OVERVIEW

Thursday, March 4, 2010
6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Leading Together 2010 OPENING CEREMONY
Leadership: Government, Community and Individuals
Régence Ball Room

Hosted by Monique Doolittle-Romas, Executive Director of Canadian AIDS Society

Adopting the theme of Leadership from the perspective of government, community and from the individual, we are pleased to announce our three esteemed keynote speakers.

Government:
Dr. Rainer Engelhardt, Assistant Deputy Minister, Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada

Community:
Ken Monteith, Executive Director of la Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida

Individual:
Doris Peltier, HIV-positive Aboriginal woman, Aboriginal Women & Leadership Coordinator, Aboriginal People Living with HIV/AIDS Advocate, Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network

We are also pleased that Kanahsohon Deer, a member of the longhouse in Kanawake, will be welcoming us into the Mohawk territory.

As a special treat for all the participants of Leading Together 2010, we are thrilled to announce that four time Juno Award winning artist Billy Newton-Davis will be performing at the Opening Ceremony.


Friday, March 5, 2010
8:00 am to 9:30 am

PLENARY – GAY MEN & OTHER MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN
New Directions in Gay Men’s Health and HIV Prevention
Régence Ball Room

For the last 27 years, community-based prevention programs have played a key role in protecting gay men from HIV. Yet 47% of new HIV infections in Canada continue to occur among gay men and other men who have sex with men, while programs specifically targeting gay men in many provinces are either underfunded or non-existent. Is it time to ask: are we responding adequately to the real health needs of gay men in all their diversity? Have we focused too narrowly and for too long on HIV risk? Should we be dealing more directly with all the other health issues and social and psychological determinants that have an impact on HIV rates and affect the overall health of gay men? This plenary provides an overview of the current research on risk and health and outlines a new approach emerging in the design of gay men’s health programs.

Presenters:
Ed Jackson, Director of Program Development, CATIE
James Murray, Senior Program Consultant, AIDS Bureau, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care
Bill Ryan, Professor of Social Work, McGill University

Moderator:
Gerry McConnery, Chair of the Canadian AIDS Society Board of Directors


Friday, March 5, 2010
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

HOT TOPICS IN CANADA'S HIV COMMUNITY – SYMPOSIUM & LUNCH
Hosted by ViiV Healthcare in partnership with Shire
Régence Ball Room

Three short presentations by a panel of experts from the Canadian HIV community, moderated by Evan Collins, MD. Question and answer session to follow.
Topics include:
• HIV & aging: report-back from the Partners in Aging National Forum
• Building a national Black, African and Caribbean HIV/AIDS network in Canada: report-back from the Skills Satellite Workshop
• HIV & neuro-cognitive issues: a Canadian update


Friday, March 5, 2010
6:45 pm to 8:00 pm

“CAN WE TALK?”
Workshop
Régence Ball Room

Facilitated by Stephen Alexander, Acting Director of Programs of the Canadian AIDS Society

“Can We Talk” offers an opportunity for participants to learn from the lived experiences of people living with HIV and health care professionals as together they navigate the health care system and strive to break down the barriers that exist when working to make informed treatment choices. Using a talk show setting, the host of the Can We Talk will interview with members of the HIV community and the medical community exploring how to best foster open and direct lines of communication with regards to treatment and HIV management. The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and explore in more depth the dynamics of a truly symbiotic patient-health care provider relationship. A reception will be offered, sponsored by Tibotec.


Saturday, March 6, 2010
8:00 am to 9:30 am

PLENARY – INTERNATIONAL
Régence Ball Room

For Canada and the world 2010 is a landmark year. This year is the deadline for achieving the global goal of “universal access” to measures for preventing HIV and caring for those living with HIV — a target first adopted by the G8 countries at their 2005 summit and later by all member countries of the United Nations. This is the year Canada will host the G8 and G20 Summits, at which global health must be a critical part of the agenda. This is the year that donor countries must come together at the upcoming replenishment conference to sustain and expand the Global Fund in continuing its life-saving work. And at the UN this year, countries will meet to determine what must happen in the next 5 years to meet by 2015 the Millennium Development Goals adopted by Canada and all UN countries at the turn of the century. The Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) has outlined a civil society platform for action, outlining five steps for Canada to take to address HIV and AIDS on the global stage.

Presenters:
Nicci Stein, Executive Director, Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development
Lucy Chesire, Kenyan HIV/TB activist
Richard Elliott, Executive Director, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Chris Dendys, Executive Director, Results Canada

Moderator: Hélène Légaré, Host Committee, Leading Together 2010


Saturday, March 6, 2010
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

BE SEATED IN THE FIRST ROW – SYMPOSIUM & LUNCH
Hosted by Abbott
Régence Ball Room

Please join our panel of experts in their reflection on several aspects of mental health and their impact on HIV positive individuals. This will be an interactive session given in a casual format in order to discover several perspectives on this topic.

See you there!


Sunday, March 7, 2010
8:00 am to 9:30 am

PLENARY – CRIMINALIZATION
Criminalizing HIV Exposure: What’s Happening and What Should be Done?
Régence Ball Room

This interactive plenary session will address the complex, controversial topic of criminal prosecutions of PHAs for not disclosing HIV status. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network will provide an overview of the current situation, including recent legal developments and some observable trends. Expert discussants will provide a short comment in response, addressing some of the key questions. The bulk of this session will be a moderated discussion with the audience.

Some of the guest speakers are:
Richard Elliott, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Darien Taylor, CATIE
Jeffrey Keller, HIV Edmonton

Moderator: Sylvain Beaudry, Host Committee, Leading Together 2010


Sunday, March 7, 2010
9:30 am to 1:00 pm

STRATEGIC PLANNING MEMBER SESSIONS
Mapping the Course Together: Canadian AIDS Society Strategic Planning Session at Leading Together 2010
Verrière A & B

Facilitated by Pattie Lacroix

The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) is undergoing a multi-stakeholder consultative process to inform its new strategic plan. This is an exciting and challenging time for the HIV/AIDS sector in Canada. As we map the course for the upcoming three years we are consulting with diverse sector stakeholders. CAS values and welcomes your insights.

We are holding a strategic planning session here at leading Together 2010 to provide an opportunity for participants to contribute their perspectives to shape the strategic plan moving forward. For the past months national partners, funders, staff, Board, CAS members, researchers and other sector stakeholders have been consulted to inform CAS’ three-year strategic plan.

Please join us Sunday March 7th at 10:00 – 1:00 in the room Verrière A & B to participate in a world café strategic planning session. Please feel free to join this session when you can as the session is structured to accommodate a drop-in format of input and discussion.

Once all input is reviewed CAS will be presenting its strategic plan to its Board of Directors in April. The strategic plan will be presented at the CAS Annual General Meeting.

If you are unable to attend the March 7th session please take a few moments to complete the online strategic planning survey prepared for you as a participant at Leading Together 2010.

Thank you so much for bringing your expertise and perspective to this dialogue which will play a key role in shaping our strategic plan moving forward.


Sunday, March 7, 2010
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Leading Together 2010 CLOSING CEREMONY
Leadership: Government, Community and Individuals
Régence Ball Room

You are invited to attend the closing luncheon session of the CAS Skills Building Symposium on Sunday, March 7, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

Three national speakers will respond to the following two questions:

How has using Leading Together helped you in your work?
How can we use Leading Together to promote and strengthen partnerships?

After the brief presentations, the audience will be invited to participate in an interactive Q & A session.

Presenters:
Laurie Edmiston, Executive Director, Canadian AIDS Treatment Information
Exchange (CATIE)
Marsha Hay-Snyder, HIV/AIDS Division, Public Health Agency of Canada
Dr. Sean Rourke, HIV/AIDS Researcher

Moderator: Terry Pigeon, Host Committee, Leading Together 2010

Kanahsohon Deer, a member of the longhouse in Kanawake, will be wishing us safe travels as we leave the Mohawk territory.



About Skills

In 1998, the first National Skills Building Symposium was held in Toronto. Leading Together 2010, the 6^th Canadian HIV/AIDS Skills Building Symposium was developed according to the model created for the five previous symposia and contains modifications that were made in response to evaluations and recommendations from the past events.




First Announcement

The First Announcement for Leading Together 2010 will be available on line June 18, 2009. More information on the event schedule, including workshops, posters, satellite sessions, plenary presentations and more can be found in this document.


Leading Together 2010 Learning Highlights

• 60 plus workshops, over 20 poster sessions and daily plenary presentations, featuring models of practice and discussions on critical issues in HIV/AIDS work in Canada today.

• The six key strategies from Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-2010) were identified as the suggested focus for the collective efforts of government, organizations and individuals involved in the Canadian response to HIV/AIDS towards the year 2010. These help provide a framework for this event.

• Cross-cutting themes within the six identified tracks will be highlighted to help enhance the varied learning needs of participants.

• Interactive format provides opportunities to explore models of practice and learning.

• Expert, creative facilitation techniques to ensure knowledge is shared and newly acquired skills are transferable to delegates’ contexts.

• Opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange built into every workshop which are further enhanced by scheduled networking sessions.

• Introductory, intermediate and advanced level learning opportunities in workshops and poster sessions connect specific populations where relevant. These take a multidisciplinary approach and integrate theory, research and practice.


Beyond the Workshops

Leading Together 2010 is more than workshops!

Take the time to further build your skills, knowledge and meet others working in HIV/AIDS through a variety of on-site activities and specialty areas.

• Networking Zones
• Satellite Meetings
• Poster Sessions
• Plenary Presentations
• Exhibit Hall
• Self-Care Centre
• People Living with HIV/AIDS Wellness Room (only for PLWHIV/AIDS)
• Opening Ceremonies and Dinner
• Closing Lunch and Closing Video Presentation
• Nutrition Breaks
• Internet Café
• Job Board
• Question and Answer Board