Episode 14: Nine Circles Community Health Centre
Nine Circles is a non-profit that promotes sexual and personal health through primary care, social support and HIV/STI prevention, testing & treatment. Nine Circles supports HIV & STI prevention through testing, education and treatment, provides coordinated medical and social supports for those living with HIV and promote sexual and personal health including a harm reduction model.
Nine Circle Community Health Centre is an amalgamation of four AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), which emerged in the late 1980s to early 1990s. Our founding agencies were:
- Village Clinic (1984 – 2003), which emerged as a gay men’s health centre and was at the forefront of the community-based response to HIV testing, primary care and treatment. As HIV evolved in Manitoba, new agencies emerged to contribute to the response.
- Kali Shiva AIDS Services (1987-present), which prioritized volunteer in-home/community supports, peer involvement and empowerment. Kali Shiva would also emerge as an early leader in the advancement of harm reduction in Manitoba.
- AIDS Shelter Coalition of Manitoba (1991- 2004), which emphasized advocacy and support related to the social determinants of health: housing, income security and social justice. ASCM successfully completed Artemis Housing Co-operative, a resident-managed housing co-operative for individuals living with HIV.
- Manitoba Aboriginal AIDS Task Force (1993−2001), which led the response to HIV’s impact on Aboriginal Peoples of Manitoba including the introduction of indigenous teachings into prevention and care models, cultural safety and social justice. MAATF’s Four Doorways Project was a groundbreaking educational tool that continues to influence HIV education to this day.
Between 1998 and 2000, the founding agencies worked together to define the structure, services and processes, resulting in the incorporation of
Nine Circles Community Health Centre on September 26, 2001.
Guests
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Owen Black, Community Engagement Coordinator
A graduate of both the University of Manitoba and Red River's Creative Communications program, Owen has been involved at Nine Circles since 2020 as the Community Engagement Coordinator, spreading the word about the amazing initiatives and opportunities that the Centre provides to the community.