Where Vancouver leads in LGBT progress: Local health professionals are at the world’s forefront

When it comes to LGBT health, Vancouver has been and continues to be at the forefront of medical developments, socially progressive initiatives, and humane responses in the face of discrimination.

A prime example is when the HIV/AIDS crisis hit Vancouver in the 1980s. As the epidemic ravaged the city’s queer male community during an era still entrenched in widespread homophobia, among the first to respond were local health-industry professionals, organizations, researchers, and volunteers from all walks of life. Their efforts initiated a B.C. medical movement that continues to be built upon to this day.

Among the forerunners was Dr. Peter Jepson-Young, a local doctor who was diagnosed with advanced AIDS in 1986. With the CBC TV series The Dr. Peter Diaries, he provided audiences with a much-needed intimate view of the then little understood and highly stigmatized condition. Before he died in 1992, he launched the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, which, in turn, opened the Dr. Peter Centre in 2003.

The notable number of locally based HIV organizations includes the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, AIDS Vancouver, YouthCO, Positive Living B.C., A Loving Spoonful, the Pacific AIDS Network, the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, and the Positive Women’s Network (which is closing after 25 years).

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below