About Us:

CAANS serves the David Thompson Health Region. This service area extends from Drumheller to Drayton Valley (330 km) and from Nordegg to the Saskatchewan border (approximately 350 km). The total area equals 66,148 (9.59% of Alberta) square kilometers and contains a population of over 287,000 (9.57% of provincial population.)

Our Vision: Communities strengthened by their response to HIV.

Our Mission: Fostering healthy responses to HIV and related issues, through support, education and research.

CAANS works to create a welcoming environment and the beginning of trusting relationships with potential service users by allowing people to ‘drop-in’; offering space to relax and read the newspaper, enjoy a cup of coffee, use a community-access computer or telephone and receive messages and mail, to name a few. Some visitors to CAANS access services, while others are aware of programs but do not identify as in need of support.

The CAANS office has a non-judgmental, open, helpful atmosphere where community members know that in-office workers are open and flexible to provide extra support, such as filling out applications, problem-solving. Word of mouth is often the best advertising for CAANS programs, especially for the Street Smarts harm reduction program. CAANS assures privacy and confidentiality for people who contact the Health Promotion program for services, including people who self-identify as being at risk for HIV.