Here in Halifax, World AIDS Day began in the late 1980s as a small group gathering together in kitchens. An informal support network of people in Halifax positively identified as having HIV/AIDS and their allies would then hold a candlelight vigil to honour those who had died as a result of the virus.
Today, this once informal Halifax kitchen group is now known as the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia. The ACNS envisions a world without HIV/AIDS and works toward this mission by tirelessly educating people about the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing services for those living with the virus. This year, as part of the international World AIDS Day, the ACNS will hold a vigil at FRED.
What was once an almost private affair is now a public event, with an aim not only to remember but also to advocate and educate. It is a space where people read poetry, play music and speak to their experiences. Perhaps the most moving part of the night is the reading of The Book of Names, a list of the names of people who have died from complications due to HIV/AIDS. The list has been kept since the late ’80s and allows for those who have died to be honoured, to have their names said aloud each year.
“It is quite a powerful and overwhelming experience,” says Maria MacIntosh, the executive director of the ACNS. “It really breaks the silence.”
The Halifax World AIDS Day Vigil will be held at FRED, 2606 Agricola Street on December 1 at 7pm.
