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Ally Centre of Cape Breton

Our Services

Sharp Advice Needle Exchange (S.A.N.E.)

Monday to Friday 9:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 - 8:00. Phone 902-539-5556

S.A.N.E. provides safe injection equipment (clean needles, alcohol swabs, filters, ties) and sharps containers for safe disposal of used needles to Cape Bretoners in need. The needle exchange also provides outreach services, as required.

The Needle Exchange is an important preventative program which exists to provide clean needles and syringes for injection drug users. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in August 1997 provided over 14,000 clean syringes to 275 drug users. The study concluded that providing sterile needles is an inexpensive means of preventing greater health-care costs. The authors of the study estimated the program prevented 24 new HIV infections over five years. This equals huge savings for the health system as the study estimates that the cost of treating HIV and AIDS over a person’s lifetime could total $1.3 million.

Watch for the our Peer Backpackers in Sydney, New Waterford, Glace Bay, North Sydney and Sydney Mines. They will be out there cleaning up your streets of improperly discarded needles and handing out safe supplies during peek times throughout each month.

Anonymous Testing

Anonymous HIV Testing and Testing for HCV, HBV and other STIs available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 2 PM walk in or call Phone 902-567-1123. Anonymous testing is also available at the offices in Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury by appointment.

Peer Six Overdose Prevention

Peer Six is a project of the Ally Centre of Cape Breton. The site offers a safe, supportive and comfortable space to inject, snort or ingest substances without fear of overdosing, contracting illness or arrest.

Mobile Supportive Spaces

Operates Monday to Thursday -10:00 to 4:00

Look for the Ally Centre van in your town! The coffee pot is always on! Offering support services, referrals, safe supplies, naloxone training and naloxone kits and access to technology, the street nurse and housing support. Jump on board and meet the friendly staff. Phone: 902-217-3424

  • Monday – Sydney Loaves and Fishes in the morning and Whitney Pier in the afternoon
  • Tuesday - North Sydney in the morning and Sydney Mines in the afternoon
  • Wednesday – Glace Bay all day…catch them at ORP in the morning or the Sterling mall in the Afternoon
  • Thursday – New Waterford, Plummer Avenue all day

Operates Monday to Thursday -10:00 to 4:00

Hep C/HIV Support

Encouraging testing, treatment and support. Peer counselling is available for people living with HIV or Hepatitis C. As well, treatment information, emotional support and a collection of resources is available for people living with HIV or Hepatitis C and their family and friends.

Health Services

Health Clinic

The Ally Centre of Cape Breton provides primary health care services for people from vulnerable populations. The population the Ally Center serves are often referred to as marginalized, excluded or vulnerable. They are typically those people who have faced prolonged difficulties with all or some of the following: poverty, homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorder, social isolation, unemployment, conflicts with the law.This also includes people living with stigmatized illnesses such as HIV, HCV, women escaping domestic violence, sex trade workers and people from the LGBTQ community; we embrace both youth and adults in all situations.

The Ally Health Clinic reduces barriers to care by providing primary health services in a non-judgemental and caring environment.

With support of NS Health, the Ally Clinic has two part time physicians, one part time nurse practitioner who offer clinics on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our full time social worker, Jillian, is available Monday to Friday by appointment and for some walk in appts as well.

To learn more or book an appointment for a health clinic service please call our office administrator, Diane, at 902-567-0178

Health Clinic Personnel

Sharon MacKenzie RN
Outreach Street Health
Ally Center
902-577-0140 or 902-578-0178
Dr. Beth MacCormick
Primary Care physician
Ally Health Clinic
902-567-0178
Dr. Monika Dutt
Primary Care physician
Ally Health Clinic
902-567-0178
Dr. Kimberley Lamarche, RN NP, DNP
Nurse Practitioner
Ally Health Clinic
902-567-0178
Jillian Roach BSW RSW
Social Worker
Ally Health Clinic
902-574-4124 or 902-578-0178
Joanne Boudreau
Anonymous and confidential testing nurse
Ally Health Clinic
902-567-1123 or 902-578-0178

Outreach Street Health

The Ally Center has and Outreach Street Health pilot program that began in October of 2020. It has been hugely successful and has been extended until April 2022. The service is adapted from the MOSH street health model operated through the North End Health Clinic in the HRM.

An experience registered nurse is on the street and present through the Ally mobile supportive van in communities around the CBRM, reaching out to vulnerable populations who are least likely to reach out themselves for primary care and treatment. Basic primary care needs are being met along and linkages to care providers at the Ally Clinic and other health and social services. Our street health nurse, Sharon MacKenzie can be reached at 902-577-0140 or email Sharon MacKenzie

Foot Care

Access to foot care is important.. A foot care clinic is offered on a monthly basis for our population. Call Diane at the Health Clinic to book a space 902-567-0178

Other Support Services

Housing Support:

Our Housing Support Worker, Kandice Duprey is a member of the Housing First team and can do intake and referrals to the Housing First Program. Kandice is onsite at the Ally Centre or on the Ally Mobile Unit Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 4:00

S.W.E.E.P. (Sex Workers Encouraging and Empowering Their Peers)

Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00pm

Offering a safe, supportive space for Sex Workers to feel connected, to get in out of the weather, grab a snack, access technology and safe supplies. For more information call 902-567-1766.

Food Bank

Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 3:00

The Ally Centre of Cape Breton has a small food bank that can service clients of the centre only.

Drop-In

ACCB prides itself in being a safe space for all individuals. We operate a drop-in centre Monday to Friday from 10 - 12 and 2 - 4 pm . Coffee is always on and staff are present to offer support, answer questions, make referrals or just a good chat!.

Phone and internet access is also available. Free clothing and household items are available occasionally.

Hours of Operation

Sharp Advice Needle Exchange
Monday to Friday 9:00 to 4:00 & 6:00 - 8:00

Ally Drop-in
Monday to Friday 10:00 to 12:00 & 2:00 - 4:00

SWEEP (Sex Workers Support):
Saturday and Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00

Health Clinic:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 4:00

Anonymous and Confidential STBBI Testing
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 12:00

Peer Six Overdose Prevention Site
7 Days a week from 9:00a to 8:00p

Take Home Naloxone Program
Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 4:00

Coordinated Access (Homelessness)
Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 4:00

Street Health Nurse
Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 5:00

MOBILE SUPPORT SERVICE:
Operates Monday to Thursday - 10:00 to 4:00

Monday – Sydney/Whitney Pier
Loaves and Fishes in the morning and Whitney Pier in the afternoon

Tuesday - North Sydney/Sydney Mines
Platinum Fitness in the morning and St. Pius X Sydney Mines in the afternoon

Wednesday – Glace Bay
Opioid Recovery, Union St in the morning, Sterling Mall in the afternoon

Thursday – New Waterford
Plummer Avenue all day

Funding Provided By

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Nova Scotia Health and Wellness
Public Health Agency of Canada
Reaching Home, Canada’s Homeless Strategy
Nova Scotia Health Authority

With Contributions From

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Feed Nova Scotia
Canadian Women’s Foundation
East Cape Breton County Community Health Board
Central Cape Breton County Community Health Board
Victoria County Community Health Board
Northside The Lakes Community Health Board

Donate

Your donation helps to fund the many services offered by the Ally Centre of Cape Breton.

Every little bit helps and you can feel good knowing that every dollar raised helps us continue providing quality support services to those in need, including purchasing program materials such as supplies for the clinic and prevention programs.

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Tax receipt issued for donations of $20.00 or more.

 

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