B.C.'s AIDS heroes honoured at AccolAIDS 2009

Last night, the hardworking heroes of B.C.'s AIDS movement were recognized and celebrated with awards at the eighth annual AccolAIDS gala, held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Vancouver's First Lady of Glam, Symone, entertained the audience in style with musical numbers from Diana Ross and also hosted the evening

While attendees enjoyed a four-course dinner, flowing bottles of wine, and a jovial atmosphere, there were also poignant moments, a few tears, and heartfelt messages about the current state of HIV and AIDS in British Columbia.

The PHS Community Services Society won the first award of the evening, in the category of Social/Political/Community Action. David Eby of the Pivot Legal Society, armed with a tambourine, presented the award by turning his presentation speech into a rap (resulting in much laughter). PHS has helped people living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside since 1993.

The philanthropy award went to Kim Osborne, founder of Chefs for Life, which has raised more than $700,000 in funds for the Vancouver Friends for Life Society, a non-profit wellness centre for individuals with life-threatening diseases.

In the media category, there was only one nominee: Xtra! West. Editor Robin Perelle accepted the award with columnist Tony Correia, who chronicles his life with HIV in the newspaper. Perelle pointed out that much of the mainstream media's attention focuses on the criminalization of HIV, but fails to investigate why some people with HIV continue to feel the need to conceal their status. Correia added that while HIV status is often asked, the feelings of those living with HIV are often not inquired about.

Boys 'R' Us won the Health Promotion and Harm Reduction award. The organization was created to fill in the lack of services available for male and transgendered sex workers.

Dr. Mark Tyndall, one of the foremost experts on HIV, won the Science/Research/Technology award. Tyndall has researched HIV care for intravenous injection drug users and marginalized populations, and worked in Africa as well as the Downtown Eastside.

Vancouver's Maximally Assisted Therapy Program won the Innovative Programs & Service Delivery Award. The MAT Progam helps Downtown Eastside HIV–positive individuals with access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

The Kevin Brown PWA Hero Award went to the chair of the board of directors for the Positive Women's Network, Kath Webster. Webster has worked as part of BCPWA's Treatment Information Program, conducted Body Mapping workshops, volunteered for the AIDS Walk For Life for a decade, and is involved with the Pacific AIDS Network.

The Unsung Heroes Award was posthumously awarded to Andrew (AJ) Johnson. Among Johnson's  extensive list of work in the field of AIDS and HIV, he worked as executive director of AIDS Vancouver; worked at the Dr. Peter Centre, Vancouver Community College, and St. Paul's Hospital; and was a founding member of the Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Over the course of the evening, funds from a silent auction and a live auction (conducted by CBC's hilarious Fred Lee) totaled a record amount of $102,840.

The evening was presented by the BC Persons With AIDS Society and GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with Shire Canada.

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