Keir Macdonald is the CEO of Phoenix Society, which has announced a merger with the Abbotsford-based Positive Living Fraser Valley. (Black Press file photo)

An Abbotsford-based organization that provides support for people affected by HIV, hepatitis, TB and sexually transmitted blood-borne infections has merged with a Surrey society.

Positive Living Fraser Valley Society is now part of the Surrey-based Phoenix Society Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Society.

Positive Living’s Abbotsford-based health programs will continue to operate as part of the Phoenix Society.

The Phoenix Society responds to the needs of its clients across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley by offering an extensive continuum of care from outreach and harm reduction services to a diverse range of residential addiction treatment, housing and recovery supports.

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Keir Macdonald, chief executive officer of Phoenix Society, said that, with this collaboration, clients will now have the opportunity to enter one of the service locations in Abbotsford or Surrey.

The partnership will allow them to innovate, while ensuring their services continue to meet the needs of their communities, he said.

“Combining these two charities under the Phoenix Society will allow us to leverage the history, successes, and strengths of each entity, while being better positioned to meet the continued challenges presented by the growth in mental illness and substance misuse, homelessness and poverty in our communities,” Macdonald said.

Kari Hackett, executive director of Positive Living Fraser Valley Society, is also pleased with the partnership.

“We are confident with this merger, we will be stronger together and offer unique expertise to cover the gaps that exist and ensure that quality care and options are available to offer specialized support for successful health, wellness and recovery,” she said.

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