World AIDS Day, held every year on December 1, is an opportunity for Ontario’s HIV sector to unite in our fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, to honour those with HIV who are no longer with us, and to think critically about what still needs to be done to address Ontario’s complex HIV epidemic.
December 1-6 is Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week (AAAW) in Canada. We acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous communities in ending the HIV epidemic and the impacts of colonization have led to higher rates of HIV in Indigenous communities. There is a need for culturally responsive and community-informed HIV treatment, services and care. Indigenous leadership in these efforts is critical and it is vital that non-Indigenous people listen and learn from these approaches.
During AAAW, we celebrate Indigenous partners doing this work such as:
- 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations
- The Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research Collaborative Centre (AHA Centre)
- All Nations Hope Network, Saskatchewan
- Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network
- All Nations Hope, Nova Scotia
For more information about AAAW events and how you can get involved please visit the website. Use these hashtags to help spread the word: #VOICES4HIV #VOIXSIDA
The Toronto People With AIDS Foundation is hosting its World AIDS Day Event on Sunday December 1, 2019 at 1:30 pm at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, Toronto.
Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) is hosting a Community United Dinner on Friday, November 29, 2019 at 6:00 pm. Get your tickets here.
The AIDS Committee of York Region (ACYR) invites you to be a part of Courageous Conversations to challenge the prevalent stigma against HIV/AIDS. This event will also feature performances, commemorative messages, and a candlelight vigil honouring people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS across the globe. Get your free tickets here and join the conversation.
This event takes place on Friday, November 29, 2019 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Richmond Hill United Church in Richmond Hill.
Regional HIV AIDS Connections (RHAC) is hosting its World AIDS Day Vigil on Sunday, December 1, 2019 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at Trinity United Church. For more details email info@hivaidsconnection.ca
Casey House is hosting its World AIDS Day Event – Voices for the World on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 7:30 pm at the Glenn Gould Studio. Get your tickets here.
PARN- Your Community AIDS Resource is hosting its World AIDS Day Awareness Event. The Red Scarf Project returns on December 1, 2019. Since 2016, the Red Scarf Project has raised awareness around HIV support and prevention while also serving the needs of our communities in the winter months. On December 1, 2019, Red Scarves will be placed like giant red ribbons on lampposts throughout the counties of Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland and City of Kawartha Lakes for World AIDS Day. If someone is cold, they can take a scarf.
The AIDS Network (TAN) in Hamilton will host its World AIDS Day Vigil and Red Scarf Project on Friday, November 29th and December 1st. The Vigil will remember, honour and celebrate those impacted and the lives of those lost and will be followed by the distribution of the scarves from The Red Scarf Project. Go here to learn more.
The AIDS Committee of Windsor (ACW) and ArtCite Windsor are uniting to hold the Rock the Ribbon Together event at Craft Heads Brewing Company from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday, December 1st. There will be art and information displays, music performances, speakers, hot drinks and delicious snacks! After this, participants will walk to A Day With(Out) Art to celebrate the lives of those who are thriving and the lives lost to HIV. Get more information here.
Positive Living Niagara will be hosting two Red Scarf Events this year to “tie the street red!” The first will be held on November 25th on St. Paul St. in St. Catharines and the second on November 28th on Queen St. in Niagara Falls. In addition, on December 1st, Niagara Falls, the Peace Bridge, Welland Bridge 13 and the Brock Tower will all be lit red in honour of World AIDS Day. A Vigil will also be held at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canal Centre at 6 pm on December 1st to honour the past and look forward with hope to a future! Go here to learn more. Everyone is welcome!
The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area (ACCKWA) will host its World AIDS Day Vigil on Sunday, December 1st at 2 pm at Kitchener City Hall. Go here to learn more.
The AIDS Committee of Ottawa (ACO) will host AIDS Awareness Week 2019 between November 25th and December 1st, culminating with a World AIDS Day flag raising ceremony on Parliament Hill. Go here to learn more.