CATIE remembers Alexandra de Kiewit

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October 11, 2022

The staff and board of CATIE were heartbroken to learn of the passing of Alexandra de Kiewit, who served on CATIE’s board of directors from 2016 to 2021.

In addition to providing strategic direction to the organization as a regional representative for Quebec, Alexandra has volunteered to share her perspectives with service providers across Canada through CATIE resources and initiatives. As a woman living with HIV and with lived experience of hepatitis C, Alexandra boldly shared her personal story in the interest of helping others – including people in similar situations as well as their service providers, to ensure they receive the care and services they deserve.

Beyond her volunteer contributions to CATIE, Alexandra has worked as a service provider, as an educator and as a harm reduction worker. In all of her roles, she has always been a strong advocate for the most marginalized communities affected by HIV, hepatitis C and the overdose crisis. She pushed for the inclusion of people who use drugs in the development and delivery of harm reduction services, and told service providers that people who actively use drugs should be entitled to receive hepatitis C treatment, even before clinical guidelines recommended this.

Alexandra participated in webinars to talk about self-advocacy for women living with HIV, in videos to promote open communication between HIV service providers and their clients, and most recently in coverage of the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, with an eye on the issues that mattered most for people who use drugs. She also worked with CATIE’s Indigenous Advisory Committee to realize the organization’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

The entire staff and board of CATIE extend our condolences to Alexandra’s colleagues and loved ones. She will forever be missed, but the impact of her work will never be erased.