Victoria's needle exchange, funded by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, closed after an eviction and repeated complaints from neighbours about disorder in the streets. Attempts to find a new location have so far failed.

Marchers, frustrated with the failure to open a new exchange, took to the streets.

Organizers of the protest chose not inform the Victoria Police Department ahead of time. Members of the force tried to control traffic and escort the march, which took some unexpected turns.

"Read the research," said one marcher's sign. "We need comprehensive harm reduction not just enforcement. Give us all four posters."

The march snaked through the north side of downtown, passed the provincial health ministry and the site where the needle exchange used to be.

In the months before the exchange closed, some 45,400 clean needles a month went out to people who needed them, according to VIHA figures. In March, with most of the distribution happening through mobile exchanges, the number was down to 28,000.

Kim Toombs reads Harm Reduction Victoria's demands: "VIHA claims that their community consultation process to find a new fixed needle exchange site is moving ahead. Community consultation must not be a barrier to the provision of essential public health services."

Marchers, including Beverly Brookman, centre, set up their own guerilla needle exchange in an area that has been off limits to the mobile exchange.

"Restricting needle exchange where it is most needed breaks international health guidelines on HIV/AIDS prevention, puts our community at risk for disease transmission and violence, and sends a clear message that VIHA believes some people are more deserving than others of access to essential health careservices," the group's statement said.