History & Vision

Access AIDS Network first opened its doors in June of 1989, they had only two clients and boasted a small staff of employees.  However today, almost twenty years later, we see an organization that has grown to meet the needs of its clients, all while still honoring its original philosophy of providing the community with “Acceptance, Affirmation, Assistance, Advocacy, and Accountability”.

Access AIDS Network or then called ACCESS, the AIDS Committee of Sudbury was founded by Tom Reid in February of 1988, after his brother was diagnosed with AIDS.  He learned of his brother’s diagnosis from watching a national News broadcast about how at the time a herbal supplement was showing great promise with the battle against HIV/AIDS.  Inspired by the multitude of resources available to his brother, Reid wanted to ensure that individuals within this community who were affected or infected with HIV/AIDS had the organizational and medical support available to them.  “After returning from Vancouver, I made some calls into what services were available to those living with HIV/AIDS in Sudbury, and found a lack of services available.  I knew that I had to do something about it” said founder Tom Reid.

Access AIDS Network provides many different services to people living with, affected by and at risk  HIV/AIDS some of which are; offering education about HIV to reduce further transmission, case management to those living with HIV/AIDS, community outreach, practical assistance, transportation, and information on opportunistic infections and treatment issues.  Access AIDS Network also assisted in the creation of different programs throughout the community since its inception such as, the Needle Exchange Program “The Point”, the development of the HAVEN program (outpatient clinic), the Living Well Fund; which provides practical assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS, and assisting with the OxyContin Task Force in association with the Sudbury Police.

In August of 2001, a staff member from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care contacted the Executive Director of the ACCESS – AIDS Committee of Sudbury to form a committee to address the issue of amalgamating the Sudbury and Algoma AIDS Networks.  After countless meetings, on November 2003, they unveiled their new agency with a completely new name: “Access AIDS Network”.  Until April of 2009, this new organization was charged with the task of meeting the needs of individuals in Algoma, Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.

Since 2008, the Ontario Hepatitis Nursing Program is now an integral part of the services provided through Access AIDS Network. As a stronger team, Access AIDS Network’s focus now includes solid programming to include those co-infected with HIV and HCV and those seeking Hepatitis C treatment.

Organizational Value Statement

Access AIDS Network fosters a responsible and effective collaboration with our community partners in the development and delivery of education, support, outreach and advocacy as it relates to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.  Access AIDS Network is dedicated to providing the highest quality of support services and education to those living with, affected by and at risk of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.

Team Charter

Access AIDS Network provides a continuum of services for those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS/HCV by using our passion, dedication and creativity to develop programs specific to the needs of our community.