Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research receives two World Record titles
The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) and Gilead Sciences Canada were awarded two Guinness World record titles Nov. 13 for both the Most Awareness Ribbons Made in One Hour by a Team and the World’s Largest Ribbon Mosaic Made Entirely of Awareness Ribbons. The agencies set out to beat the World Records as part of their collective World AIDS Day campaign, bringing awareness to the rising number of AIDS cases in Canada.
AIDS is still a global pandemic. In 2023, 1.3 million new cases were reported in Canada, representing a 25 percent increase in new cases since 2022.
“This week was an unforgettable moment filled with camaraderie, dedication and a shared commitment to raising awareness,” Alex Filiatrault, CEO of CANFAR, said in a press release. “These milestone achievements are a beautiful representation of the collective strength and resilience of our community and remind everyone that HIV is still here.”
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The World AIDS Day campaign is symbolized by a red ribbon and aims to break down the stigma around the immunocompromising disease.
The first Guinness World Record attempt was held at Toronto’s 519 Community Centre where over 160 volunteer participants successfully made a total of 11,255 awareness ribbons in a 60-minute period, flying past the previous record. CANFAR’s goal was to make 7,540 ribbons – representing every person diagnosed with HIV in Canada but not yet on treatment.
The second attempt, in partnership with Ottawa’s Centretown BIA, saw the creation of a stunning public installation in Ottawa, measuring nearly 30 squared metres, made exclusively of over 19,500 awareness ribbons.
