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Red Scarves blanket downtown North Bay

“It symbolizes the red ribbon which is the original AIDS awareness symbol."
redscarfprojectdec2015
Mayor Al McDonald among other dignitaries were on hand for the ceremony. Photo by Chris Dawson.

More than 30 volunteers were busy downtown tying scarves on rails and light posts in downtown North Bay as an awareness initiative to make World AIDS Day.  

The ceremony event kicked off with a World Aids Day proclamation read by North Bay Mayor Al McDonald at the Diegel Parkette on the corner of Fraser and Main street.   

The Red scarves are tied to rails and light polls and then anyone is allowed to take one with the request that they read the aids information on the small card attached to the scarf and then take a selfie while wearing it.   

Charlene Lalonde, the local Red Scarf Project Manager, says this is the third year for the Red Scarf Project in North Bay.   

“It symbolizes the red ribbon which is original AIDS awareness symbol and that’s why we started to tie in the scarves, so they symbolize a crossing of the ribbon as well,” she said.  

Lalonde credits a number of knitting groups including an AIDS in-house knitter.  The North Bay Golden Angels also donated 81 red scarves.  

“We aren’t asking for anything we are just asking people to support with sharing their time, reading the card, pass on the message but nothing more,” said Lalonde. 

“Pass the message on it’s still World AID’s Day, it’s still prevalent, we still need to make that change today and by talking about it, it does break down the stigma and discrimination.”  

 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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