Our Stories

Powerful experiences that refocus the lens on how we see and think about HIV. They spark conversations and shift mindsets. Watch, listen, read and share people's fears, struggles and triumphs....

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

"As a person living with HIV, World AIDS Day does not only happen on December 1st."

"As a person living with HIV, World AIDS Day does not only happen on December 1st."

"As a person living with HIV, World AIDS Day does not only happen on December 1st."

"As a person living with HIV, World AIDS Day does not only happen on December 1st."

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“the power of HIV could be stronger, and potentially supplant the love between two people..”

“the power of HIV could be stronger, and potentially supplant the love between two people..”

“the power of HIV could be stronger, and potentially supplant the love between two people..”

“the power of HIV could be stronger, and potentially supplant the love between two people..”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I think stigma exists, but we learn how to use it…."

“I think stigma exists, but we learn how to use it…."

“I think stigma exists, but we learn how to use it…."

“I think stigma exists, but we learn how to use it…."

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

"I’m a trans woman of colour, and positive, that’s a lot of weight….”

"I’m a trans woman of colour, and positive, that’s a lot of weight….”

"I’m a trans woman of colour, and positive, that’s a lot of weight….”

"I’m a trans woman of colour, and positive, that’s a lot of weight….”

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

“It’s brought me out of my isolation… and helped stop my intravenous drug use.”

“It’s brought me out of my isolation… and helped stop my intravenous drug use.”

“It’s brought me out of my isolation… and helped stop my intravenous drug use.”

“It’s brought me out of my isolation… and helped stop my intravenous drug use.”

“...it’s made me a lot more aware, and I've really humanized the issues I care about.”

“...it’s made me a lot more aware, and I've really humanized the issues I care about.”

“...it’s made me a lot more aware, and I've really humanized the issues I care about.”

“...it’s made me a lot more aware, and I've really humanized the issues I care about.”

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"...I’m glad for my tenacity and resilience..."

"Education is the most powerful tool we have..."

"Education is the most powerful tool we have..."

"Education is the most powerful tool we have..."

"Education is the most powerful tool we have..."

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“Listen to people with HIV, we are the best advisors….”

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

“When it was a secret, the darkness was consuming me."

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

"My journey with HIV has been a rollercoaster ride…"

“My wish is for a world without fear…”

“My wish is for a world without fear…”

“My wish is for a world without fear…”

“My wish is for a world without fear…”

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

"...they didn't flinch, didn't show any shame...."

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“...my goal was to tell my story and put a face to someone living with HIV, to fight stigma”

“…growing up positive you always have one foot out the back door."

“…growing up positive you always have one foot out the back door."

“…growing up positive you always have one foot out the back door."

“…growing up positive you always have one foot out the back door."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"I was diagnosed on March 13, 2016—my world fell apart on that day."

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

"The outlook is positive, while being positive!"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“I live openly with HIV ’cause if I don’t keep it a secret it’s no one else's to tell"

“She shed tears, and I did too....”

“She shed tears, and I did too....”

“She shed tears, and I did too....”

“She shed tears, and I did too....”

“We’ve been treated like social pariahs for way too long…”

“We’ve been treated like social pariahs for way too long…”

“We’ve been treated like social pariahs for way too long…”

“We’ve been treated like social pariahs for way too long…”

"She was terrified of me, because I have it..."

"She was terrified of me, because I have it..."

"She was terrified of me, because I have it..."

"She was terrified of me, because I have it..."

HIV... fatherhood & fertility

HIV... fatherhood & fertility

HIV... fatherhood & fertility

HIV... fatherhood & fertility

"...whatever situation I am dealing with I know I am not alone."

"...whatever situation I am dealing with I know I am not alone."

"...whatever situation I am dealing with I know I am not alone."

"...whatever situation I am dealing with I know I am not alone."

The Guy Next Door

The Guy Next Door

The Guy Next Door

The Guy Next Door

“I searched for meaning in his words as panic closed my throat.”

“I searched for meaning in his words as panic closed my throat.”

“I searched for meaning in his words as panic closed my throat.”

“I searched for meaning in his words as panic closed my throat.”

"Saved in the nick of time!"

"Saved in the nick of time!"

"Saved in the nick of time!"

"Saved in the nick of time!"

“This type of support… changed my outlook and it changed my life.”

“This type of support… changed my outlook and it changed my life.”

“This type of support… changed my outlook and it changed my life.”

“This type of support… changed my outlook and it changed my life.”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

“Giving a human face to a person, sheds light on making this better....”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

"I clicked in to what has value and what has meaning in life….”

“I continue to advocate and push limits for change…"

“I continue to advocate and push limits for change…"

“I continue to advocate and push limits for change…"

“I continue to advocate and push limits for change…"

"Share the love and care for those who need it."

"Share the love and care for those who need it."

"Share the love and care for those who need it."

"Share the love and care for those who need it."

"...the world is bigger because of what other people have given to me.”

"...the world is bigger because of what other people have given to me.”

"...the world is bigger because of what other people have given to me.”

"...the world is bigger because of what other people have given to me.”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“I've learned to share my own story, and in the process, have drawn out others’....”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

“We need to be shouting this [U=U] from the rooftops!”

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"I found myself telling my story...It made me feel safe with my own people."

"Yet in light of one's diagnosis, the human desire to be loved cannot be extinguished."

"Yet in light of one's diagnosis, the human desire to be loved cannot be extinguished."

"Yet in light of one's diagnosis, the human desire to be loved cannot be extinguished."

"Yet in light of one's diagnosis, the human desire to be loved cannot be extinguished."

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“I became the star I was meant to be…"

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

“Culture is within me. Culture is me. I am Culture.”

Brand Strategy and Site Design by Consumption Co.

With respect, The Positive Effect gratefully acknowledges that in our collaborations across Canada we work in many of the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. Our central offices inside Toronto's St. Michaels Hospital stands on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. We strive for respectful partnerships with Indigenous peoples as we search for collective healing and true reconciliation.