About Us

If it’s your first time looking for information or wanting to reach out, we know it’s a big step. You probably feel a bit nervous, at the least. Rest assured, we’re here to help. You do not have to give your name, and what you talk about is 100% confidential. We won’t ask you for yours, but we will give you OUR name, so that if you contact us again you can talk to the same person. We are able to offer referrals, for example health services and social supports, right over the phone if you ask.

Contacting us via email
You can also contact us via email and the same 100% confidentiality applies. For our staff directory, click here or chose from the list below

• Support for persons newly diagnosed or living with HIV: HIV+ Support Coordinator Taylor Yeomans
• Questions about HIV, HCV & STIs: HIV+ Support Coordinator Taylor Yeomans
  
• Speakers & Workshop Requests: Executive Director Chris Aucoin
• For Trans-Specific Resources: Program Coordinator Hanley Smith
  
• Fund Development & Events: Fund Development Officer Zach Nicholson
• Media or Adminstration Requests: Executive Director Chris Aucoin

Whoever you reach, your call or email is completely confidential. You can leave us a voice mail and we will do our best to get back to you quickly, if you ask. Please let us know if we can leave a message for you when we call. If you don’t explicitly say so, we won’t. We do not have Caller ID so we don’t know who you are or your phone number, and if you ask for us to call our phone number shows as “unlisted.”

We only accept collect calls from Provincial and Federal Institutions.

What can you expect if you drop in to our offices? 
One of us will greet you and ask how we can help you. We don't ask your name; anything you discuss will be kept confidential. We will answer your questions about HIV, HCV or other STIs and if needed, we can provide supportive counselling. We offer free HIV self-tests, condoms and lube. You may look through our resource library and we offer the use of internet/computer. 

HEAL NS welcomes your inquires and feedback.

Whether you need information about our programs and services, volunteering, information for school, or just to say hello – we are here for you. Please know that all submissions are carefully considered and we maintain the strictest confidentiality.

Chris (He/Him) moved up to the Executive Director chair in December 2019 after having worked as the Gay Men’s Health Coordinator for over a decade.

An educator, writer, freelance designer as well as a health educator and advocate, Chris has a master’s degree in Educational Psychology, a diploma in graphic design, and broad community-based experience in cultural industries and social justice stretching back more than three decades. His work in social justice has included poverty and food security, and a wide range of 2S/LGBTQIA+ support, social and political causes. 

His current passion is singing weekly with the Halifax Gay Men's Chorus! Chris loves dogs, dancing, and hopes to get back to rewrites for his first completed theatre script A Boy And His Dog which he workshopped at the 2014 Queer Acts Festival.

Imagine…

• A world where people living with HIV have access to the programs and services they needed to help them become happier and healthier.
• The impact on their lives, their family members and those they love if they received all the support they needed.
• A place to find out answers to questions about HIV, HCV or other STIs so people with HIV, and those at risk, can make better, healthier decisions. A place where anyone can ask questions, get a referral, tell their story and receive support…

HEAL NS is committed to creating change by

• Providing support services programming for people living with and most affected and in doing so, we are empowering, informing and supporting.
• Helping people living with HIV to build support networks
• Providing education & skills building opportunities for individuals and communities so that others may be part of the solution.
• Disseminating resources, workshops and campaigns that seek to address misinformation about HIV, HCV and other STIs, and to combat stigmas.
• Delivering targeted prevention programs to meet the needs of unique populations, such as specific programming for street youth, health check lists for gay men, prevention campaigns for women as well as our African Black & Caribbean communities, and more. Check our Programs & Services section of our website. (link)
• Striving to influence the development of healthy public policy that fosters supportive environments for people living with HIV so they can easily access services and community supports.
• Collaborating with more than 50 other groups and organizations across NS to achieve our goals.

With your help, HEAL NS has played a strong role in reducing the negative side of how HIV can impact people and families.We have helped to inform hundreds of individuals each year through our targeted programs. We have distributed thousands of resources, received hundreds of calls and provided referrals.

It is by the generosity of our donors, and the work of our volunteers and staff, HEAL NS has great success and an impact in our communities.

There are many meaningful ways to get involved with HEAL NS. No matter how you show your support, you will make a difference in the lives of the communities we serve in Nova Scotia.

Take part in exciting fundraising events as a volunteer, or just join us for some fun. Volunteers and event supporters play an important role in our efforts to provide access to support for people living with HIV, HIV and STI prevention education programs and campaigns, broader health promotion work fpor 2S?LGBTQIA+ folk, and our commitment to reducing stigma and advocating for positive change.

Involvement as an individual, group or company, builds a sense of community and teamwork. Many volunteers say that HEAL NSevents are a favourite, or even their top pick, among their volunteer work. Make a difference, share what you have learned, develop your talents, connect with new people and be a part of a larger team.

The positive impact of your involvement will help improve the quality of all those we serve. We can’t do it without you!

• Vision & Mission
• Publications & Reports
• Become a Member

If you have recently tested positive, or even if you have been living with HIV for a few years, the concept of relationships – from choosing a partner to friends and family knowing your HIV positive status – can be challenging. We also know that each situation is unique and working through relationship pathways is complex.

First and foremost, know that we are here to help and that you can contact us by phone or email to ask questions or to talk more about your particular concerns and situation. Sometimes it’s easier to map out possible scenarios with another person to help arrive at your best solution. We can help with other resources or referrals as well, if needed. Sometimes we all just need another person to hear our story.  

We can guess that you have clicked on this link for one of two reasons:

1. You are currently waiting for HIV test results; or
2. You have recently tested positive for HIV.

For many, this period can be stressful, and sometimes lonely if you feel you have no one to talk to. It’s important to have people to talk to about what you are going through. 

You are not alone, many people living with HIV (PLHA) have talked about the struggle when first diagnosed that was related to their fears of being judged and stigmatized. PLHAs commonly talk about how their own personal feelings impacted their ability to reach out. We know that there is a lot of misinformation “out there” and that we still have work to do in the area of removing the stigma that is associated with HIV.

We want you to know that you are NOT alone, and we can help you explore how to build social supports that will work for you. You can call us anytime between 10am to 4pm weekdays. If you leave a message, let us know if we can call you back and what we should say if we do call back. Our phone number shows up as “unlisted” so no one where you live knows it’s us. Contact us by calling our HIV+ Support Coordinator. Their contact information is available on our Contact Us page. We’re here to help and support you.

What we hear most from those newly diagnosed, or going through the testing process, is that they fear for their long-term health, their life is over and that they will never be the same. We can tell you that a HIV+ diagnosis is not the end – people are living full lives, living longer than ever before, are working, planning families and more. With the right treatment and planning, as with any other illness, you can do well. The first step is reaching out.

We will help you through the process by providing support, education and referrals – the things we know best. For those who are newly diagnosed and are looking for more information on what to do and how to live well with HIV, great information can be found at CATIE, below

Online resources provided by CATIE:

• If You Just Found Out...
• It's all still possible: Starting points for living well with HIV
• Your Guide to HIV Treatment
• A Practical Guide to a Healthy Body for People Living with HIV 

It is really good news to know that people living with HIV are living longer. We have moved beyond the point of not knowing what the future would bring to a place where HIV+ people are going back to work, planning retirement and working towards addressing other illnesses associated with aging. Sometimes it’s hard to make the distinction between new illnesses that are the result of HIV, a response to medications, interactions or simply the aging process.

The number of people 50 years and older who are HIV+ in Canada is expected to increase by 20% over the next decade. We also know that the number of people testing positive who are over 50 is also on the rise in Canada. Taking a look at the demographics of those served by HEAL NS, a large number of individuals are 35-45 years old, along with a group who are over 50. We are currently evaluating programs and services that will best fit the needs of older PHAs as we move forward.

Like everyone else, aging brings illnesses that make treatment more complex for persons living with HIV. High blood pressure, diabetes or cancers compound the challenge of living with HIV. In some ways, this is similar to challenges faced by those living with other longstanding chronic conditions. There are many health conditions that are associated with both age and HIV. A great resource is Managing Your Health, a guide for people living with HIV developed by CATIE. It offers a great section on HIV & Aging as well as many other areas of interest.

It’s a good idea to bring questions to your next doctor’s appointment to discuss planning for your future and to explore ways to reduce potential health risks. Feel free to give us a call and set up an appointment, in person or over the phone. We would be happy to discuss your concerns or ideas for future programming to answer needs. While HEAL NS does not provide medical advice, we can help you make sense of the information and/or help you prepare questions for your next medical appointment.

Managing Your Health: HIV and Aging

Realize Canada: Aging

HIV & AGING resource site, The Body 

To access or inquire about any of our Support Programs, please contact our Client Support & Programs Manager. Their contact information can be found in the Staff Directory on the Contact Us page.

Terry Martin Memorial Space
The Terry Martin Memorial space, is open every day from 10am to 4pm. People living with HIV can come and relax, read, use the internet or phone, play cards or just be.

Supportive Counseling
We provides one-on-one, short term, supportive counseling for those experiencing challenges in their lives, including, but not limited to, new diagnosis, disclosure, illness, grief and loss, difficulty managing life situations and relationships. We can help you access long term counseling as well. Friends, family, loved ones, and caregivers of those living with HIV can also access supportive sessions at HEAL NS. They can be in person, over the phone or by email.

Advocacy
We advocates with and on behalf of PHAs to assist with better access to healthcare and community resources.Some of our past advocacy for PHAs has been: social assistance, special diet funding, Canada Pension Plan, medication coverage, home care, basic needs and housing. We can also refer people to organizations that may specialize in a specific area of advocacy, such as legal matters or homelessness.

Referrals & Systems Navigation
We provide referrals to PHAs to access a number of community supports, such as legal aid to assist with the completion of a living will, power of attorney or other legal matters, psychological and mental health services, addictions services, specialized food bank and housing organizations to name a few. We can also help you to figure out how to get the healthcare you need, the steps you need to take and what you can expect. Give us a call if you need some help, we may know where you can find what you are looking for.

Treatment Information
We approach HIV treatment from a holistic, harm reduction perspective and keeps an up-to-date information library on HIV, including available medications, adherence strategies, alternative treatments, inflammation, diet and nutrition, medication interactions and mental health. We can provide you with one-on-one treatment information sessions, access to the Internet and printed resources, and treatment information workshops. Please contact us to find out about upcoming workshops being offered.We would also love to hear your ideas for topics to offer as future information sessions.

Complementary & Alternative Therapy Programs
Many people use complementary (sometimes known as alternative) health treatments to go along with the medical care they get from their health care provider. These therapies are called "complementary" therapies because usually they are used alongside the more standard medical care provided, such as doctor visits and anti-HIV drugs. Most often, people living with HIV use complementary therapies to ease side effects of HIV drugs, boost their immune systems, or improve their overall health. These therapies can improve their quality of life, as they adjust to living with a chronic health condition. We currently have two registered practitioners who volunteer their time, offering massage and osteopathy to people living with HIV. 

Positive Dispatch
Our quarterly newsletter  for people living with HIV in NS covers relevant topics such as updates about what is new in HIV, as well as what is happening at HEAL NS. We welcome ideas from you for future newsletter content and even submissions. Send them along to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can make your submission anonymous if you would like.

Making Ends Meet
We offer hygiene products free-of-charge to those living with HIV who are in need because of low income. All the products are new but availability depends on donations. This program can be accessed on a monthly basis at our office. We welcome any information from clients about the products we could offer and request from donors in the future. Some of the typical products we offer are: toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion, shavers, shaving cream, deodorant, etc.

Workshops and Retreats
We offer a variety of workshops on a range of topics throughout the year, in partnership with local and national organizations. One of our newest initiatives is a PHA retreat, to be held periodically. We would love to hear more from you about the topics that are of interest for workshop sessions and future retreats.

HIV/AIDS Community Vigil Ceremony
Each year, we lead a group of community partners together to offer a HIV/AIDS Vigil Ceremony on the evening of December 1, World AIDS Day, in memory of those we lost and in celebration of the lives of those here today. The ceremony involves a reading of the names of those lost since 1983 to today, lighting of the candle, music and sharing. 

We realize that abstinence (quitting using substance altogether) isn’t realistic, possible or desirable for everyone. We seek to meet people where they are at and to offer the information and resources needed to minimize the potential harms associated with using substances.

We believe that people who use substances should have access to information to make informed decisions about their health and deserve the same respect and treatment as non-substance users.

Some activities associated with drug use can put us at an increased risk for getting HIV and Hepatitis C. While using substances, we could be providing an easy route for HIV and/or Hepatitis C to get directly into our blood stream through our veins (by injecting), or through sores or tears in the soft linings of our mouth and nose (smoking and snorting). Using substances can also lower our capacity to make decisions, and with lowered inhibitions we may take more or increased risks than we would otherwise not. We might not practice safer sex when using,or we might not be able to correctly use a condom. This can put us at risk for HIV and/or Hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections.

Depending on the substance and method of use, there are different ways of reducing your risk of HIV and/or Hepatitis C.

HEAL NS is part of the Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone Program. You can drop by our office to pick up a kit.

Ally Centre Of Cape Breton

Northern Healthy Connections Society 

Mainline Needle Exchange 

Direction 180 

Harm Reduction 

Safer Injecting & Smoking Supplies 

Information On Substances