WORLD AIDS DAY // EDMONTON, AB
Jeffrey Keller, Board Chair of HIV Edmonton

Thank you all for coming tonight. I know AIDS Vigils can be difficult so I truly thank you for coming and sharing this evening with us.

There has been lots of talk this year of holding festivities and celebrations marking 25 years of HIV Edmonton. I am extremely proud of all the work HIV Edmonton has done over the past 25 years BUT I have trouble putting “HIV/AIDS” and “Celebration” in the same sentence. Until I can say “WE ARE CELEBRATING THE END OF AIDS!” I see reason to celebrate. Especially TODAY — December 01 – World AIDS Day and the AIDS Vigil. Today is a day of remembrance. We gather to mourn and to remember those we have lost to HIV and AIDS.

I think of the Vigils of years past. They were somber events as we marched, holding hands, tears streaming down our faces. We lit our candles for the dead to keep their light shining; to keep their memories alive. We knew little about the disease back then – all we knew was our family and friends were dying. Dying fast. No one seemed to care; governments were doing little to help; stigma and discrimination was blatant. We needed to do something to make a difference, so we marched.

A lot has changed since then; yet much has stayed the same. Sadly, people are still getting infected with HIV and people are still dying of AIDS. I see no reason to celebrate.

Throughout AIDS AWARENESS WEEK, as this day approaches, I couldn’t help but find myself thinking back; thinking of the friends I have lost. I found myself playing the “What if?” game — What if he was still alive? What would he be doing now? I created a make believe life with my friends still here. And I dreamt of a world without AIDS.

I started to reminisce about when they were alive – the fun we had. I remember what they did when they were alive – how they changed my life. How they too fought against the disease. AND As I started to remember, I suddenly understood the need to celebrate….

While today is a day to mourn, we also gather to celebrate all those we have lost as CHAMPIONS who led us here.

I think of people like:

ROSS ARMSTRONG who so bravely stood up as the first face of AIDS in Edmonton;

BOB MILLS who dedicated his time and energy locally, nationally and internationally acting as one of Canada’s representatives at the United Nations and played a part in the creation of the UN DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT TO HIV AND AIDS;

DWAYNE NORRIS also locally and nationally active in the AIDS Movement, especially making a difference in the Aboriginal Community, spending so much time to help ease the pain and isolation of those with HIV while he too was ill;

We all have our names; our memories; our reasons to be proud of what these men and woman accomplished in their lives.

I truly believe, each and every person who has died of AIDS has played a part in the movement. From those who shouted it out loud to those who quietly told their loved ones, they raised awareness. Every single one of them brought us here today. They are heroes in our battle against a horrible disease.

Those of us here tonight, living with HIV and those living with us, are here in part because of the work of they did before us.

We are proof of medical triumphs. We are proof of activism that worked. We are proof of communities’ ability to do what needs to be done. We are proof our friends did not die in vain.

They are Champions who deserve to be honored and celebrated tonight and always.

So THERE IS REASON FOR CELEBRATION!!

Unfortunately, we are also here as proof that there is still work to be done. Our battle is not over. New CHAMPIONS have taken up the cause and continue to work hard in our fight against AIDS. I celebrate all of them tonight too.

When we light our candles tonight and walk through the streets, we will still mourn, there will be some tears. We still hold our candles high to light up the night to let the world know we remember our friends. To let the world know we are not going away, we will continue to fight but we can also walk proudly with heads high in celebration knowing our friends made a difference; we continue to make a difference.

– Jeffrey Keller