The 16th International AIDS Conference opens today. The opening press conference is on TV (CBC Newsworld) live as I type this. It is also available as a live webcast via Kaiser Network, which will provide complete coverage of the conference.

The Opening Session which begins at 7pm EST tonight, includes a host of local and international notables, including from Canada: Govenor General Michaelle Jean, Minister of Health Tony Clement, Ontario Premier Daulton McGuinty, Toronto Mayor David Miller. The keynote speech is by Bill and Melinda Gates. Entertainment includes Alicia Keys, Barenaked Ladies, Richard Gere, DJ Tiesto and many others.

Last night I was at the unveiling of General Idea's AIDS sculpture at the Royal Ontario Museum. Created in 1987, the sculpture appropriates Robert Indiana's 1976 LOVE sculpture (replacing the letters L O V E with A I D S). 2 of the 3 members of the collective have died of AIDS. The sculpture at the ROM is also part of a film festival program at the ROM, and 2 actresses, Sandra Oh and Olympia Dukakis performed the ribbon-cutting at the unveiling.

In addition to the conference, there are a host of activities available to the public: the Global Village (at the Metro Convention Centre; those outside Toronto can visit the Virtual Village), cultural programs (including art, film, theatre, etc.)

Oops... as I type this the opening news conference has just ended. But I am looking forward to the Opening Ceremonies tonight at 7pm.

Official website.

Africa's grandmothers have become the unsung heroes in the battle against AIDS in Africa and are getting the recognition they deserve at this week's conference in Toronto. Many of them have lost their own adult children to AIDS and are now left desperately trying to care for their orphaned grandchildren. Grandmothers in Canada (not necessarily women who have lost relatives to AIDS) are now doing what they can to help out their African counterparts, thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa. I've always admired Lewis' sincerity and hard-nosed determination to draw attention to the AIDS crisis in Africa, even if he has ruffled a few feathers along the way, including the Catholic Church, American fundamentalists, and the government of South Africa (relatively 'well off', by African standards, but where more than 800 people die of AIDS every single day).

Although Uganda has long been touted as Africa's model of success in the battle against HIV-AIDS, recently there has been a disturbing trend towards de-emphasizing the 'C' component of the 'ABC' advertising campaign: Abstinence, Be faithful, use Condoms, apparently in part due to US policy, and there are fears this will result in an increase of HIV infections in Uganda. Zambia, on the other hand, is starting to emerge as a country which is making significant progress.

As with the Outgames, Canadian PM Stephen Harper's conspicuous absense (his excuse: he was in Iqaluit... about as far as you can go from Toronto and still be in Canada) was duly noted... by the co-chair of the conference, Mark Wainberg, no less, who chastised our indifferent leader:

Hey Canmark, have you seen the Missing posters with Harper's face on them. I was in Yorkville after the Taste of the Danforth festival and the posters were up around there.

No, but I'll keep my eye open (for both posters and Harper).

Yesterday, I briefly went by the Global Village at the Convention Centre (general public entry is on the west side, near the CN Tower/Planet Hollywood). It was amazing to be wandering around with delegates from around the world, seeing booths from AIDS organizations from around the world. Across the street at the CBC building is a display of AIDS quilts.

Also saw a photo exhibit in the atrium of BCE Place. Photos may be viewed at Photosensitive.com

There are also numerous activities at Yonge-Dundas Square, including the AIDS vigil Thursday night. And a film screenings at Olympic Spirit and the ROM. Tonight's (Tuesday) screenings of short films at Olympic Spirit: Gays/Lesbians and HIV.

Photo gallery from AIDS2006.org website.

Joey Cheek continues to prove himself a champion. He participated in a press conference and will attend a fundraiser tonight for Right to Play's HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program.

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Edit to add: I saw Joey in the flesh at Yonge-Dundas Square on Thursday. I had hoped he'd wear shorts and show off those speed skater legs, but alas he wore a suit. Looked adorable, though.

[ August 18, 2006, 04:59 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

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AIDS Vigil at Yonge-Dundas Square one of the final events at AIDS 2006. Billy Newton-Davis, who will sing the national anthem at Blue Jays Pride Night next Friday, was one of the performers, which also included Holly Cole and a school-of-the-arts choir (doing a medly from Rent). I'm in that crowd somewhere.