On December 1st, The AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (ACNBA) will be commemorating World AIDS Day (WAD) In order to be respectful of current COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this year, our event will be held virtually via pre-recorded video messages that will be shared widely across social media platforms on December 1st, 2021 to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. We will be acknowledging this day with a virtual candle lighting vigil, and virtual recorded messages to raise awareness with the help of our local dignitaries and officials Including Mayor Al McDonald, Anthony Rota, MP and Vic Fedeli MPP. World AIDS Day (December 1st, 2021) is the international day of awareness and a tribute to many millions of people who have passed away as a result of AIDS-related illness. This year’s UNAIDS theme is “End Inequalities. End AIDS. End Pandemics.” highlighting the essential contributions of communities and governments at the international, national, provincial and local levels in the AIDS response, as well as the urgent need to end inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world.
Afterwards, On December 1st, hundreds of red scarves knitted/crocheted by volunteers and friends of ACNBA for the Red Scarf Project will be tied in the downtown area by ACNBA staff, peers, volunteers and anyone at the event who wishes to participate. The scarves, bearing HIV/AIDS awareness information will be left for anyone to take. Recipients are encouraged to share the message and send us a selfie in their red scarf, which will be posted on our social media. #ACNBAredscarf.
To mark Day With(out) Art, local participating art galleries and tattoo studios will set up displays to remember, acknowledge the contributions of and pay tribute to members of the arts community who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses.