Ribbon Community (founded as AIDS Vancouver in 1983)

Registered Name: Ribbon Community Society

Business No: 106689896RR0001

Ribbon Community was founded as AIDS Vancouver in 1983. Today, we support and empower communities to overcome the impacts of HIV and stigma.

about

Welcome to Ribbon Community, formerly known as AIDS Vancouver!

If you are looking for AIDS Vancouver, you are in the right place. Our programs and services are here to support and empower.

Welcome to Ribbon Community, formerly known as AIDS Vancouver. In March 2024, we changed our name to Ribbon Community. We are Ribbon for short. We opened our doors as one of the first AIDS service organization in Canada, in response to the growing need for community health organizations to support individuals living through the AIDS epidemic. We will continue to include the important lessons of AIDS, as much as we can know them, and support people who have a past or present AIDS diagnosis, and those for whom the AIDS days loom large.

We chose the concept of ribbon for our new name and look to pull the past, present, and future of the HIV/AIDS response together, connecting the many communities that make Ribbon Community possible. Our logo is the red ribbon in the form of an r, rather than the ‘v’ shape of the original ribbons developed by a group of artists called Visual AIDS. Read the story behind our new purpose, values, name and look or watch the March 26 announcement made by our Executive Director, Sarah Chown.

Whether you like this name – or you don’t – we are holding space for that and the many other feelings as all of us adjust to change. As we embrace our new purpose and values, and yes, our new name, we want to assure you that if you are looking for AIDS Vancouver, we are still here. We will be continuing our usual programs and services, making sure they reflect out new purpose and values. Learn more about the process, Vision Our Future, behind our new purpose, values, name and look.

We chose the concept of ribbon for our new name and look to pull the past, present, and future of the HIV response together, connecting the many communities that make Ribbon Community possible. Our logo is the red ribbon in the form of an r, rather than the ‘v’ shape of the original ribbons developed by a group of artists called Visual AIDS. Read the story behind our new name and look.

We look forward to supporting and empowering you for as long as we are needed.

We are incredibly grateful to people living with HIV who have shaped this organization alongside the many staff, volunteers, and supporters. These incredible communities have built Ribbon Community over four decades, and we are looking forward to continuing the important work of AIDS Vancouver into the future, under our new name.

Our Programs & Services

Peer Navigators and Case Managers are available to support people living with HIV right from the time of a new diagnosis throughout a person's full journey living with HIV. We work to connect people living with HIV with appropriate education and informational resources, and we coordinate health care services, provide mental health support, address substance use concerns and harm reduction needs, support housing and employment securing, navigate immigration and citizenship needs, and help figure out Ministry systems such as disability and income assistance. We also provide a grocery program to people living with HIV 2-3 times per month.

Ribbon Community also supports and empowers HIV-negative people who want support to navigate current and ongoing HIV risk. In this program (called HIV Prevention Case Management), we work with people to set goals specific to HIV prevention which can include anything from building relationship and communication skills to considering PrEP and being able to access new needles every time when injecting substances including hormones.

Ribbon Community also offers Indigenous programs, including gender-specific sharing circles, cultural programs, and a regular bannock and coffee time. We also offer special events and group programming, primarily for people living with HIV.

While all of our services are available in English, we have some Spanish-speaking supports including Grupo Latino that meets twice per month. As needed, we work with interpreters and/or peers to make our services available in as many languages as possible.

In partnership with VCH, Ribbon Community hosts a sex worker drop-in for Two-Spirit, non-binary folks, and men.

REGISTERED CHARITY ADDRESS

1101 Seymour St.

Suite 401

Vancouver, BC, V6B 0R1

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