environment for gay HIV+ Gay Men* outside the bar scene. Fun people, free coffee and great prizes!

*BCPWA Membership is not required

Date: Every Friday Afternoon
Time: 3:30pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Oasis Ultra Lounge
Address: 1240 Thurlow Street, Vancouver
Contact: Richard Harrison
Email: richardh@bcpwa.org
Phone: 604.893.2258

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Wednesday Evening Support Group for HIV+ Individuals

BCPWA's peer-facilitated HIV support group is the longest-running group of its kind in Canada. The group meets every Wednesday evening in the BCPWA Society Lounge. Its drop-in format easily accommodates people from out of town. The Wednesday evening group welcomes people living with HIV disease, people who are co-infected with Hepatitis C, as well as family, friends, medical or social supports of group members. The group focuses on mutual support, empowerment, and information exchange.

Boys R Us

Boys R Us gatherings take place three evenings per week in the Downtown South region of the city.

Date: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: Three Bridges Community Health Centre
Address: 1292 Hornby Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604.633.4200

Complimentary Tickets Program

BCPWA periodically offers complimentary tickets for entertainment and community events to members and a guest. Events range from ballet, symphony and rock concerts to football and lacrosse games. Among our more generous donors are the Playhouse Theatre Co., Ballet BC and Clear Channel Entertainment, which produce Broadway musicals. For more information:

Phone: 604.893.2285
Email: comptix@bcpwa.org

Or drop by the Support Services Office (1107 Seymour Street, 2nd Floor, Vancouver) and fill out a form that places you on the contact list for tickets. Confidentiality is assured.

To Donate Tickets to BCPWA Society :
Phone: 604.893.2285
Email: comptix@bcpwa.org.

Ticket Master is willing to provide confirmation numbers that allow us to pick up tickets directly at its Hornby Street location. We appreciate your consideration.

Complementary Health Fund (CHF)

Our Complementary Health Fund (CHF) provides reimbursement to members for the cost of products and services for HIV/AIDS related symptoms not subsidized by other resources.

Be sure to check our eligibility criteria, policies (located on the last page of the form). The CHF reimbursement allotment is $55.

If you are unsure whether a particular product is covered or require further information, please feel free to call a volunteer member of the CHF team.

Phone: 604 893-2245

Proceeds from the Walk For Life (AIDS Walk) go directly into the CHF.

• [ CHF Form and Policies ]
• [ Address Change Form ]

Horticultural Therapy

Support Services has two community gardening plots and one traffic circle that volunteers tend to.

Hair Salon

BCPWA members can enjoy a shampoo and haircut free of charge by our volunteer professional stylists.

Date: Monday and Wednesday, 10am - 1pm. Schedules may vary.
Location: BCPWA
Address: 1107 Seymour Sttreet, 2nd Floor, Vancouver
Phone: 604.893.2200

Income Tax Assistance

Members are encouraged to come in and seek confidential, qualified advice on their income tax return.

Professionally trained volunteers are available every Wednesday (excluding cheque issue week), during March & April, to assist the membership in filing their Income Tax for the previous taxation year.

Book your appointment at the BCPWA front desk or give us a call.

Phone: 604.893.2200

Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:

1. ALL income information including T4s, T5007 etc.
2. Income tax forms from the past year that were sent to you by Customs and Revenue
3. Your personal access code number, if you filed by phone or e-filed last year - this will have come to you in the mail.

Lounge

The BCPWA lounge is a safe, comfortable environment where members can socialize and enjoy complimentary coffee or juice and pastries.

There is a telephone for member to make free local calls, magazines, newspapers and brochures. 

The lounge is a space dedicated to encouraging positive attitudes and hope for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Come join our Lounge Activities host on Tuesdays for crafts (1pm - 4pm) and Wednesdays for a game of crib, bingo, scrabble, and others, and meet new friends (from 10am - 1pm).

Date: Weekdays
Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Movie Days: Tuesdays and Fridays at 12:00pm
Location: The Lounge at BCPWA
Address: 1107 Seymour Street, 2nd Floor, Vancouver
Contact: 604.893.2200

Polli & Esther's Closet

Polli & Esther's provides used clothing, household goods, bedding and more, free to members.

Hours:
Tuesday 11:00am - 3:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday 11:00am - 2:00pm
Closed the week of cheque issue
Location: BCPWA
Address: 1107 Seymour Street, 2nd floor, Vancouver
Phone: 604.893.2200

Polli & Esther's gratefully accepts donations of clothes, small appliances, kitchen ware, shoes, etc. We cannot accept furniture due to space restrictions!

Donation Drop-off hours:
Mondays & Fridays 9:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:00am - 9:00pm
Contact: Richard Harrison
Email: richardh@bcpwa.org
Phone: 604.893.2258

Retreats

Loon Lake Camp

BCPWA offers its members three retreats each year. Our retreats:

• Provide quality, professionally facilitated, therapeutic workshop sessions and recreational activities
• Give participants the benefit of a clean, safe, supportive, healthy, natural environment
• Introduce positive wellness through body work, encouraging the active pursuit of vitality
• Increase socialization, raise self-esteem and reduce isolation
• Build a sense of community through small group initiatives
• Provide a better understanding of peoples' diversity

Loon Lake Camp

Healing retreats for HIV-positive men and women. Join HIV-positive people from all walks of life. Meet new friends and learn more about yourself.

• Healthy meals in rustic camp setting
• Innovative Workshops
• Community building
• Small group work
• Rock climbing
• Nature hikes
• Art projects
• Swimming
• Massage

Date: June 26 - 29, 2009 and September 4 - 7, 2009
Location: Loon Lake [ Map ]
Registration: Register at reception

To book an interview:
Phone: 604.893.2200
Toll Free: 1.800.994.2437 ext. 200

Spiritual Workshop

Join other HIV-positive men and women on Vancouver Island for a 3-night, 4-day progressive workshop devoted to spirituality. Non-denominational, supportive, unique and fun!

• Organized by the BCPWA Society Retreat Team
• Designed and facilitated by Rev. Gary Paterson, Minister, St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, with his spouse
• Rev. Tim Stevenson, Vancouver City Councillor
• Using concepts from the ground breaking and healing work of Mathew Fox.
• Facilities and meals provided by the Benedictine Sisters in support of BCPWA Society's work.

Location: Bethlehem Retreat Centre, Vancouver Island
Date: May 15 -18, 2009
Registration:
Telephone: 604.893.2200
Toll Free Telephone: 1.800.994.2437 ext. 323

Couples Workshop Retreat

For HIV+ Members and their HIV- Partners, the BCPWA is offering a 4 day/3 night workshop for 12 HIV+/HIV- couples to engage in peer and professionally lead activities to strengthen, affirm and support their relationships. Located at the Walter C. Koerner Lodge at UBC's Loon Lake Research and Education Centre, couples will socialize and take part in fun and therapeutic group and couple activities. This retreat is free of cost to HIV-positive members of BCPWA and to their HIV-negative partners. Created and run by the BCPWA Retreat Team.

Location: Walter C. Koerner Lodge, Loon Lake
Date: May 21-24, 2010
Registration: TBA

[ view poster ]

ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION

Internet Cafe

BCPWA believes that access to computer technology is an important way for members to stay connected and informed. The Internet Cafe provides a safe, private, supportive environment in which to use computers to research information about HIV, prepare resumes, do job searches, email friends and family or to just simply have fun surfing the net.

The cafe is always staffed by volunteers who are able to help you make the most of your computer experience. Basic instruction in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available on request.

Date: Weekdays
Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Internet Cafe in theBCPWA
Address:1107 Seymour Street, 2nd Floor, Vancouver
Contact: 604.646.5328