Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day — February 7

Our Health. Our Voices. Our Future.

Black Canadians continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and Black Women carry a significant share of this burden. The Black Canadian HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, we’re centering Black women and their allies with an event built on community, connection, and care. Come meet local organizations, hear from Black women leaders, and access resources that support your health and empowerment in a safe, warm, and community driven space at the AIDS Committee of Ottawa.

Join us as we centre Black communities, lived experience, and collective care at our Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day event

This gathering is about connection, dialogue, and action—building a future where Black voices lead the conversation on HIV, health equity, and wellness.

Interactive Panel Discussion

We’re honoured to be joined by an incredible group of panellists:

Haoua Inoua (she/her)

Haoua has been an active volunteer since 1999 and has worked at the AIDS Committee of Ottawa since 2009, where she is now the Manager of Education and Prevention. A recipient of the PHA Community Leadership Award (OAN) and the Humanitarian Award (ACCHO), she is a fierce human rights advocate advancing prevention, care, treatment, and equity for ACB, 2SLGBTQ+, and all communities impacted by HIV.

Dr. Josephine Etowa (she/her)

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Advancing Black Women’s Health at the University of Ottawa and Founder & Director of the CO‑CREATH Lab. A globally recognized leader in health equity, Dr. Etowa’s work addresses racism and systemic inequities in healthcare—particularly impacting Black communities, women, and people living with HIV.

Asli Mahdi (she/her)

Poet, community builder, and culture worker with five years of experience in the HIV sector. Asli centers arts‑based approaches, affinity spaces, and advocacy to dismantle barriers to care for African, Caribbean, and Black women.

Ayan Jama (she/her)

Registered Social Worker and Manager of Program Development & Delivery at Bruce House. With over 15 years of experience in the HIV sector, Ayan supports diverse communities including newcomers, ACB communities, LGBTQI+ folks, Indigenous communities, and others navigating systemic barriers.

Shawn Raven Anosike (she/her)

Social Service Work student at Algonquin College, currently completing their placement at ACO. Shawn brings lived experience as a Black queer immigrant into their community‑driven work.