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The
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (CANAC)
is a national professional nursing organization committed
to fostering excellence in HIV/AIDS nursing, promoting
the health, rights and dignity of persons affected by
HIV/AIDS and to preventing the spread of HIV infection.
CANAC's members hail from all regions of Canada working
in clinical practice, education, research and/or administration.
We have a proud history of working in collaboration
with other nursing organizations and with the international
HIV/AIDS community. Volunteerism and solidarity with
those affected by HIV/AIDS are the heart and soul of
our organization.
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MISSION
The mission of CANAC is to recognize and foster excellence
in HIV/AIDS nursing through education, mentorship and
support.
CANAC
strives to achieve its mission through the following
actions:
-
Promoting education and continuous learning opportunities
in HIV/AIDS care
- Creating
a dynamic network of regional and national support
for members
- Providing
regular forums to share innovative nursing practices
- Encouraging
research and evidence-based HIV/AIDS nursing practices
- Serving
as a national voice for HIV/AIDS nursing issues
- Advocating
for the rights and dignity of people who are living
with HIV/AIDS or who are vulnerable to HIV infection
GOVERNANCE
CANAC
is governed by an elected board of directors consisting of
four executive officers and five regional (geographic) representatives
(British Columbia & Yukon; Prairies, Northwest Territories
& Nunavut; Ontario; Quebec; and the Atlantic Provinces). Board
responsibilities and functions are detailed in a comprehensive
set of policy and procedures: link to Board Manual I and
Board Manual II. A complete list of the current Board
of Directors can be found here.
Annually, the board develops a work plan based on the
objectives outlined in CANAC's Strategic
Plan for 2003-2005 and in response to the needs
of the membership. The Annual General Meeting is held
during the Annual CANAC Conference which traditionally
takes place sometime in April.
BYLAWS
CANAC
is an Associate Nursing Interest Group of the Canadian Nurses
Association (CNA) and a charitable organization registered
with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. As a result, the
governing policies outlined in our Bylaws are consistent with
the requirements set out by the CNA and the federal Income
Tax Act. To download a copy of the Bylaws click
here.
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HISTORY
In 1988 a group of nurses working in HIV/AIDS in Toronto
started meeting on a regular basis for support and professional
development. Inspired by the activities of the Association
of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) in the US, the group applied
for chapter status; becoming ANAC's first "international"
affiliate chapter group.
The
Toronto chapter was soon very active in lobbying the
federal and provincial governments for an effective
response to HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, according to certain
regulations governing the activities of non-profits
in the US, the ANAC bylaws prohibited its chapters from
engaging in advocacy directly targeted at government.
Thus,
in order to apply for "full chapter" status with ANAC,
the Toronto group would have had to restrict its advocacy-related
activities. The determination to pursue the group's
original objectives gave birth to a vision for creating
"CANAC" (C + ANAC).
While
nurses were organizing themselves in Toronto, HIV research/clinic
nurses in Montreal were longing to network with other
nurses working in HIV trial sites across Canada. Assuming
many of these nurses would be attending the VI International
AIDS Conference in San Francisco, a nurse from Montreal
arranged to host a meeting of "like minds" during the
conference. Nurses from all fields of HIV/AIDS attended;
affirming the need for a national association of nurses
in AIDS care in Canada.
A
few months after the meeting in San Francisco, a policy
advisor with Health & Welfare Canada gathered a small
working group of nurses to assess the viability of creating
a national network for nurses in AIDS care. After several
hours of brainstorming, in a small hotel room at Toronto's
Pearson International airport, an action plan was agreed.
Two
months later (November 1991) the founding members of
CANAC/ACIIS met in Hull, Quebec to draft the Association's
constitution and elect its first board of directors,
thereby establishing CANAC as Canada's first professional
association in the field of HIV/AIDS.
Within weeks, CANAC submitted its application to become
a National Nursing Interest Group of the Canadian Nurses
Association. Less than a year later, CANAC held its
first national conference for nurses in HIV/AIDS care,
which has continued since as an annual event.
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