Canadian Anglicans urged to participate in upcoming AIDS conferences

Canada: International HIV AIDS Conference, Toronto August 2006

The Primateâ┚¬Ã¢”ž¢s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is calling all dioceses and parishes to participate in the upcoming XVI International AIDS Conference (IAC) to be held this summer (Aug.13-18) in Toronto, ON and other pre-conferences and events scheduled to take place before the IAC.  

Held every two years, IAC provides extensive opportunities for sharing and networking across all levels of care and response to the epidemic.

Over 15,000 health workers, government representatives, journalists, activists, corporate leaders, people living with HIV/AIDS and religious leaders throughout the world are expected to attend this years conference under the theme Time to Deliver.

Major ecumenical and faith-based events are scheduled to take place prior to the main conference, to which dioceses and parishes are encouraged to send and support two or more delegates and volunteers.

Ecumenical Pre-Conference
An Ecumenical Pre-Conference will be held in parallel with other faith-based pre-conference sessions, at the University of Toronto, Aug.10-11, 2006 under the theme Faith in Action: Keeping the Promise. More than 400 people from over 30 countries are expected to attend the pre-conference.

The pre-conference has been organised by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) in partnership with the Christian Host Committee in Canada, which is made up of local Canadian churches and church-related organizations to both support global faith-based activities at the IAC and engage the local community in this opportunity to learn and join global efforts to defeat the pandemic.

It will engage participants in a reflection on the challenges posed by the pandemic to people of faith, an evaluation of actions taken, and planning of strategies still required to put the Gospel into action in a Christian response to HIV and AIDS. An Inter-Faith Day will be held in Toronto on Aug.12.

NIDUS Festival 2006
A two-day gathering of Christian youth, young adults and families called the NIDUS Festival 2006 will take place in Bingemans, Kitchener, Ontario, Aug.4-6. The festival is aimed at bringing together Christians and those of other faiths from around Canada to explore diversity and seek justice to stop AIDS through music, arts, drama, prayer and workshops. Over 3,000 people are expected to attend the festival.

In preparation for the above conferences, PWRDF is urging dioceses, parishes and partners to make use of its HIV/AIDS educational and promotional resources to continue raising awareness and support. PWRDF encourages Anglicans to challenge their respective governments and policy makers to deliver the promises they made in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

More Information
For further information please contact:
Jeanette Romkema
PWRDF HIV/AIDS Education and Animation Coordinator
Email
Tel: 416-924-9199 ext 205
Website

XVI International AIDS Conference
For information and registration to the XVI International AIDS Conference
Email
Website
Ecumenical Pre-Conference
For information and registration to the Ecumenical Pre-Conference contact:
Laura Smith
Conference Registrar
Tel: 416-972-9494 ext 24
Email
Website

Nidus Fesitval
For information and registration to the NIDUS Festival 2006 contact:
Rob Shearer
Coordinator
Email
Tel: 416-972-9494 ext.25
Website