AIDS DIRECTOR STEPS ASIDE

Attendees at AIDS Vancouver Island's annual general meeting arrived
expecting the head of the Vancouver Island Health Authority to
deliver some good news about funding for the society's troubled
needle exchange operation.

Instead, they learned it is about to undergo a change in leadership.

AVI board chair Marilyn Callahan announced Wednesday that long-time
executive director Miki Hansen is retiring at the end of July and
will be replaced by Katrina Jensen, AVI's director of programs.

"We are going to miss you a whole lot, we love you and we respect
you," said Callahan, after a brief tribute to Hansen's accomplishments.

The usually stoic Hansen choked back tears as she thanked all the
"people living positive" who provided inspiration during her seven-year tenure.

The 64-year-old has been under pressure in recent months to find a
new location for AVI's Cormorant Street needle exchange as a remedy
for the chronic street problems that have taken root outside the
cramped facility.

But when AVI submitted a new contract proposal to VIHA last winter,
the health authority responded with a proposal to "redistribute"
$450,000 of the organization's Victoria budget to the Central and
North parts of the Island. The two sides have been locked in contract
negotiations ever since.

AVI board chair Marilyn Callahan made no secret of the society's
frustration with VIHA.

"We submitted a contract proposal and were hopeful many things could
come of it. Instead we faced some severe types of cutbacks," she
said. "That is a very hard thing for us to face in the middle of all
our other challenges."

Outside the meeting, VIHA VP and CEO Mike Conroy, the evening's
keynote speaker, had little to offer about the status of negotiations
saying only, "we're still in discussions." However, he hinted the
solution to the needle exchange issue may emerge from a recent task
force struck by Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, aimed at "breaking the
cycle of mental illness, addictions and homelessness."

"We have high expectations of the mayor's task force," he said,
adding that effectively addressing street issues will require a
co-ordinated approach from multiple agencies housing, social
services, employment and not just the Health Authority.

AVI has submitted a proposal to the mayor's task force for an
"integrated needle exchange" facility that would include bathrooms,
showers, storage space and an off-street gathering place for clients.

Jensen, who will take over as executive director after nine years
with the organization, said Conroy's comments about the task force
were "encouraging."

"We're confident VIHA will listen to the community and give us back
the money and find some more resources," she said.