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Sudbury·HIV/AIDS

Sudbury, Espanola wrapped in red scarves for AIDS awareness

The red scarves bedecking Sudbury lately are more than just festive decorations—the Réseau ACCESS Network hopes they start a conversation about AIDS.

Réseau ACCESS Network running 'Bundle up in Red' campaign for second year

CBC News ·
One of 1,500 red scarves the Réseau ACCESS Network tied prominently in downtown Sudbury as a part of the 'Bundle Up in Red' campaign. The community health group hopes the free scarves are taken and worn, and that they start important conversations about HIV/AIDS. (Olivia Stefanovich/CBC)
The red scarves bedecking Sudbury lately are more than just festive decorations — the Réseau ACCESS Network hopes they start a conversation about HIV and AIDS. 
Stehanie Harris is the HIV/AIDS community development coordinator with Réseau ACCESS Network in Sudbury. She's also the lead co-ordinator on the "Bundle Up in Red" scarf campaign to raise awareness about HIV testing. (CBC)

For the second year, the community health group is running its Bundle Up in Red campaign. 

Red scarves — some hand-knitted, others cut from fleece — are tied around street signs and light posts, mostly in downtown Sudbury. They are free for anyone to take, and attached to each scarf is information about HIV statistics in Canada with encouragement to get tested. 

Stephanie Harris is the HIV/AIDS community development coordinator with the Réseau ACCESS Network in Sudbury and is also the lead on the campaign.

"It's about encouraging people to take [the scarves] down, wear them, and start having conversations with others about HIV," she said. 

Harris said the project has been so successful in Sudbury, it's now headed to Espanola on Wednesday, where the free scarves will be tied to lamp posts and street signs along Highway 6.

Harris spoke with CBC Sudbury Morning North radio show host Markus Schwabe on Wednesday morning. 

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Morning North5:44Red scarf campaign to raise awareness about HIV testing
Red scarf season is back in Sudbury. This is the second year for a campaign using red scarves to raise awareness about HIV testing. Stephanie Harris is one of the organizers behind the campaign. She joined us in studio with some details.

According to the Réseau ACCESS Network: 

  •  In Ontario, 27,240 people are living with HIV
  • Only 67 per cent of people living with HIV know their status
  • Nov.24 - Dec. 1 is HIV Awareness Week

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