Pius White Recepient of Thunder Bay's Citizen of Exceptional Achievement Award 2008

AIDS Thunder Bay congratulates Pius White on receiving the prestigious “The 2008 Citizens of Exceptional Achievement Award ( Spirit of Thunder Bay Award) ” for his participation in Poz Prevention campaign and a lifetime of raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, and gay rights.

Pius White has been an outspoken activist all his life. His ability to meet challenges head on and to turn adversity into positives has had a dramatic impact on the lives of people, not only in Thunder Bay, but also nationally and internationally. Pius has served on the Board of AIDS Thunder Bay. He serves on national and provincial committees involved in HIV/AIDS awareness and education, discrimination and housing. He has been an educator for many years on HIV/AIDS awareness as well as homophobia and the stigma associated with being gay. Pius currently sits on a Provincial Committee for the Ontario HIV Network researching housing as this issue has been identified as a major factor negatively influencing the lives of persons living with HIV. In 2007 Pius was one of three who pioneered HIV Awareness Campaigns by allowing his face to publicly be displayed throughout the region, identifying that he is HIV positive and responsible. It took great courage for Pius to allow himself to be publicly identified in this way. This act cannot be understated as to the impact on him personally and the positive impact on getting the message that that HIV is real, it is here in our community, and it is someone who you now know….such advertising had never been done before. We are a better community, with more understanding and compassion for people who are infected with HIV and have a different sexual orientation, because of Pius. He is a great example for us to follow.