ABOUT US

  • OUR MISSION

    ARCHES is a  not-for-profit organization that provides leadership in building individual and community capacity to respond and reduce the harm associated with HIV and Hepatitis C in South-Western Alberta.

  • OUR GOALS

    Provide compassionate, responsible, confidential and non-judgmental support to clients, families and significant others

    Facilitate the empowerment of clients to define their own needs with regard to their care

    Provide information about HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C and encourage public understanding of people living with with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C

  • OUR STORY

    ARCHES was initially formed in 1986 with meetings of concerned individuals including members of the gay community under the name Lethbridge HIV Connection. After a community meeting of representatives of health and social service agencies organized by the Lethbridge Health Unit, the decision to incorporate as a society was made in 1988. With the organization becoming more public and official, most of the gay supporters left as they felt it was not safe for them to be openly associated with an AIDS organization in Southwestern Alberta. For the first several years after incorporation, most of the HIV Connection’s board members were professional people. This has gradually changed, with the organization becoming truly a community-based organization with significant representation from a variety of communities.

DONATE

ARCHES is a member of the Canadian AIDS Society, the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH) and the United Way of Southwestern Alberta. We are funded by the Alberta Community HIV Fund, a joint ACCH / Health Canada / Alberta Health and Wellness initiative, Public Health Agency of Canada, Private Donations and other fund raising activities