Candles for 36 million (5 photos)

Candles for 36 million (5 photos)

As part of Sault Pridefest, a candlelight vigil was held for those who have died from and those that are still battling HIV and AIDS

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1 / 1 A candleight vigil commemorating those who live and have lived with HIV/AIDS was held in Bellevue Park on Sunday. Organizers lit three candles symbolizing the past, present, and the future: those who have died from HIV/AIDS, those who live with those diseases, and the hope that someday we will live in a world without them. Photo by Jeff Klassen for SooToday

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Those who live and have lived with HIV and AIDS were commemorated in a silent candlelight vigil on Sunday evening.

Around 30 people gathered under the pavilion in Bellevue Park for the vigil, hosted by the HIV AIDS Resource Program (HARP) in conjunction with Sault Pridefest.

During a speech by organizers, three candles were lit, symbolically representing the past, the present, and the future, or, those who died from HIV/AIDS, those living with it, and for the hope that there is future without the diseases.

This was followed by a moment of silence.

During the vigil the floor was opened up to anyone who wanted to say something.

“I just want to mention that, when I was a relatively young man in the Sault, there was a couple of young gentlemen that had HIV and passed from AIDS and it was never discussed. The families of those gentlemen are still in the Sault and I know that they miss their brother and their son and I would like to just offer up a memory of those who had to suffer in silence because of the shame. I’m so pleased that we could do this today and help remove the stigma in some small way; without shame and just with love,” said Tim Murphy, whose voice cracked and eyes watered in a display of emotion.

Another person in the crowd spoke up about how they had two heterosexual family members living with HIV/AIDS.

“Remember this is not just a gay disease, it doesn’t discriminate,” he said.

During the vigil there was also a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the recent Orlando nightclub shooting.

After this, the group walked down to the St. Mary’s River and launched a Chinese Lantern into the air in honor of all those in the Sault who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS.

HARP is a Ministry of Health funded program out of the Group Health Centre.

According to the World Health Organization around 36 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide while almost that same number have died from HIV/AIDS over time.

HARP cited statistics that in Canada currently 70,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS, 26,000 in Ontario.

Sault Pridefest continues with events throughout the week and finishes Saturday.