ACAS Timeline 

1980’s

• 1981
  • DS crisis begins
• 1988
  • TCHEC (Toronto Chinese Health Education Committee) starts the AIDS Alert media education project focused on Chinese Canadian Youth. 
• 1989
  • Gay Asians Toronto starts GAAP (Gay Asian AIDS Project) to provide HIV/AIDS prevention education and support to Asian Canadian men who have sex with men.

1990’s

• 1991
  • SEAS (Southeast Asian Service Centre) starts VAP (Vietnamese AIDS Project) to provide education to Vietnamese Canadian communities 
• 1994
  • ACAS was born – On December 1, 1994,TCHEC’s AIDS Alert, SEAS’s VAP and GAAP join forces to form a coalition agency, Asian Community AIDS Services. ACAS is born to meet the needs of the community.
• 1995
  • Needs assessment on sex trade workers completed. 
  • “Be Assertive” campaign and Sexpert peer training program launched. 
  •  First CelebrAsian ’95 fundraiser co-hosted by ACAS, GAT & Pinoy Sa Canada. 
• 1996
  • Caring Together: AIDS Care Team Manual” in Chinese, Tagalog & Vietnamese was produced.  
  • Multi-lingual educational materials for Asian sex trade workers and customers released. ACAS leads campaign to protest homophobia in ethnic media, resulting in the Coalition Against Homophobia formation.
• 1997
  • Support Program establishes PHA Fund in memory of past GAAP co-chair, Dr. Kirby Hsu. ALPSS (Asian Lesbigay Peer Support Services) training co-sponsored. 
  • Youth Program hosts its first retreat. 
• 1998
  • “It’s your body, it’s your call” safer sex education campaign launched by Men’s Program. 
  • Multi-lingual healthy sexuality campaign launched by Youth Program. 
  • “Love Embraces All” campaign co-launched with Coalition Against Homophobia. 
• 1999
  • Queer Asian Youth needs assessment completed. 
  • “Positive Relationship” campaign launched by Men’s Program. 
  • “JIVE” Campaign launched by Youth Program.  
  • Research study “Legal,   Ethical & Human Rights 
  • Issues facing East & Southeast Asian PHAs” completed 
  • “GenerAsians Together” project for Asian queer youth and their families co-sponsored. 

2000’s

• 2000
  • “Mandarin Speaking Women with Absentee Partners” and “Transgender/ Transsexual Women Sex Trade Workers” projects started by Women’s Program. 
• 2001
  • Support Program launches multicultural HIV/ AIDS Treatment Information 
  • Website in English and three Asian languages: www.acas.org/treatment 
  • “Welcome to Condom Country” campaign, in collaboration with M2Men, launched. 
  • Needs assessment survey published on Asian MSM bars and bathhouse visitors. 
  • GenerAsians Together launches educational pamphlets “Coming Out” and “Looking Beyond”. 
  • “Welcome to Condom Country” campaign, in collaboration with M2Men, launched. 
• 2002
  • Quantitative analysis of vulnerabilities to HIV infection among gay, lesbian and bisexual Asian youth published. 
  • www.acas.org/QAY Youth Program website launched. 
  • “HIV Testing Campaign” run by M2MEN and Men’s Program. 
  • “Young Korean Women” Project started by Women’s Program. 
• 2003
  • www.irice.org online peer education and outreach project for Asian men launched. “Asian Pride for Life” fundraising event held. 
  • “STI Campaign” launched in collaboration with M2MEN, and Men’s Program. 
  • “Facts for Friction = F3 = Queer Asian Youth [Sexuality/Food + Play + Action]” conference held by Youth Program. 
• 2004 ACAS TURNS 10!
  • Multilingual “Women and HIV Testing” campaign launched. 
  • Multicultural Peer Treatment Counsellor Training Program launched. 
  • Sexpert Project for Asian MSM in the bathhouse started. 
  • ACAS celebrates 10th anniversary; creates Asian-Canadian PHA Leadership Award and Asian-Canadian Breakthrough Activist Award. 
  • “Party Drug in Toronto Gay Dance Club Scene” research report co-published with other Toronto ASOs. “Crossing Rivers, Moving Mountains” fundraising event held at Centre Island. 
• 2005
  • “QAY Outdoor Bubble Tea Lounge”and “QAY Idol” held by Youth Program. 
  • “Basic Information about HIV/AIDS” in six Asian languages produced. 
  • ACAS presents research poster at the 7th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Korea, Japan. 
• 2006
  • First women’s support worker is hired to serve HIV+ women. 
  • Gala hosted honouring Wayson Choy, new Order of Canada recipient. 
  • “Asian Men’s Bathhouse Night” social outreach begins. 
  • “East and Southeast Asian Networking Zone” and a “Satellite Meeting” organized for 
  • the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto. 
  • International Twinning Knowledge Exchange Project started with the Thai National AIDS Foundation. 
• 2007
  • HIV/STI testing campaign launches on Asian radio. 
  • “Spotlight on Settlement program (ISAP) started. 
  • Asian Women”gala dinner honours women’s contributions. 
  • “Women, HIV, and Criminalization” forum co-organized with other ASOs. 
• 2008
  • Queer Asian Women’s website is launched. 
  • “Red Ribbon, Human Link” organized in Chinatown for World AIDS Day 
  • “Bamboo Shoot” video contest held for Pride. 
  • “Queer Luck Club” workshops run by Queer Asian Youth.  
• 2009 ACAS’ 15 TH ANNIVERSARY
  • Men’s Program organizes the first SLAM—Sex, Love, and Asian Men forum on men’s sexual health. 
  • ACAS presents two posters at the 9^th International Congress in Bali, Indonesia. 
  • ACAS starts the Asian Migrant Farm Workers’ HIV/STI/Hep C Prevention project. 
  • Harm Reduction Project for Asian MSM and PHAs started. 
  • “Asian Transgender and Employment Promotion Project“ completed. 

2010’s

• 2010
  • ACAS continues working with other ASOs and academics to implement the Ontario Women’s HIV Prevention Research Study.
  • Rainbow Retreat Summer Camp organized by Youth Program.
  • “How to Organize a Bathhouse Night Event” manual launched.
  • ALPHA – Asians Living Proof of HIV Alliance support group formed.
  • “Our Journey—Stories of Asian Trans Women” Art Exhibition held.
• 2011
  • “Asians in Motion” forum for Queer Asian Youth is held
  • “Our Journey—Stories of Asian Trans Women” Art Exhibition held.
  • ACAS joins Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon, and participation becomes an annual tradition.
  • Health Promotion workshops started for support clients and caretakers
• 2012
  • Smart Phone and apps outreach started by Men’s Program. 
  • Trans women employment project implemented. 
  • The first “Pillow Talk” forum for Asian women organized. 
  • “Locker Room Project” for heterosexual men launched. 
  • ACAS hires dedicated social media and community engagement staff. 
• 2013
  • First ACAS youth sent to Thailand for 6 months for the CIDA International Youth Internship Program. 
  • ACAS leads two community-based research projects focusing on gay men’s resiliency (AMP2R) and Asian Migrant Farm Workers’ HIV knowledge and health. 
  • Complimentary therapies (Massage, Acupuncture) now provided to PHAs 
• 2014 ACAS is 20! 
  • First PinkDot TO community event held to address the lack of representation of Asian LGBTQ+ in the mainstream and community. 
  • Ontario Positive Asians (OPA+) formed as an independent network for and by Asians living with HIV across Ontario, with the support of ACAS and ASAAP. 
  • “Asian Girls Like Us” trans women project launched 
• 2015
  • QAY Program celebrates its 15th anniversary. 
  • First Speed Dating event held for Asian Men by Men’s Program. 
  • “PLAY” Asian Men’s 2015 Calendar celebrating diverse male bodies launched. 
  • “Straight Talk” HIV Needs Assessment Project targeting self- identified straight men who have sex with men conducted. 
  • World AIDS Day interviews by OMNI TV a Cantonese channel. 
• 2016
  • First Miss ACAS Pageant held and first Miss ACAS crowned. 
  • Four youth interns sent to Thailand as part of the International Youth Internship Program. 
  • “Shimmer Project” HIV/STI prevention and empowerment for trans women launched 
  • Resources for trans youth, parents and families, launched by QAY. 
  • “Red Ribbon on the Rocket” TTC outreach campaign run for World AIDS Day 
  • QAY’s Telling Our Own Stories” Book available at Glad Day Bookstore. 
  • “Gay, Asian+POZ”, “WTF is this STI?!” PSA videos launched. 
  • “LOOK”, an international Photovoice Project of PHA Photos and stories exhibition held. 
• 2017 
  • “WET”Asian Men’s 2017 Calendar launched, featuring diverse male bodies and over 30 community members. 
  • Life coach model developed 
  • “When You’re Ready”coming out support group launched by QAY. 
  • ACAS continues marching in Pride Parade. QAY performs at Toronto PRIDE Stage. 
  • Consent video series launched by Men’s Program. 
  • World AIDS Day event held, sharing the U=U message. 
  • Regular “”Hump Day” drop ins organized by Men’s program  
  • World AIDS Day event held, sharing the U=U message. 
  • The CHAMP In Action Project started, combating HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. 
• 2018
  • PHA Photo Exhibition, Photovoice shown at the 22nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 
  • HIV testing available on-site monthly at ACAS. 
  • “Life After – A Tale of Resilience” premieres at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, presented by ACAS. 
  • Midnight Lotus Group for gay Asian men 40 years+ formed in collaboration with the community 
  • and Men’s Program. 
  • Harm Reduction group started by Men’s Program. 
  • Volunteer counselling service piloted. 
  • World AIDS Day “Remembering our History and Building our Future” Event. 
  • MSM Resiliency Dialogues Community-based Research with Dr. Alan Li continues on. 
• 2019
  • Special 25^th Anniversary Float at PRIDE Toronto parade. 
  • “Dating Guide for Newcomers” launched by Women’s Program. 
  • PinkDotTO event held at Cecil Community Centre 
  • “Dating Guide for Newcomers” launched by Women’s Program. 
  • STARS 100 Super Asian Trans Runway: Fashion and Talent Show event. 
  • “Through the Lens of Consent: Women and Trans Women“ Photovoice Exhibition held. 
  • ACAS partners with Dr. Darrell Tan  of St. Michael’s Hospital and Dr. Alan Li of Regent Park, CHC for Chinese focused PrEP study.