NEWS RELEASE
GILBERT CENTRE FOR SOCIAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES
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The Gilbert Centre for Social and Support Services marks National HIV/AIDS Awareness Week, Nov. 24 to Dec. 1 (World AIDS Day) with the fifth annual Red Scarf Project in Simcoe County and Muskoka Region.
Donated red scarves, knitted by volunteers and friends of the Gilbert Centre, will be tied in downtown areas throughout Simcoe and Muskoka. Anyone wishing to take one of the scarves is encouraged to do so and to help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in our region.
Several events have been planned:
Barrie:
Sunday November 24, Grace United Church, 9:00 a.m.
Monday November 25, City Hall, 12:00 p.m. Flag Raising and Proclamation
Friday November 29, second annual Red Scarf Gala at the Barrie Country Club, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday December 1, Gilbert Centre, World AIDS Day Brunch, 11:00 a.m.
Midland: Monday November 25, Midland Public Library, 10:00 a.m.
Orillia: Tuesday November 26, parking lot at Saint Paul’s Church, 8:00 a.m. (Rain date, November 27)
Gravenhurst: Thursday November 28, Gravenhurst Women’s Centre, 11:00 a.m.
Bracebridge: Friday November 29, Rene Caisse statue, 11:00 a.m.
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)
There are over 63,000 people living with HIV in Canada, and nearly 37 million world-wide. They are suffering from social rejection, isolation, depression, suicide, intimate partner violence, prosecution and murder. Their lives are at risk because the risk is still widely exaggerated. U=U is a solution to longstanding HIV stigma and the foundation of being able to end the epidemic. A person living with HIV who is on treatment and has an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV through sex.
About the Gilbert Centre
The Gilbert Centre provides social and support services to empower, promote health, and celebrate the lives of people living with and affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and the individuals and families from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) communities of Simcoe County and Muskoka Region.
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