The Board and Staff of Realize were deeply saddened by the death of long-time HIV activist, educator, and survivor, Deborah Norris, in May. Deborah was a cherished colleague, mentor and friend to many people and organizations in the HIV community across Canada, including our team at Realize. She was a friendly face and passionate voice in meetings of the National Advocates in HIV, and most recently for us, Deborah was an active and valued member of the Community Researcher Team for our National PANACHE study examining the Preferences And Needs for Aging Care among HIV-positive Elderly people in Canada.
Deborah’s contributions to the HIV community are myriad. Diagnosed in 1991, she became an advocate for herself but also for others in similar situations. She became a force in community organizing, working to increase awareness and defend the rights of people living with HIV, and helping to advance understanding of the experiences of positive women. She served as chair or co-chair of local, provincial and national HIV organizations, including HIV Edmonton, the Alberta Society of Positive Women, United Voices of HIV Alberta and the Canadian Positive People Network.
In 1992, Deborah courageously shared her diagnosis publicly, at a time when HIV stigma was even greater than it is today. Her openness and willingness to share her experiences helped many people in the community recognize and face challenges in their own lives. For her exemplary contributions over the years, Deborah was recently recognized with the Casey House award for leadership in social justice for the HIV/AIDS community, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal through the Canadian AIDs Society.
We will miss the insight and passion she brought to her work in the HIV community, but we will also miss her laugh and her joy for life – her exuberance as she spoke of her grandson, and her stories of getting turned-around on the Munich train system at last summer’s International AIDS Conference in Germany.
We will miss Deborah, but she will always be with us. We strive to carry forward her legacy in our work on HIV, aging and quality of life.