Glyn Townson Chair of B.C Persons AIDS Society

By Ryan Mitchell The Afro News Vancouver ;Interviewed: Chair of B.C Persons AIDS Society, Glyn Townson

It has been thirty years since the AIDS pandemic hit the mainstream media, but many communities including ones in the Lower Mainland, have neglected the issue since the virus has slowly dropped from news headlines. The question is why has the public shut down the dialogue?

The Public Health Agency of Canada reports the most common spread of infection for the black community is through heterosexual contact. To address this issue, Chair of B.C Persons AIDS Society, Glyn Townson shares insight into why many people might not be having the conversation.“Part of the issue is that when it first showed up in [North America], it affected very specific populations, and that attached a lot of stigma, unfortunately [producing] misinformation about HIV.” Rumours surrounding circumstances of how people obtain HIV scared most, and made people almost reluctant to openly chat. “We have fallen off the radar, for the most part, there was a little bit of news about the International AIDS conference in 2006, but generally the population isn’t talking about HIV a lot.” The cultural stigma of the pandemic created stereotypes and have alienated groups.

Townson states a growing trend of foreigners who were documented as HIV negative in their home country who became HIV positive in Canada. “It is a challenge to see citizens who leave their home country HIV negative, and they come here and become HIV positive. People think once they are here, they are safe, away from a pandemic country but when you come to a new place you are looking for things that are familiar, and you tend to surround yourself with familiar things and sometimes that can be problematic.” Glyn Townson stresses the subject of HIV is not on a distant continent, but a concern that is in local neighbourhoods.

He point outs the community stigma contributes to the lack of information about the virus, leading many people to participate in risky behaviour without taking precautions in protecting themselves. He notes Churches that are educating young people about safe sex methods and cautioning that it is a local problem, not something that is only bound for specific type of people. “We want to engage people in the conversation, around their own health, around their own settings, and find ways we can help.”

Treatment has drastically changed in the past few decades, first generation medications that were highly toxic have been replaced by medications that improve the quality of life, in certain cases to an extent of someone who is not HIV positive. However, Townson says in all cases, the diagnosis has to be discovered in the early stages of infection in order for the medication to work to its full potential.

The Chairman emphasizes how education can keep people safe. “What we would like to tell people is that if you have partaken in risky activities like: unprotected anal or vaginal sex, used shared needles or shared any drug paraphernalia, you have to know the formula on how to get [HIV]. Once you know the proper and accurate information you can protect yourself.”

Members of the B.C AIDS Society encourage dialogue to start again and continue, especially in visible minority groups. Many from an ethnic background who have the condition are afraid to speak out due to the response from their communities; Townson warns ignoring the issue is dangerous, especially in communities where it is not heavily present. “We are seeing a ‘creepage’ into different populations, where it wasn’t before. It means our prevention messages are not getting out there and [it] also means people still have the attitude of ‘that is not going to affect me.’ The reality is: if someone has had unprotected sex with someone they don’t know the history of, there is a potential [of receiving HIV]. People have to be aware of the situation. “

He mentions he does not want to scare anyone; however it is critical to embrace the issue among all sub populations and communities. “We want to involve people into the discussion because HIV is entirely preventable, but it is a matter of getting through that stigma, and also getting through those barriers, and being able to talk about things that people may not be comfortable with.” Although there is still no cure for HIV or a vaccine that exists to prevent the virus, Townson notes treatments have significantly changed in the past few decades and one who lives with HIV can still lead a healthy full life.

The Public Health Agency of Canada statistics  www.avert.org/canada-aids.htm

By michelle-lee  The Afro News Ontario

Black Daddies Club founder Brandon Hay recently held the first of a series of forums – an adult only evening to raise the topic “Monogamy… is it relevant?” Hay, a 30-year old married father of three young sons, launched the club two years ago because he was upset that Black men were constantly portrayed as absentee fathers. He recognized those who were trying to be responsible role models and challenged others to do the same. He held forums on topics dealing with violence in the schools and parenthood in general. Hay was born in Jamaica, raised by a single mother and moved to Toronto as a 10-year old child. He says he has six or seven half-siblings, some of whom he’s never met and acknowledges that he missed having a father in his life.

Monogamy is one of the topics “taboo to talk about in the Black community” he says and considering that pop culture glorifies infidelity in everything from rap lyrics to media coverage, to philandering politicians and celebrities, the time has come to at least begin a dialogue he added. Forums are planned to discuss other topics deemed controversial including Black Masculinity and Identity, and Homophobia and Modern Relationships

By Djami Diallo The Afro News Burnaby

The last contribution to the literary world that the late Bebe Moore Campbell

 72 Hour Hold. The last contribution to the literary world that the late Bebe Moore Campbell, who lost her battle with brain cancer in 2006, made to the world. I did the one thing we are taught never to do when it comes to literature: I judged a book by its cover. But the book cover donned the image of a young Black girl with her eyes cast partly on the reader and partly in the shadows. Her face with its striking features was captivating to me, but I could also tell it held secrets. If the story was about her, than I wanted to know it. The only way to access this girl’s story however, was through her mother’s own.

Keri Whitmore’s daughter Trina is perfect by her mother’s own admission: her beauty is striking and her standing as a straight-A student would make her the envy of any parent. Keri, who tells Trina’s story is taken with her daughter’s beauty and surprised by the fact that it could not suffice to ease Trina’s way in the world. Keri’s assumption that physical beauty should lead to happiness and perhaps even perfection, is something that makes her immediately realistic to the reader, human. However, she shatters all expectations that this is the story she is going to tell. The moment we meet Keri, we get a sense that her fairytale has long ended. She is walking on eggshells, because her perfect daughter has bipolar disorder. Because at the moment we meet her asleep in her mother’s bed, recalling an earlier angelic version of herself, Trina is a ticking time bomb. One of the indications of this to Keri is Trina’s babyish voice, a red flag that keeps Keri hanging on to her daily routine, to her sense of peace by a thread.

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Deputy Chief Keith Forde

By michelle-lee The Afro News Ontario

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) hosted a one day conference titled “Racially Biased Policing: Trends and Progressive Solutions”. Attending the conference were more than 250 officers from 25 services across Ontario. The keynote speaker was Deputy Chief Keith Forde who prefaced his address by saying that he hoped officers would feel uncomfortable during some of the day’s discussions – “understand, the discussions that will be the most painful are the ones that will have the deepest impact”. Although in 2002 former officers including Toronto Police Chief Julian Fantino, Mayor Mel Lastman and Union President Craig Brommel flatly denied racial profiling existed, Forde said he was “intimately familiar with the topic” based on his experiences “as an officer, a Deputy Chief and a Black man”. He praised current Chief Bill Blair for admitting that racial profiling did exist and vowing to work hard to change the systems that were complicit in upholding inequalities. Since Blair’s appointment in 2006, the TPS has developed ways to combat the problem said Forde who added “now we have a better and more positive relationship and understanding with Toronto’s diverse communities which helps us to better relate and work together”. Scarborough Centre Representative Michael Thompson, who is the only Black councilor at City Hall, said of the conference, “I am pleased to see that the Chief and others are prepared to address the issue. That can only be a positive opportunity”. Community leaders in the Black community also applauded the TPS for initiating an open dialogue on the issue.

Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C.

The Afro News Toronto , October 24, 2009 – Nova Scotian resident and Conservative Senator, the Honourable Senator Donald H. Oliver, Q.C. was honoured at the Planet Africa Awards gala, for making a profound difference in the lives of people of African heritage. Senator Oliver was awarded in the prestigious Leadership Award category. Dr. Alexander MacGregor, President and Dean of the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, presented the award to the Senator.

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