Thursday, June 18, 2015

Good Work

The AIDS Committee Of Ottawa has been in service for thirty years, offering support, education, social services, and a drop in community centre for those diagnosed with or impacted by HIV/ AIDS. The organization was part of Doors Open this year, from their new quarters just outside the downtown core. This was something entirely different for me from the usual churches, historical buildings, and embassies of Doors Open, but quite informative and engaging. While the exterior is non-descript, the interior of the building is inviting, and larger than one might expect. ACO deals with clients from a range of social classes and at different stages of diagnosis. A number of staff were on hand, speaking with visitors about the work done here, including social support, harm reduction, outreach, specialist counselling, and a variety of other services. The first floor is dominated by what's called the Living Room. 


These two chairs happened to be there- they're massage chairs, both for the clients and for the staff to unwind after a long day.


This art on one of the walls caught my eye.


Upstairs most of the office space can be found, organized into specific areas for social workers. They do customize their workplaces; this particular staffer has an appreciation for pirates.


Heading back downstairs on my way out, I wanted a shot of the ACO banner.






39 comments:

  1. Wow, 30 years. Time flies.......

    Janis
    GDP

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  2. These centers are essential for the one that needs them.

    Tomás.

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  3. Looks like a welcoming community centre. I notice that a number of computers are available for use in the living room too.

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  4. Those chairs are fantastic, love the pirate flag and the whole place looks quite well organized and friendly.

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  5. So brilliant to have a place like this William, life must be hard enough, so a cheerful respite would be very welcome.

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  6. Thank you for the tour of a much appreciated place.....I am sure.

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  7. Great tour! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. i enjoy the art work. love the pirate flag. ( :

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  9. You are so right, a group doing great and dedicated work. Glad you took a tour of this place.

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  10. One of those chairs would suite me too, great they can be used by clients and staff. I really like that piece of art of a tree.

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  11. Thanks for the tour of yet another wonderful organization of assistance.

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  12. neat that they were part of doors open to inform more of the public about their efforts!

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  13. @Janis: it certainly does.

    @Tomas: they definitely are.

    @Gemma: I noticed that as well.

    @VP: the pirate flag caught my eye the moment I saw it.

    @Grace: it fills a needed place in the city, and the staff struck me as quite friendly.

    @Revrunner: so did I.

    @Janey: you're welcome.

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  14. @Hilary: you're welcome.

    @Beth: it's an unusual touch for an office! I'm used to offices with more formality!

    @EG: indeed!

    @Sharon: I was glad too. I was going to one spot nearby, and saw this was close enough, so I decided to check it out at the same time.

    @Jan: they'd be comfortable!

    @Linda: you're most welcome.

    @Tex: it was a good idea to be involved, I thought.

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  15. Sounds like a great group doing important work. And I love a good pirate flag!

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  16. Great that they're participating in the Open Door thing this year! Nice art, too!

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  17. years back the dealership i worked for had a team for the aids walk....it was so sad seeing names on the quilt..

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  18. @Aimee: that was my impression.

    @Cheryl: they made a good decision getting involved.

    @Whisk: thanks!

    @Tanya: I can imagine.

    @RedPat: so did I.

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  19. They do a good work, William, thanks for sharing !

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  20. More organizations should open their doors so that the public gets to know them. It's a very open airy place. Nice job of showing it to us. There's more that just an outside.

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  21. A wonderful service and a wonderful place! Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Thank goodness we have these organizations since governments (that would be the people of our countries) aren't sufficiently stepping up to the problems at hand.

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  23. I so wish we didn't need these very necessary places...

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  24. @Marleen: they really do.

    @Karl: you're welcome!

    @Red: I was surprised by the difference with the outside of the building.

    @Lowell: you're welcome.

    @Stuart: that's unfortunately the case, it seems, particularly with a federal government here that seems to incapable of empathy.

    @Norma: thank you, I thought so!

    @Ciel: and yet they do serve the need.

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  25. I agree with Ciel William. I think it's great that they opened the door to let people look around, education is everything...

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  26. It's a good thing they did by letting the general public in to see what they do.

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  27. A change from the "usual" places and it's important for the community to see the good work an organization like this does.

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  28. You captured some nice signs here!

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  29. What a great door to open!
    We've learned so much about health issues, such as AIDS.
    I spent the afternoon with my client, he has ALS.I had to wash him, change all his bedding, as well as untangling his Depends from his catheter. It was a tough afternoon. He's such a dear.

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  30. @Geoff: it certainly is.

    @Gill: it was a wonderful idea to take part in this.

    @Mari: thanks!

    @Randy: it is.

    @Linda: so did I!

    @Kay: I certainly think so.

    @Linda: thank you.

    @Jennifer: we have learned a lot. It's not a death sentence, but there is much work yet to be done.

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