A Brief History of ACNBA
The AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (ACNBA) is a medium-sized, vibrant and involved, social service agency, located in the downtown section of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was established April 25, 1990, as the ACCESS – AIDS Committee of North Bay – operating under the wing of ACCESS Sudbury – by two North Bay area men, Chuck Haskins and the late Piers Gilson.
Both were determined to develop social support for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and to help stop the spread of the virus through education and awareness.
Chuck was elected to chair ACCESS North Bay’s board, made up of 13 influential locals, including politicians, health professionals, educators, and religious representatives. Through strong lobbying by North Bay’s former Medical Officer of Health and an original board member, Dr. Catherine Whiting, ACCESS North Bay became an independent service organization and eventually took on its current name; AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area.
On April 2, 1991, former executive director of the White Water Gallery, Sharon Wright, became ACNBA’s first executive director.
On May 8, 1991, ACNBA held the official grand opening of its new office facilities at 240 Algonquin Avenue in North Bay. (We are now located across the street from the former office at 201-269 Main St. West.)
On June 15, 1992, ACNBA became an incorporated service organization.
In June 2012 ACNBA celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing HIV/AIDS services and programs to North Bay and the rest of ACNBA’s catchment area.
In April 2012 ACNBA received federal funding to expand its mandate from HIV/AIDS to include Hepatitis C. As a result, office space was expanded and additional staff hired.
As of December 2012, ACNBA rebranded its logo and website.
Lots more for ACNBA in the years to come!
OUR MANDATE
Who We Are, What We Do
The AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (ACNBA) is a community-based, registered, non-profit organization, serving people in the North Bay catchment area – bounded by West Nipissing, Kirkland Lake, Mattawa and Huntsville – who are infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C since 1991*.
ACNBA’s mission is to assist and support all people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis C and to limit the spread of the viruses through education, outreach and treatment strategies.
ACNBA is a member of the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) and is supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (OMHLTC).
*ACNBA was started in 1990 as an ad-hoc committee. ACNBA’s first executive director, Sharon Wright, became active in the position April 2nd, 1991. On May 8th, 1991 ACNBA officially opened its doors to the public. The agency was officially incorporated June 15th, 1992.
VOLUNTEERING
Our Fundraising Plans
Do you have valuable education, life-experiences or a skill set that would benefit the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area?
THEN WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We have opportunities that just might fit your experience/knowledge or maybe you’d just like to expand your own abilities by getting involved with ACNBA’s various services and programs including:
- Administration
- Outreach
- BINGO
- Fundraising
- Events Preparation
Give us a try! You just might be surprised at what you learn along the way!
Just email your contact information to our Office Administrator/Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected] or call at 705-497-3560, ext. 205.
We look forward to meeting you!
Nurse practicioner
- Provides direct treatment support in collaboration with our two gastroenterologists
- Liason between team, patients and doctors
- Supports patients with ODSP, OW forms, (i.e. special diet, Medical Necessities, applications, etc) and travel grants
- Referrals to detox, specialists, etc
- Referrals to our GI’s for walk in patients
- Medication renewals, Paps, STI testing, for our Hepatitis C patients
- Outreach to Eastern and Western communities in our catchment area and within North Bay
- Provides HIV and Hepatitis C testing.
Treament Nurse
- Provides direct treatment support in collaboration with our two gastroenterologists
- Liason between team, patients and doctors
- Outreach to Northern and Southern Communities in our catchment area
- Provides OTN services with Dr. Gauthier to patients outside North Bay
- Provides HIV and Hepatitis C testing
- Liaises with community partners, and provides related education and support when necessary.
- Nursing support for the Naloxone Program
Outreach Worker
- Provides low threshold outreach to marginalized community members living with/at risk of acquiring hepatitis C
- Coordinate, design and deliver education and training sessions, provide support services and promote referrals to testing and treatment
- Peer Program
Community Coordinator
- Establishes and leads a hepatitis C network within the community, bridging and addressing gaps with the health, social services and legal sectors (corrections and police) to enhance community coordination of services that affect people living with/at of acquiring hepatitis C.
- Coordinates, design and deliver education education and training sessions
- Engages the Indigenous communities in our catchment area
Social Worker
- Ensures that appropriate treatment plans are developed, implemented and evaluated for clients who are pre-treatment, on-treatment, or post-treatments
- Monitors client progress – includes evaluations of, and adjustments to, treatment plan, maintains supportive relationship with the client and family members, links to and coordinates required services while coordinating client care