June 17, 2009, Ottawa, Ontario - The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) and The NAMES Project - Canada announced today a return to Ottawa of sections of the Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt (hereinafter "the Quilt").

"It has been nine years since the Quilt has been on public display here in Ottawa and we wanted to bring it back as part of our annual People Living with HIV/AIDS Forum to help Canadians remember those who have died of AIDS and the 62,000 individuals living with HIV in this country," says Monique Doolittle-Romas, Executive Director of CAS. "While nobody wants to return to the tragic early days of the epidemic, it's important for all Canadians to remember that HIV still exists and that we all have a part to play in preventing its transmission."

The Canadian AIDS Memorial Quilt is the Canadian counterpart of the AIDS Memorial Quilt that originated in San Francisco in 1987. The initiative, managed by The NAMES Project - Canada, came into existence in 1989, when portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt went on display in Canada and the United States. The Quilt is comprised of over 600 three-foot by six-foot panels, each of which commemorates the life of someone who has died of AIDS.

Larry Baxter, Board Secretary of The Names Project - Canada, states, "The Quilt is a powerful tangible reminder of the lives lost to AIDS. People who view it often have a very emotional response as it evokes a wave of nostalgia and fond memories of family and friends. It's important to cherish those lives and memories."

CAS encourages the citizens of Ottawa to share these memories and show their solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS by visiting the display and supporting efforts to stem HIV/AIDS in our community. The Quilt will be on display at four separate locations from June 17 -24:

CBC Ottawa - 181 Queen St.
Delta Hotel - 361 Queen St.
Ottawa Public Library - 120 Metcalfe St.
Scotiabank - 186 Bank St. (at Gloucester)

Gerry McConnery, Canadian AIDS Society Chair adds, "We have become complacent and unaware of the existing challenges associated with HIV, thinking it's no longer a problem with the treatment advances made in recent years. It still has an enormous health, social and economic impact. We intend for the return of the Quilt to rekindle the spark of the initial commitment and pride to fighting HIV/AIDS that was so strong during the early days."

The Canadian AIDS Society will also be celebrating the work of individuals dedicated to addressing HIV/AIDS issues in Canada with the presentation of the CAS Leadership Award on Friday, June 19 at the Delta Hotel in Ottawa. Presented annually since 1997, the award recognizes individuals committed to improving the lives of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in their community.

The recipient of this year's award is Albert McNutt. Albert is a long time survivor diagnosed with HIV in 1987. Active in his community of Truro, Nova Scotia, he is founder of Northern AIDS Connection Society and a leading advocate of people living with and at risk of HIV, having served on its Board executive for several years and presented between 200-250 presentations on sexual health and sexuality and HIV/AIDS in schools, colleges and churches.

Albert has also served actively on the Boards of two national AIDS organizations, the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development and the Canadian AIDS Society, where he currently chairs the Fund Development Committee.

Among Albert's most impressive accomplishments was the key role he played as a representative plaintiff in the Class Action Law Suit against the Federal Government of Canada for Canada Pension Plan Survivor Benefits, which has secured pension benefits for same sex couples.

Albert has also received many other awards of recognition and distinction, including the title of Maritimer of the Week, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network/New York Human Rights Watch Award, an honorary diploma from the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Community Colleges and recognition from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for this work relating to human rights.

Canadian AIDS Society
The Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of over 120 community-based AIDS organizations from across Canada. Dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, we also work to enrich the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS. We accomplish this by advocating on behalf of people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, facilitating the development of programs, services and resources for our member groups, and providing a national framework for community-based participation in Canada’s response to AIDS.
For more information, or to arrange for interviews, please contact.

Tricia Diduch, Communications Consultant
Canadian AIDS Society
190 O’Connor St, Suite 800
Ottawa, ON K2P 2R3
Ph: 613.230.3580 ext. 130
E-mail: triciad@cdnaids.ca