AIDS Vigil

Thousands of people gathered at Dundas square in Toronto last night, remembering those who died of AIDS and supporting those who live with AIDS, but the final message was all about home.

"HIV and AIDS have cast the entire world into a shadow of darkness and the candle are the light of hope," said one organizer in an interview with CFRB.

Before the moment of silence, federal Health Minister Tony Clement and other dignitaries lit candles in honour of the various groups of people that have been impacted by AIDS. Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman, Toronto Mayor David Miller and Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton were also on hand to light candles.

The crowd held up glowsticks, the blue light casting an eerie glow across the square.

AIDS counsellor Jocelyn Watchorn, an organizer for the event, said the vigil was a chance to tackle the prejudice that many people with the disease face.

"We hope to bring HIV out of the shadow of discrimination and stigma by having it in such an open space," Watchorn told The Canadian Press.

The night was mostly a quiet affair, highlighted with performances in honour of the dead.
Saxophone player John Johnson played a piece called "For those who did not return."
Singer Billy Newton-Davis, who is HIV-positive, said he wanted to honour the lives of those who have died of AIDS with his performance.

And finally Splash, a group of Students from Etobicoke Secondary, took to the stage to sing a medley from Rent.

As the group concluded with "Seasons of Love", lips were moving with the words, couples of all descriptions were rocking back and forth and people were clapping in time.

As people left the square they looked content, at peace, rather than sad and that was the goal of the vigil.
Hope.